The tsunami raced outward from the epicentre at speeds that approached about 500 miles (800 km) per hour. The jolt moved Japan's main island of Honshu eastward by 8 feet (2.4 meters). 1145 17th Street NW

The Tohoku earthquake caused a tsunami. Becky Oskin - Contributing Writer Explore these resources to teach your students about catastrophic weather events and how they impact every part of the world. When those plates scrape against each other and cause an earthquake, the results can be deadly and devastating. The temblor completely released centuries of built up stress between the two tectonic plates, a recent study found. Please refresh the page and try again. The massive surge destroyed three-story buildings where people had gathered for safety. Several hours later 9-foot (2.7-metre) tsunami waves struck the coasts of California and Oregon in North America. This map shows the travel times of the tsunami generated by the Honshu earthquake on March 11, 2011. You cannot download interactives. What if you could do something to help people who live in areas that are prone to earthquakes? National Geographic Headquarters Stay up to date on the coronavirus outbreak by signing up to our newsletter today. In Antarctica, the seismic waves from the earthquake sped up the Whillans Ice Stream, jolting it by about 1.5 feet (0.5 meters). It was centered on the seafloor 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of Tohoku, at a depth of 15 miles (24 km) below the surface. Code of Ethics. Now, tsunami experts from around the world have been asked to assess the history of past tsunamis in Japan, to better predict the country's future earthquake risk. The 2011 Tohoku earthquake struck offshore of Japan, along a subduction zone where two of Earth's tectonic plates collide. The total economic cost could reach up to $235 billion, the World Bank estimated, making it the costliest natural disaster in world history. As the floodwaters retreated back to the sea, they carried with them enormous quantities of debris, as well as thousands of victims caught in the deluge.

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. This is just what National Geographic Young Explorer Navakanesh M Batmanathan is trying to do. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. There was a problem. [Related: Weird Earth Movement After Japan Earthquake Finally Explained]. Scientists from around the world descended on Japan following the earthquake and tsunami. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. movement of tectonic plates resulting in geologic activity such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

This is an aerial view of damage to Sukuiso, Japan, a week after the earthquake and subsequent tsunami devastated the area in March, 2011. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. 13 September 2017. Washington, DC 20036, National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Very low levels of radioactive chemicals that leaked from Fukushima have been detected along the North American coast offshore Canada and California.

If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. industrial facility for the generation of electric energy. (The early estimate of magnitude 8.9 was later revised upward.) She or he will best know the preferred format.

Here are some of the amazing facts about the Japan earthquake and tsunami. The country's stringent seismic building codes and early warning system prevented many deaths from the earthquake, by stopping high-speed trains and factory assembly lines. The tsunami caused a cooling system failure at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, which resulted in a level-7 nuclear meltdown and release of radioactive materials. The clash of these plates can also cause violent earthquakes, where Earth’s surface shakes. John Rafferty, associate editor of Earth sciences at Encyclopædia Britannica, discussing tsunamis. "Fukushima was designed for a tsunami smaller than the one we saw.". The surface of the Earth is made up of tectonic plates that lie beneath both the land and oceans of our planet. Compare the human lives lost in Sumatra and Japan. The tsunami also instigated a major nuclear accident at a power station along the coast. Teams studied the tsunami deposits to better understand ancient sediment records of the deadly waves.

Trace amounts of cesium-134 and cesium-137, Related: Weird Earth Movement After Japan Earthquake Finally Explained, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency has reported, Ready.gov – What To Do During An Earthquake, Rare full moon on Halloween will be seen across the US for the first time in 76 years, An Earth-size planet is careening untethered through the galaxy, scientists find. The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings throughout the Pacific basin. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. For example, if you live in northern California you are more likely to be impacted by a wildfire, landslide, or earthquake than if you live in Charleston, South Carolina, but less likely to be hit by a hurricane. ocean waves triggered by an earthquake, volcano, or other movement of the ocean floor. Large stretches of land were left submerged under seawater, particularly in lower-lying areas. Most tsunamis, like the one that formed off Tohoku, are triggered by underwater tectonic activity, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

On May 22, 1960, the largest earthquake in recorded history—magnitude 9.5—struck southern Chile. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? You might not be able to tell them where or when an earthquake may occur, but you could possibly help minimize the impact of the deadly energy that is released in Earth’s crust.

The shaking lasted about six minutes. In Norway, water in fjords pointing toward Japan sloshed back and forth as seismic waves from the earthquake raced through.

Catastrophic weather events include hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, and droughts, among others. The 2011 Tohoku earthquake struck offshore of Japan, along a subduction zone where two of Earth's tectonic plates collide. Five million tons of material and debris from Japan were swept out to the Pacific Ocean by the tsunami.

While they can often be predicted, the loss of life and property take an emotional and economic toll on the community impacted. Earthquakes are more common in some parts of the world than others, because some places, like California, sit on top of the meeting point, or fault, of two plates. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? According to Japan's foreign ministry, 163 countries and regions, and 43 international organizations had offered assistance to Japan as of September 15, 2011. The waves overtopped and destroyed protective tsunami seawalls at several locations.

A Study of History: Who, What, Where, and When? On March 11, 2011, Japan experienced the strongest earthquake in its recorded history. More than 2,500 people are still reported missing. It's about 10 times less.". Japan's scientists had forecast a smaller earthquake would strike the northern region of Honshu, the country's main island.

any area on Earth with one or more common characteristics.

Sustainability Policy |  Receive news and offers from our other brands? The event began with a powerful earthquake off the northeastern coast of Honshu, Japan’s main island, which caused widespread damage on land and initiated a series of large tsunami waves that devastated many coastal areas of the country, most notably in the Tōhoku region (northeastern Honshu). In the tsunami's aftermath, Japan's Meteorological Agency was criticized for issuing an initial tsunami warning that underestimated the size of the wave. The tsunami destroyed homes, businesses, roads, railways, and factories.

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