Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Extremely early recurrence of intraplate fault rupture following the Tohoku-Oki earthquake

Nature Geoscience volume 11, pages 777–781 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Intraplate earthquakes on a fault in Earth’s upper crust commonly recur in 1,000 years or longer. The 2011 M9 Tohoku-Oki earthquake triggered the activation of intraplate earthquakes in northern Kanto, Japan, including two M6 events on 19 March 2011 and 28 December 2016 located near one another. Here we use displacements captured by satellite radar and the Global Navigation Satellite System to show that the two earthquakes ruptured an identical fault. Detailed fault slip modelling shows that the deformation data for the two earthquakes are well explained by slip along a common fault geometry, and that the majority of the slipped area on the fault overlaps. Strain analysis reveals that the first M6 earthquake was followed by exceptionally large postseismic deformation. Such deformation is consistent with afterslip around the M6 rupture area, which in turn rebuilds the shear stress on the fault enabling the next earthquake. We infer that the rapid and large postseismic deformation of the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake promoted such afterslip and made the second earthquake recur in just 5.8 years. This study suggests a mechanism to explain observations of extreme temporal clustering in palaeoseismic earthquake recurrence studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: SAR interferograms of the 2011 and 2016 intraplate events.
Fig. 2: Final fault slip models.
Fig. 3: Comparison of the horizontal extensional strain exx.
Fig. 4: Schematics of the inferred fault slip during the studied period.

References

  1. Okada, T. et al. Shallow inland earthquakes in NE Japan possibly triggered by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake. Earth Planets Space 63, 749–754 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Toda, S., Stein, R. S. & Lin, J. Widespread seismicity excitation throughout central Japan following the 2011 M = 9.0 Tohoku earthquake and its interpretation by Coulomb stress transfer. Geophys. Res. Lett. 38, L00G03 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Imanishi, K., Ando, R. & Kuwahara, Y. Unusual shallow normal-faulting earthquake sequence in compressional northeast Japan activated after the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake. Geophys. Res. Lett. 39, L09306 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Kato, A., Sakai, S. & Obara, K. A normal-faulting seismic sequence triggered by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake: wholesale stress regime changes in the upper plate. Earth Planets Space 63, 745–748 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Fukushima, Y., Takada, Y. & Hashimoto, M. Complex ruptures of the 11 April 2011 M w 6.6 Iwaki earthquake triggered by the 11 March 2011 M w 9.0 Tohoku earthquake, Japan. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 103, 1572–1583 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Kobayashi, T. et al. InSAR-derived crustal deformation and fault models of normal faulting earthquake (M j 7.0) in the Fukushima-Hamadori area. Earth Planets Space 64, 1209–1221 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Tanaka, M., Asano, K., Iwata, T. & Kubo, H. Source rupture process of the 2011 Fukushima-ken Hamadori earthquake: how did the two subparallel faults rupture? Earth Planets Space https://doi.org/10.1186/1880-5981-66-101 (2014).

  8. Toda, S. & Tsutsumi, H. Simultaneous reactivation of two, subparallel, inland normal faults during the M w 6.6 11 April 2011 Iwaki earthquake triggered by the M w 9.0 Tohoku-Oki, Japan, earthquake. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 103, 1584–1602 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kobayashi, T. et al. Crustal deformation map for the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku earthquake, detected by InSAR analysis combined with GEONET data. Earth Planets Space 63, 621–625 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Aoyagi, Y. Surface rupture of the recent moderate earthquakes detected by DInSAR. In 94th Report of the Coordinating Committee for Earthquake Prediction, Japan [In Japanese] abstr. 12-6 (2015); http://cais.gsi.go.jp/YOCHIREN/activity/206/image206/017.pdf

