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Seamount Subduction and Rupture Characteristics of the March 11, 2011, Tohoku Earthquake


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1 National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR), Uppal Road, Hyderabad - 500 007, India
     

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We suggest that the spatial location of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake rupture and slip distribution on it was strongly influenced by the subduction of seamount chains. Subduction of seamounts across the Japan trench caused weak coupling on the plate interface which acted as barriers to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake rupture and thus delimited it.

Keywords

Tohoku Earthquake, Seamounts, Coupling, Japan Trench.
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  • Seamount Subduction and Rupture Characteristics of the March 11, 2011, Tohoku Earthquake

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Authors

Bhaskar Kundu
National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR), Uppal Road, Hyderabad - 500 007, India
V. K. Gahalaut
National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR), Uppal Road, Hyderabad - 500 007, India
J. K. Catherine
National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR), Uppal Road, Hyderabad - 500 007, India

Abstract


We suggest that the spatial location of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake rupture and slip distribution on it was strongly influenced by the subduction of seamount chains. Subduction of seamounts across the Japan trench caused weak coupling on the plate interface which acted as barriers to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake rupture and thus delimited it.

Keywords


Tohoku Earthquake, Seamounts, Coupling, Japan Trench.

References