Abstract
Based on a spherically symmetric, self-gravitating viscoelastic Earth model, we derive a complete set of Green’s functions for the post-seismic surface strain changes for four independent dislocation sources: strike-slip, dip-slip, and horizontal and vertical tensile point sources. The post-seismic surface strain changes caused by an arbitrary earthquake can be obtained by a combination of the above Green’s functions. The post-seismic surface strain changes in the near field agree well with the results calculated by the method in a half-space Earth model (Wang et al. in Comupt Geosci 32:527–541, 2006), which verifies our Green’s functions. With an increase in the epicentral distance, the effect of the curvature on both the co- and post-seismic strain changes clearly increases, revealing the importance of our spherical theory for far-field calculations. Next, we use our Green’s functions to simulate the post-seismic surface strain changes that were caused by the viscoelastic relaxation of the mantle over the 6-year period after the Tohoku-Oki Mw 9.0 earthquake. Based on continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) observations around Honshu Island of Japan, Northeastern China, South Korea and the Russian Far East, we also deduce the post-seismic strain changes caused by the Tohoku-Oki Mw 9.0 earthquake. Overall, the distributions of the calculated and GPS-derived strain changes agree well each other. Finally, we compare the relative error between the observed and simulated strain changes over the 3.0–4.5-year period after the earthquake in both the near and far field. We find that the relative errors decrease as the epicentral distance increases, which validates our Green’s functions for research in the far field.
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig1_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig2_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig3_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig4_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig5_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig6_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig7_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig8_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig9_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig10_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig11_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig12_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig13_HTML.png)
![](http://media.springernature.com/m312/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1007%2Fs00024-018-2054-z/MediaObjects/24_2018_2054_Fig14_HTML.png)
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Araya, A., Takamori, A., Morii, W., Hayakawa, H., Uchiyama, T., & Ohashi, M. (2010). Analyses of far-field coseismic crustal deformation observed by a new laser distance measurement system. Geophysical Journal International, 181, 127–140.
Araya, A., Takamori, A., Morii, W., Miyo, K., Ohashi, M., & Hayama, K. (2017). Design and operation of a 1500-m laser strainmeter installed at an underground site in Kamioka, Japan. Earth Planets Space, 69, 77.
Chinnery, M. A. (1961). The deformation of ground around surface faults. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 51, 355–372.
Chinnery, M. A. (1963). The stress changes that accompany strike-slip faulting. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 53, 921–932.
Diao, F., Xiong, X., Wang, R., Zheng, Y., Walter, T. R., Weng, H., et al. (2014). Overlapping post-seismic deformation processes: Afterslip and viscoelastic relaxation following the 2011 M w 9.0 Tohoku (Japan) earthquake. Geophysical Journal International, 196, 218–229.
Dong, J., Sun, W., Zhou, X., & Wang, R. (2014). Effects of earth’s layered structure, gravity and curvature on coseismic deformation. Geophysical Journal International, 199, 1442–1451.
Dong, J., Sun, W., Zhou, X., & Wang, R. (2016). An analytical approach to estimate curvature effect of coseismic deformations. Geophysical Journal International, 206, 1327–1339.
Dziewonski, A. M., & Anderson, A. (1981). Preliminary reference earth model. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 25, 297–356.
Fang, M., & Hager, B. H. (1994). A singularity free approach to post glacial rebound calculations. Geophysical Research Letters, 21, 2131–2134.
Freed, A. M., Hashima, A., Becker, T. W., Okaya, D. A., Sato, H., & Hatanaka, Y. (2017). Resolving depth-dependent subduction zone viscosity and afterslip from postseismic displacements following the 2011 Tohoku-oki, Japan earthquake. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 459, 279–290.
Fu, G., & Sun, W. (2004). Effects of spatial distribution of fault slip on calculating co-seismic displacement: case studies of the Chi-Chi earthquake (M w 7.6) and the Kunlun earthquake (M w 7.8). Geophysical Research Letters, 31, 177–178.
Fukahata, Y., & Matsu’ura, M. (2005). General expressions for internal deformation fields due to a dislocation source in a multilayered elastic halfspace. Geophysical Journal International, 161, 507–521.
Fukahata, Y., & Matsu’ura, M. (2006). Quasi-static internal deformation due to a dislocation source in a multilayered elastic/viscoelastic half-space and an equivalence theorem. Geophysical Journal International, 166, 418–434.
Gao, S., Fu, G., Liu, T., & Zhang, G. (2017). A new code for calculating post-seismic displacements as well as geoid and gravity changes on a layered visco-elastic spherical earth. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 174, 1167–1180.
Hashima, A., Fukahata, Y., Hashimoto, C., & Matsu’ura, M. (2014). Quasi-static strain and stress fields due to a moment tensor in elastic–viscoelastic layered half-space. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 171, 1669–1693.
Hashima, A., Takada, Y., Fukahata, Y., & Matsu’ura, M. (2008). General expressions for internal deformation due to a moment tensor in an elastic/viscoelastic multilayered half-space. Geophysical Journal International, 175, 992–1012.
