Modeling the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake tsunami: implications for tsunami sources in the eastern margin of the Japan Sea

Abstract

Abstract A moment magnitude (M w) 7.5 earthquake occurred on January 1, 2024, at the northern tip of the Noto Peninsula, Central Japan, triggering a large tsunami. Seismological and geodetic observations revealed the rupture of mapped submarine active faults. While proximal segment ruptures have been well resolved by previous research, far offshore segments have posed challenges for onshore-based inversions. This emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive study on the fault through tsunami modeling. Here, we aimed to examine tsunami propagation and inundation using four different fault models to identify the general characteristics of the tsunami source and evaluate the complexities of earthquake- and submarine landslide-induced tsunamis. We identified the simultaneous rupture of two active fault systems as the most suitable model for explaining observed tsunami height and inundation; however, some inconsistencies with observations remained. The propagation process did not follow a concentric pattern but aligned with bathymetric heterogeneity. The findings also suggested potential amplification effects responsible for the devastation of the coast of Iida Bay and indicated a possible submarine landslide in southern Toyama Bay. The findings of the present work could benefit the exploration of a more realistic tsunami source model, considering the differences between observations and simulations. Such efforts, in collaboration with paleotsunami research, can contribute to the improved assessment of hazards from submarine active faults.

Keywords

• Eastern margin of the Japan Sea
• Submarine active fault
• Submarine landslide
• Paleotsunami