From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1946 Nankaidō earthquake was a major earthquake in Nankaidō, Japan. It occurred on December 20,
1946 at 19:19 UTC.[1]
The earthquake was colossal, measuring 8.1 on the moment magnitude scale, and was
felt from Northern Honshū
to Kyūshū. However,
these measurements are often between 8.1-8.4 magnitude.
Geography
A map of the affected zones of the earthquake
The 1946 Nankaido earthquake occurred in the Nankai Trough, a
highly active, vigorous, subduction zone
where large earthquakes have been recorded since the seventh
century, with a recurrence time of 100 to 200 years.[3]
The 1946 Nankaido earthquake was unusual in its geographical
perspective, with a rupture zone estimated from long-period
geodetic data that was more than twice as large as that derived
from shorter period seismic data. In the center of this earthquake
rupture zone, scientists used densely deployed ocean bottom seismographs to detect a subducted seamount 13 kilometers
(8 mi) thick by 50 kilometers (31 mi) wide at a depth of
10 kilometers (6 mi). Scientists propose that this
seamount might work as a barrier inhibiting brittle seismogenic rupture.[3]
Casualties
and damage
The earthquake caused extensive damage, eventually destroying
36,000 homes in southern Honshū alone.[1]
The earthquake also caused a huge tsunami that took out another
2,100 homes with its 5-6 meter (16–20 feet) waves.[1] Landslides, ground fissures, uplift and
subsidence were observed in the epicenter's area.[1]
See also
References
External
links