The 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake had a profound impact on Japan, and new research has shed light on a previously underexplored aspect of its effects. The study found that seismic waves reflected from Earth's core, known as ScS waves, played a crucial role in the movement of parts of Japan.
Key Insights
The ScS waves travelled down to Earth's core and back, triggering significant displacement-causing slip after the earthquake, resulting in parts of Japan moving eastwards by up to 5 mm. This phenomenon occurred within minutes of the earthquake, demonstrating the rapid and profound effects of seismic activity on the Earth's surface.