  11. Omuralieva, A. M., Hasegawa, A., Matsuzawa, T., Nakajima, J. & Okada, T. Lateral variation of the cutoff depth of shallow earthquakes beneath the Japan Islands and its implications for seismogenesis. Tectonophysics 518, 93–105 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Berryman, K. R. et al. Major earthquakes occur regularly on an isolated plate boundary fault. Science 336, 1690–1693 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Freed, A. M. et al. Resolving depth-dependent subduction zone viscosity and afterslip from postseismic displacements following the 2011 Tohoku-Oki, Japan earthquake. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 459, 279–290 (2017).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Iinuma, T. et al. Seafloor observations indicate spatial separation of coseismic and postseismic slips in the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Nat. Commun. 7, 13506 (2016).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Diao, F. Q. et al. Overlapping post-seismic deformation processes: afterslip and viscoelastic relaxation following the 2011 M w 9.0 Tohoku (Japan) earthquake. Geophys. J. Int. 196, 218–229 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Suito, H. Importance of rheological heterogeneity for interpreting viscoelastic relaxation caused by the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake. Earth Planets Space https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-017-0611-9 (2017).

  17. Linker, M. F. & Dieterich, J. H. Effects of variable normal stress on rock friction—observations and constitutive-equations. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth 97, 4923–4940 (1992).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wasteby, N. et al. Hydrochemical monitoring, petrological observation, and geochemical modeling of fault healing after an earthquake. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth 119, 5727–5740 (2014).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Vidale, J. E. & Li, Y. G. Damage to the shallow Landers fault from the nearby Hector Mine earthquake. Nature 421, 524–526 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Reid, H. F. The Mechanics of the Earthquake, The California Earthquake of April 18, 1906 Report of the State Investigation Commission Vol. 2 (Carnegie Institution of Washington, 1910).

  21. Gilbert, G. K. A theory of the earthquakes of the Great Basin with a practical application. Am. J. Sci. 27, 49–53 (1884).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hashimoto, M. et al. Postseismic displacements following the 2007 Noto Peninsula earthquake detected by dense GPS observation. Earth Planets Space 60, 139–144 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Iinuma, T. et al. Postseismic slip associated with the 2007 Chuetsu-oki, Niigata, Japan, earthquake (M 6.8 on 16 July 2007) as inferred from GPS data. Earth Planets Space 60, 1087–1091 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Nakano, T. & Hirahara, K. GPS observations of postseismic deformation for the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake, Japan. Geophys. Res. Lett. 24, 503–506 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ohta, Y. et al. Coseismic and postseismic deformation related to the 2007 Chuetsu-oki, Niigata earthquake. Earth Planets Space 60, 1081–1086 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ohzono, M., Ohta, Y., Iinuma, T., Miura, S. & Muto, J. Geodetic evidence of viscoelastic relaxation after the 2008 Iwate-Miyagi Nairiku earthquake. Earth Planets Space 64, 759–764 (2012).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Yagi, Y. & Fukahata, Y. Rupture process of the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake and absolute elastic strain release. Geophys. Res. Lett. 38, L19307 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Research Group for Active Faults in Japan Active Faults in Japan, Sheet Maps and Inventories revised edn (Univ. Tokyo Press, Tokyo, 1991).

  29. Ozawa, T., Fujita, E. & Ueda, H. Crustal deformation associated with the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake and its effect on the magma system of Aso Volcano. Earth Planets Space https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-016-0563-5 (2016).

  30. Shimada, M. Verification processor for SAR calibration and interferometry. Adv. Space Res. 23, 1477–1486 (1999).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Jarvis, A., Reuter, H. I., Nelson, A. & Guevara, E. Hole-filled SRTM Data V4 (2008); http://srtm.csi.cgiar.org (accessed on 5 December 2017)

