Sensitivity of slip distribution on tsunami trace heights and geological evidences: a case study of the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake

Abstract

Abstract We examined whether it is possible to estimate the tsunami source model of the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake from a comparison of numerical simulations of tsunami propagation and sediment transport, the measured trace heights, and the sediment thickness of tsunami deposits. Twelve models with different subfault numbers were prepared based on a reference model inferred from tsunami waveform inversion. The reference model with 55 subfaults considering rupture propagation and the model with instantaneous slip successfully reproduced both the tsunami trace heights and sediment thickness distribution of tsunami deposits in the Idagawa Lowland and Sendai Plain. Other models with the same moment magnitude but fewer subfaults could not reproduce the observed trace heights, and the reproducibility of sediment thickness distribution strongly depended on the slip distribution. Models with increased slip amounts and moment magnitude could reproduce the trace heights; however, the simulated sediment thickness was underestimated for the Idagawa Lowland while overestimated for the Sendai Plain. Our results indicate that the combination of trace heights, sediment thickness of tsunami deposits, and numerical simulations of tsunami propagation and sediment transport can be used to estimate historical earthquakes and tsunamis. Efforts should be made to increase the number of subfaults for the study of historical events, although the obtained solutions may not be unique because of fewer trace heights or tsunami deposit data.

Keywords

• 2011 Tohoku-Oki tsunami
• Tsunami deposits
• Sediment transport numerical simulation