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Slip distribution of the 1973 Nemuro-oki earthquake estimated from the re-examined geodetic data

Earth, Planets and Space volume 61, pages1203–1214(2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Geodetic data, including leveling, tide-gauge, triangulation/trilateration, and repeated EDM data, from eastern Hokkaido, Japan, were re-examined to clarify the crustal deformation associated with the 1973 Nemuro-oki earthquake. We inverted the geodetic data to estimate the slip distribution on the interface of the subducting Pacific plate. The estimated coseismic slip, potentially including afterslip, showed a patch of large slip (i.e., an asperity) near the epicenter of the mainshock. The moment magnitude of the Nemuro-oki earthquake was estimated to be 8.0 from the geodetic data, which is comparable to the 2003 Mw = 8.0 Tokachi-oki earthquake. The estimated slip distribution suggests a 50 km-long gap in the coseismic slip between the 1973 Nemuro-oki and the 2003 Tokachi-oki earthquakes. The slip area of the 2004 Mw = 7.0 Kushiro-oki earthquake, estimated from GPS data, was located at the northwestern edge of the Nemuro-oki earthquake, which implies that the area may have acted as a barrier during the Nemuro-oki earthquake. The postseismic deformation observed by leveling and tide-gauge measurements suggests that the afterslip of the Nemuro-oki earthquake occurred at least in a western and northern (i.e., deeper) extension of the asperity on the plate interface.

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Affiliations

  1. Geography and Crustal Dynamics Research Center, Geographical Survey Institute, Kitasato 1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0811, Japan
    • Takuya Nishimura
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  1. Takuya Nishimura
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Correspondence to Takuya Nishimura.

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Nishimura, T. Slip distribution of the 1973 Nemuro-oki earthquake estimated from the re-examined geodetic data. Earth Planet Sp 61, 1203–1214 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352973

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Key words

  • Kuril Trench
  • Nemuro-oki earthquake
  • slip distribution
  • geodetic data