Slip distribution of the 2003 Tokachi‐oki Mw 8.1 earthquake from joint inversion of tsunami waveforms and geodetic data

Abstract

We study the 2003 Mw 8.1 Tokachi‐oki earthquake, a great interplate event that occurred along the southwestern Kuril Trench and generated a significant tsunami. To determine the earthquake slip distribution, we perform the first joint inversion of tsunami waveforms measured by tide gauges and of coseismic displacement measured both by GPS stations and three ocean bottom pressure gauges (PG) for this event. The resolution of the different data sets on the slip distribution is assessed by means of several checkerboard tests. Results show that tsunami data constrain the slip distribution offshore, whereas GPS data constrain the slip distribution in the onshore zone. The three PG data only coarsely constrain the offshore slip, indicating that denser networks should be installed close to subduction zones. Combining the three data sets significantly improves the inversion results. Joint inversion of the 2003 Tokachi‐oki earthquake data leads to maximum slip values (∼6 m) confined at depths greater than ∼25 km, between 30 and 80 km northwest of the hypocenter, with a patch of slip (3 m) in the deepest part of the source (∼50 km depth). Slip values are very low (≤1 m) updip from the hypocenter. Furthermore, the rupture does not extend on the plate interface off Akkeshi. As a significant back slip amount (∼4 m) has accumulated there since the last 1952 earthquake, this segment could rupture during the next large interplate event along the Kuril Trench.