  32. Farr, T. G. et al. The shuttle radar topography mission. Rev. Geophys. 45, RG2004 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Baran, I., Stewart, M. P., Kampes, B. M., Perski, Z. & Lilly, P. A modification to the Goldstein radar interferogram filter. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens. 41, 2114–2118 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Chen, C. W. & Zebker, H. A. Network approaches to two-dimensional phase unwrapping: intractability and two new algorithms. J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 17, 401–414 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Beauducel, F., Briole, P. & Froger, J. L. Volcano-wide fringes in ERS synthetic aperture radar interferograms of Etna (1992–1998): Deformation or tropospheric effect? J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth 105, 16391–16402 (2000).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Onn, F. & Zebker, H. A. Correction for interferometric synthetic aperture radar atmospheric phase artifacts using time series of zenith wet delay observations from a GPS network. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth 111, B09102 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Fukushima, Y., Cayol, V. & Durand, P. Finding realistic dike models from interferometric synthetic aperture radar data: the February 2000 eruption at Piton de la Fournaise. J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth 110, B03206 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Fukushima, Y., Mori, J., Hashimoto, M. & Kano, Y. Subsidence associated with the LUSI mud eruption, East Java, investigated by SAR interferometry. Mar. Petrol. Geol. 26, 1740–1750 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Fukuda, J. & Johnson, K. M. A fully Bayesian inversion for spatial distribution of fault slip with objective smoothing. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 98, 1128–1146 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Thomas, A. L. Poly3D: A Three-dimensional, Polygonal Element, Displacement Discontinuity Boundary Element Computer Program with Applications to Fractures, Faults, and Cavities in the Earth’s Crust. MS thesis, Stanford Univ. (1993).

  41. Maerten, F., Resor, P., Pollard, D. & Maerten, L. Inverting for slip on three-dimensional fault surfaces using angular dislocations. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 95, 1654–1665 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Eberhart, R. C. & Kennedy, J. A new optimizer using particle swarm theory. In Proc. Sixth International Symposium on Micromachine and Human Science, Nagoya, Japan 39–43 (IEEE, New York, 1995).

  43. Fukuda, J. & Johnson, K. M. Mixed linear-non-linear inversion of crustal deformation data: Bayesian inference of model, weighting and regularization parameters. Geophys. J. Int. 181, 1441–1458 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Demets, C., Gordon, R. G., Argus, D. F. & Stein, S. Effect of recent revisions to the geomagnetic reversal time-scale on estimates of current plate motions. Geophys. Res. Lett. 21, 2191–2194 (1994).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We used the PALSAR data shared among the PALSAR Interferometry Consortium to Study our Evolving Land Surface (PIXEL). The data were provided by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) under a cooperative research contract with the Earthquake Research Institute of the University of Tokyo. We used the PALSAR-2 data provided from JAXA through the Earthquake Working Group, a project for evaluating ALOS for disaster mitigation, coordinated by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) and JAXA. The GEONET GNSS data were provided by GSI. We are grateful to the developers of the InSAR and SAR processors used in this study: T. Ozawa of the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience of Japan, and M. Shimada of Tokyo Denki University. We also thank M. Ohata for helping our field survey. We are also grateful to T. Iinuma for providing models of coseismic slip and afterslip of the Tohoku-Oki earthquake. This study was partially supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences KAKENHI Grant Number JP18K03795.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

    Yo Fukushima & Shinji Toda

  2. Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

    Satoshi Miura, Tomotsugu Demachi & Kenji Tachibana

  3. Department of Geography, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan

    Daisuke Ishimura

  4. Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Jun’ichi Fukuda

Authors
  1. Yo Fukushima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shinji Toda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Satoshi Miura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Daisuke Ishimura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jun’ichi Fukuda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Tomotsugu Demachi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Kenji Tachibana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Y.F. analysed the SAR images, performed fault slip inversions and led the preparation of the paper. D.I. and S.T. investigated the surface ruptures with an emphasis on comparison with on-site surveys. S.M., T.D. and K.T. planned and operated the GNSS measurements in the target region since 2014. S.M. processed the GNSS data. Y.F., S.T. and J.F. performed the stress change calculations, and J.F. computed the stress-driven afterslip.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yo Fukushima.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Figures and Tables

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fukushima, Y., Toda, S., Miura, S. et al. Extremely early recurrence of intraplate fault rupture following the Tohoku-Oki earthquake. Nature Geosci 11, 777–781 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0201-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0201-x

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing