Scientists uncovered hidden seafloor weakness that contributed to the severity of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami off Japan’s Tohoku coast.
Deeper drilling revealed structural factors that amplified fault slip and tsunami generation. The 2011 disaster killed more than 15,000 people and triggered the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
Understanding subduction zone geometry helps improve hazard models for Pacific Rim countries. Japan has invested heavily in offshore monitoring since the catastrophe.
Researchers said the findings refine but do not overturn existing models of how megathrust earthquakes propagate along the Japan Trench.
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Sources:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/