A Durham scientist is part of an international team on the Chikyu vessel investigating the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. They are drilling into a fault line associated with the earthquake to gather samples and measure geological properties, aiming to understand the unusual seismic behavior that led to a significant tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan.
A scientist from Durham University is participating in an international research initiative aboard a drilling vessel, focused on investigating the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, one of the most significant seismic events in modern history. This earthquake generated a catastrophic tsunami that devastated Japan, resulting in substantial loss of life and extensive damage, including a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The current mission, known as the Tracking Tsunamigenic Slip Across the Japan Trench (JTRACK), follows a previous project that extracted samples from the Japan Trench to better understand the geophysical dynamics behind earthquakes.
Under the JTRACK project, the research team is drilling through a fault line associated with the Tohoku earthquake to gather crucial samples and measure geological properties. More than halfway through their four-month expedition aboard the Chikyu vessel, they have successfully penetrated both the overriding continental plate and the subducting oceanic Pacific plate. As part of their work, they have also established an observatory and commenced deep-sea sediment sampling, along with high-resolution imaging of the fault zone to further analyze the geological structures in question.
Previously, it was believed that earthquakes at subduction zones, where tectonic plates converge, would not cause significant ruptures at shallow depths. However, the 2011 Tohoku earthquake contradicted this expectation by producing the largest recorded fault displacement from a single seismic event and extending to the ocean floor. Through ongoing sampling and analysis, the JTRACK team aims to uncover insights into the mechanisms that led to this anomalous event in order to enhance the understanding of earthquake dynamics. Furthermore, Rebecca Robertson represents one of only three scientists from the UK participating in this diverse team of over sixty specialists from Japan, the United States, and Europe, all working collaboratively on this groundbreaking expedition.
The 2011 Tohoku earthquake, which struck Japan, is significant for its immense power and the subsequent tsunami that wreaked havoc along the eastern coast, resulting in approximately 18,500 fatalities and displacing over 160,000 individuals. Following this disaster, research efforts have sought to elucidate the underlying causes of such catastrophic events. The Japan Trench and associated subduction zones have been a focal point for studying tectonic activity, particularly the discovery that shallow portions of fault lines can rupture, challenging previous scientific assumptions. This investigation is part of ongoing research to refine predictive models of earthquake behavior and improve disaster preparedness.
The ongoing research by the JTRACK team aboard the Chikyu vessel represents a critical step toward understanding the Tohoku earthquake’s complexities. By drilling through the fault line, the scientists, including Durham’s Rebecca Robertson, hope to gather essential data that could explain the unusual characteristics of this seismic event. This research not only aims to deepen scientific understanding but also has potential implications for future earthquake prediction and risk assessment in seismically active regions across the globe.
Original Source: www.durham.ac.uk
