Explorer Lecture Series: Dissecting Giant Earthquakes October 12, 2012

Dr. Miaki Ishii

Co-sponsored by the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
The disastrous magnitude 9 Japanese earthquake of 2011 caused much damage along the northeastern coast of mainland Japan; but the energy from this earthquake reached every corner of the world. Recordings of the earthquake in North America by nearly 500 seismometers contain valuable information. Dr. Ishii will unravel the data to reconstruct how the earthquake happened as seen from 5,000 miles away. Data from the Transportable Array, a group of 400 seismic stations covering a strip extending from the Canadian to the Mexican borders, are rich in complex signals that show the details and mysteries associated with this earthquake. One of the surprising results is the cascading failure of different faults in the region before, during and after the earthquake. This suggests that the event could have been much larger, at magnitude 9.2, releasing twice as much energy, and potentially more hazardous, than the already devastating event on March 11, 2011.
This program is offered in conjunction with Earth Science Week.