Aftershock observation of the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake by using ocean bottom seismometer network

Abstract

The 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake occurred offshore of northeast Japan region on March 11th, 2011. In order to study the aftershock activity of this event, we started deployment of seventy-two ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs) four days after the mainshock. In the south of the source region, thirty-four longterm OBSs (LT-OBSs) had been deployed before the occurrence of the mainshock, and we recovered three LT-OBSs to clarify the depth distribution of aftershocks. Using the data of OBSs, ninety-nine aftershocks were located. Most of the aftershocks were located in a depth range of 5–30 km and concentrate in the plate boundary region. In addition, aftershocks occurred within the subducting oceanic crust and the 6.2-km/s layer of the landward plate. No aftershocks were found in the mantle of the subducting plate. From the results of a previous seismic survey using OBSs and controlled sources, the subducting Philippine Sea plate is estimated to be in contact with the subducting Pacific plate. The southern end of the seismic activity region of the aftershocks corresponds to the contact region of two subducting plates. We infer that the rupture of the mainshock sequence was terminated at the oceanic plate contact region.