Lee, E. H. (1955). Stress analysis in visco-elastic bodies. Quarterly of Applied Mathematics, 13, 183–190.
Liu, T., Fu, G., Zhou, X., & Su, X. (2017). Mechanism of post-seismic deformations following the 2011 Tohoku-Oki M w 9.0 earthquake and general structure of lithosphere around the sources. Chinese Journal of Geophysics, 60, 3406–3417. (in Chinese).
Maruyama, T. (1964). Statical elastic dislocations in an infinite and semi-infinite medium. Bulletin of the Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 42, 289–368.
Noda, A., Takahama, T., Kawasato, T., & Matsu’ura, M. (2018). Interpretation of offshore crustal movements following the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake by the combined effect of afterslip and viscoelastic stress relaxation. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 175, 559–572.
Ohzono, M., Yabe, Y., Iinuma, T., Yusaku, O., Miura, S., & Tachibana, K. (2012). Strain anomalies induced by the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake (M w, 9.0) as observed by a dense GPS network in northeastern Japan. Earth Planets Space, 64, 1231–1238.
Okada, Y. (1985). Surface deformation due to shear and tensile faults in a half-space. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 75, 1135–1154.
Okubo, S. (1991). Potential and gravity changes raised by point dislocations. Geophysical Journal International, 105, 573–586.
Okubo, S. (1992). Potential and gravity changes due to shear and tensile faults in a half-space. Journal of Geophysical Research, 97, 7137–7144.
Okubo, S. (1993). Reciprocity theorem to compute the static deformation due to a point dislocation buried in a spherically symmetric earth. Geophysical Journal International, 115, 921–928.
Ozawa, S., Nishimura, T., Munekata, H., Suito, H., Kobayashi, T., Tobita, M., et al. (2012). Preceding, coseismic, and postseismic slips of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, Japan. Journal of Geophysical Research, 117, B07404. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JB009120.
Ozawa, S., Nishimura, T., Suito, H., Kobayashi, T., Tobita, M., & Imakiire, T. (2011). Coseismic and postseismic slip of the 2011 magnitude-9 Tohoku-oki earthquake. Nature, 475, 373–376.
Peltier, W. R. (1974). The impulse response of a Maxwell Earth. Reviews of Geophysics, 12, 649–669.
Piersanti, A., Spada, G., Sabadini, R., & Bonafede, M. (1995). Global postseismic deformation. Geophysical Journal International, 120, 544–566.
Pollitz, F. F. (1997). Gravitational viscoelastic postseismic relaxation on a layered spherical Earth. Journal of Geophysical Research, 102, 17921–17941.
Radok, J. R. M. (1957). Visco-elastic stress analysis. Quarterly of Applied Mathematics, 15, 198–202.
Saito, M. (1967). Excitation of free oscillations and surface waves by a point source in a vertically heterogeneous earth. Journal of Geophysical Research, 72, 3689–3699.
Savage, J. C., Gan, W., & Svarc, J. L. (2001). Strain accumulation and rotation in the Eastern California Shear Zone. Journal of Geophysical Research, 106, 21995–22007.
Savage, J. C., Prescott, W. H., & Gu, G. (1986). Strain accumulation in southern California, 1973–1984. Journal of Geophysical Research, 91, 7455–7473.
Steketee, J. A. (1958). On Volterra’s dislocations in a semi-infinite elastic medium. Canadian Journal of Physics, 36, 192–205.
Sun, W., & Okubo, S. (1998). Surface potential and gravity changes due to internal dislocations in a spherical earth -II. Application to a finite fault. Geophysical Journal International, 132, 79–88.
Sun, W., & Okubo, S. (2002). Effects of earth’s spherical curvature and radial heterogeneity in dislocation studies—for a point dislocation. Geophysical Research Letters, 29, 46–1–46-4.
Sun, W., Okubo, S., & Fu, G. (2006). Green’s functions of co-seismic strain changes and investigation of effect of earth’s spherical curvature and radial heterogeneity. Geophysical Journal International, 167, 1273–1291.
Sun, W., Okubo, S., Fu, G., & Araya, A. (2009). General formulations of global co-seismic deformations caused by an arbitrary dislocation in a spherically symmetric earth model—applicable to deformed earth surface and space-fixed point. Geophysical Journal International, 177, 817–833.
Sun, W., Okubo, S., & Vaníček, P. (1996). Global displacements caused by point dislocations in a realistic Earth model. Journal of Geophysical Research, 101, 8561–8578.
Sun, T., Wang, K., Iinuma, T., Hino, R., He, J., Fujimoto, H., et al. (2014). Prevalence of viscoelastic relaxation after the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake. Nature, 514(7520), 84–87.
Takagi, Y., & Okubo, S. (2017). Internal deformation caused by a point dislocation in a uniform elastic sphere. Geophysical Journal International, 208, 973–991.
Takahashi, H. (2011). Static strain and stress changes in eastern Japan due to the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake, as derived from GPS data. Earth Planets Space, 63, 741–744.
Takeuchi, H., & Saito, M. (1972). Seismic surface waves. Methods in Computational Physics Advances in Research & Applications, 11, 217–295.
