7.2 Earthquake Strikes Japan, Small Tsunami Threat

Folks, this may not be over. I really hate to say it, but if that subduction zone really rips open, all hell could break loose. We could see an even bigger quake, and many more of them. This is totally bizarre.

reply to post by TrueAmerican


Thank you for that information.

I appreciate your interest.

I will be watching this thread. Looking forward to more of your insight.

reply to post by TrueAmerican




The subduction zone does indeed look like it is ripping open, as quakes extend on both sides of the zone and are spreading southward. My God, what a horrible day for Japan. If this had happened anywhere else, there would have been untold thousands killed. Thank God they are probably the best prepared for this of any country in world.

No one can prepare for a zone tear though. That is...beyond.

Originally posted by TrueAmerican

No one can prepare for a zone tear though. That is...beyond.

New to this subject and intrigued, what exactly happens when a subduction zone tears/rips/collapses? A couple google searches didn't give me too much and I believe its because I'm using the incorrect terminology.

Thanks!

reply to post by xbananax


Look at that map I just posted. THAT's what happens. But the problem is this can get a lot worse, believe it or not. We could potentially see a 9+ still yet to come. Man oh man, I can't believe I have seen what I have already seen.

reply to post by TrueAmerican


Seems you were about right there matey...

Now just wait for the knock at the door when the spooks come to check you out... In all seriousness though, the human tragedy is simply overwhelming; notwithstanding loss of life, the devastation and destruction of livelihoods etc cannot fail to move a person.


Edit to add - I'm intrigued at the prospect of a zone tear - is this an uncommon event, or when was the last time this sort of thing happened?

I ask (TrueAmerican), because you seem a specialist of sorts, and you've obviously been following the progression closely. Also - that map you just posted - are those 55 quakes from the last 24 hrs? Simply amazing if so - I'm surprised that the BBC aren't making any mention of the possible zone tear.

Still - Japan are about the best prepared nation - I remember that in the early nineties I learned in school that their buildings are designed to withstand massive quakes.

reply to post by FlyInTheOintment


A zone tear is really my own terminology- but what it means is that something ruptures all up and down the subduction zone. We saw this not too long ago in Chile with the big one there. The entire area up and down that red line you see on the map is at severe risk at the moment of a larger quake- and it doesn't have to be larger to be terribly destructive. You all may just have witnessed the biggest quake many of us may ever see in our lives.

But with what I am seeing on that map, the worst may be yet to come.

Another huge aftershock just hit, probably 6.5 or 7+.

My Lord. I've never seen anything like this...Not even in Chile were they coming in this big and this fast.

Now see, this is what I was worried about. They are now getting quakes right on the subduction zone:

earthquake.usgs.gov...

And to me, this spells extreme danger, as if there isn't enough already. Now I could be wrong, and let's pray I am. But if these quakes keep up like that, right on that line, it could mean the zone itself could become unstable and, and... Lord help them.

reply to post by amodedoma


You missed the point.

You said that the next solar max would be intense or some such word. It will not. It is the lowest in 200 years unless that changes in the next 2 years which I doubt.

Man oh man, a 6.2 now has occurred on the mainland at 1 km depth. That's going to be extremely felt, and probably do some damage.

earthquake.usgs.gov...

And got another coming in right now in GEE, same rough spot. About a 5.1 to 5.5 or so at about 19:32 UTC.

This is disappointing. I fully expected CNN to give me the daily dose of charlie sheen and other critically important hollywood news and I get this instead. Surely there must be something newsworthy a la hollywood instead of this earthquake stuff.

I know some people on business in that area, haven't heard from them yet. Sad day indeed.

brill

The news of this massive earthquake & tsunami is a rude shock. It's caused a lot of damage to life & properties. I prey the god & hope that people of Japan will overcome this tragedy and stand up soon. The world community will stand by them in this hour of natural disaster. I wish these kind of disasters should not happen anywhere in the world, but nature does some balancing ac, which we human beings can not stop. We the people should realize that, when natural disaster happens, it doesn't differentiate between countries, religions, castes, animals, plants & what not. From such things should things we should learn that we should learn with love, peace, harmony & promote universal brotherhood. I hope & wish we mend our ways & live betterment of every living being and keep this universe cool.

Quakes directly on the subduction zone line have been occurring much more now in the last hour:



That has to mean something. Exactly what I am not sure, but how can it be good?

Hi True American - great thread . You called it on page 4 when you saw the quakes both sides of the ridge, so well done you . I pray your intuition is wrong re the direct hits the line appears to be taking now.

What do you make of those random west coast quakes? Also I couldn't see the single quake any more on the other side of the ridge near Hachi jima (sp) was it re-classified into the main area ?

Finally, Westcoast found an interesting article re the larger Tokai area quake expected (sorry can't link) but with the activity moving south towards Tokyo it seems relevant to your thread.

reply to post by slidingdoor


Sometimes corrections are made once reviewed, and I have watched this happen on more than one of these quakes in the sequence. They move them or delete them after review- it's just part of the deal. In fact, I saw them take out one of the 7.9's, cause originally they had two showing, before they updated it to 8.9.

Have you noticed the other quakes on the mainland, and a bigger one they had northwest of the island? It seems strange that they would be so far from the rest of the quakes- but the 8.9 could have triggered those. The affected area appears to be expanding, and these quakes just keep coming in non stop.

I am definitely watching that southeastern junction point of the plates though. One article claimed that all this activity was too far away to have any effect on the lower juncture, but I don't see how.

Yes, I've noticed what appear to be separate quakes popping off - there's a steady stream of aftershocks where I'd expect to see them on very similar latitudes and longitudes but then a new build-up further down .

I'm trying to cast my mind back to the Chile aftershocks - do you remember or know how far up and down it affected
afterwards in terms of miles or kilometres from the epicentre?

That 6.1 not long ago (EMSC) just seems separate from the 4.7's and 5.1's /3's etc.

Originally posted by slidingdoor
I'm trying to cast my mind back to the Chile aftershocks - do you remember or know how far up and down it affected
afterwards in terms of miles or kilometres from the epicentre?

This should give you an idea:

reply to post by slidingdoor


Here you go:

Preparing for the great quake

Thanks to both True American and Westcoast. Perhaps the extent of those aftershocks in terms of miles is to be expected afterall - phew on that front.

However, that article you linked Westcoast is concerning - it clearly states this event will not have alleviated any pressure on the plates further south.....