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Dynamic Source Model for the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake in a Wide Period Range Combining Slip Reactivation with the Short-Period Ground Motion Generation Process

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Abstract

This paper describes a validated dynamic rupture model of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake that reproduces both long-period (20–100 s) and short-period (3–20 s) ground motions. In order to reproduce the observed large slip area (slip asperity), we assign a large Dc (slip critical distance) area following kinematic source inversion results. Sufficiently large slip is achieved through rupture reactivation by the double-slip-weakening friction model. In order to reproduce the strong-motion generation areas (SMGAs), we assign short Dc and large stress-drop areas following empirical Green’s function (EGF) simulation results, which indicate that, although more distant from the hypocenter, SMGA1 ruptured earlier than SMGA2 or SMGA3, which are closer to the hypocenter. This observation is confirmed by the backprojection method. In order to reproduce this important feature in dynamic simulation results, we introduce a chain of small high stress-drop patches between the hypocenter and SMGA1. By systematic adjustment of stress drops and Dc, the rupture reproduces the observed sequence and timing of SMGA ruptures and the final slip derived by kinematic models. This model also reproduces the multiseismic wavefront observed from strong ground motion data recorded along the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region. We compare the velocity waveforms recorded at rock sites along the coastline with one-dimensional (1D) synthetic seismograms for periods of 20–100 s. The fit is very good at stations in the northern and central areas of Tohoku. We also perform finite-difference method (FDM) simulations for periods of 3–20 s, and confirm that our dynamic model also reproduces wave envelopes. Overall, we are able to validate the rupture process of the Tohoku earthquake.

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Acknowledgements

We deeply appreciate comments provided by two anonymous reviewers and Guest Editor Dr. Changjiang Wu. Discussions with Dr. Ken Miyakoshi were helpful to improve the paper. This study was based on the 2014 research project “Improvement for uncertainty of strong ground motion prediction” by the Secretariat of the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), Japan. The Super Computer Shaheen II at KAUST University was used to run the models presented in this study. Shaheen II is a Cray XC40 delivering over 7.2 Pflop/s of theoretical peak performance. Overall the system has a total of 197,568 processor cores and 790 TB of aggregate memory.

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  1. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

    Percy Galvez

  2. Geo-Research Institute, Osaka, Japan

    Anatoly Petukhin

  3. Aichi Institute of Technology, Toyota, Japan

    Kojiro Irikura

  4. AECOM, Los Angeles, USA

    Percy Galvez & Paul Somerville

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  1. Percy Galvez
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Galvez, P., Petukhin, A., Irikura, K. et al. Dynamic Source Model for the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake in a Wide Period Range Combining Slip Reactivation with the Short-Period Ground Motion Generation Process. Pure Appl. Geophys. 177, 2143–2161 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-019-02210-7

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