Tanaka, T., Okuno, J., & Okubo, S. (2006). A new method for the computation of global viscoelastic post-seismic deformation in a realistic earth model (I)—vertical displacement and gravity variation. Geophysical Journal International, 164, 273–289.
Tanaka, T., Okuno, J., & Okubo, S. (2007). A new method for the computation of global viscoelastic post-seismic deformation in a realistic earth model (II)—Horizontal displacement. Geophysical Journal International, 170, 1031–1052.
Tang, H., & Sun, W. (2017). Asymptotic expressions for changes in the surface co-seismic strain on a homogeneous sphere. Geophysical Journal International, 209, 202–225.
Tape, C., Musé, P., Simons, M., Dong, D., & Webb, F. (2009). Multiscale estimation of GPS velocity fields. Geophysical Journal International, 179, 945–971.
Vermeersen, L. L. A., & Sabadini, R. (1997). A new class of stratified viscoelastic models by analytical techniques. Geophysical Journal International, 129, 531–570.
Wang, H. (1999). Surface vertical displacements, potential perturbations and gravity changes of a viscoelastic earth model induced by internal point dislocations. Geophysical Journal International, 137, 429–440.
Wang, R., Lorenzo-Martin, F., & Roth, F. (2003). Computation of deformation induced by earthquakes in a multi-layered elastic crust—FORTRAN programs EDGRN/EDCMP. Computer & Geosciences, 29, 195–207.
Wang, R., Lorenzo-Martin, F., & Roth, F. (2006). PSGRN/PSCMP—a new code for calculating co- and post-seismic deformation, geoid and gravity changes based on the viscoelastic-gravitational dislocation theory. Computer & Geosciences, 32, 527–541.
Wei, S., Graves, R., Helmberger, D., Avouac, J. P., & Jiang, J. (2012). Sources of shaking and flooding during the Tohoku-Oki earthquake: a mixture of rupture styles. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 333–334, 91–100.
Yamagiwa, S., Miyazaki, S., Hirahara, K., & Fukahata, Y. (2015). Afterslip and viscoelastic relaxation following the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake (M w 9.0) inferred from inland GPS and seafloor GPS/acoustic data. Geophysical Research Letters, 42, 66–73.
Zhao, Q., Fu, G., Wu, W., Liu, T., Su, L., Su, X., et al. (2018). Spatial-temporal evolution and corresponding mechanism of the far-field post-seismic displacements following the 2011 M w 9. 0 Tohoku earthquake. Geophysical Journal International, 214, 1774–1782.
Zhou, X., Cambiotti, G., Sun, W., & Sabadini, R. (2014). The coseismic slip distribution of a shallow subduction fault constrained by prior information: the example of 2011 Tohoku (M w 9.0) megathrust earthquake. Geophysical Journal International, 199, 981–995.
Zhou, X., Sun, W., Zhao, B., Fu, G., Dong, J. & Nie, Z. (2012). Geodetic observations detecting coseismic displacements and gravity changes caused by the M w = 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake. Journal of Geophysical Research, 117, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011jb008849.
Acknowledgements
We thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions. We thank Dr. Yoshiyuki Tanaka at Earthquake Research Institute, the University of Tokyo for providing us with his computer codes, which helped us to establish the Green’s functions for post-seismic strain changes. The Green’s functions are available in Table 1. This work was financially supported by the National Science Foundation of China (41574071; 41874003; 41331066) and the Basic Research Projects of Institute of Earthquake Science, China Earthquake Administration (2016IES010204).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Appendices
Appendices
1.1 Appendix 1: Explicit Expressions for the Homogeneous Terms
According to Takeuchi and Saito (1972), one can obtain the numerical solution of Eqs. (6) and (7) when excluding excitation terms.
The explicit expressions for the homogeneous terms are specifically written as
where \(\lambda (s) = \frac{{\lambda s + {{\mu K} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\mu K} \eta }} \right. \kern-0pt} \eta }}}{{s + {\mu \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {\mu \eta }} \right. \kern-0pt} \eta }}},\; \mu (s) = \frac{\mu s}{{s + {\mu \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {\mu \eta }} \right. \kern-0pt} \eta }}},\; K = \lambda + \frac{2}{3}\mu\), based on the Laplace transform of Maxwell’s constitutive equation (Peltier 1974); and \(g = \left| {\varvec{g}(\varvec{r})} \right|\) denotes the magnitude of the gravity (Takeuchi and Saito 1972).
1.2 Appendix 2: The Solution of the Differential Equation
According to Tanaka et al. (2006, 2007), the expressions for \(F_{v}^{i}\) (i = 1,…,4), \(F_{u}^{i}\) (i = 1,…,4) and \(F_{t}^{i}\) (i = 1, 2) can be expressed as follows:
In the above equations, the relationship between X, x1 and x3 can be found in Okubo (1993) as
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, T., Fu, G., She, Y. et al. Green’s Functions for Post-seismic Strain Changes in a Realistic Earth Model and Their Application to the Tohoku-Oki Mw 9.0 Earthquake. Pure Appl. Geophys. 176, 3929–3949 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-018-2054-z
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-018-2054-z