Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Near-Source Strong Pulses During Two Large MJMA 6.5 and MJMA 7.3 Events in the 2016 Kumamoto, Japan, Earthquakes

Pure and Applied Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Cite this article

Abstract

Extremely large ground motions with strong pulses were observed near source faults during two large MJMA 6.5 and MJMA 7.3 events of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes in Japan. To investigate the mechanisms for generation of near-source strong pulses during both events, we first performed strong ground motion simulations in a broadband frequency range between 0.2 and 10 Hz using the empirical Green’s function method. For both the M6.5 and M7.3 events, strong motion generation area (SMGA) source models were prepared to simulate the ground motions, which were able to reproduce well the characteristics of the observed ground motions in and around the source areas. We also conducted ground motion simulations based on hypothetical simple source models to study the effect of rupture directivity on near-source strong ground motions. The principal findings regarding rupture directivity effects on near-source strong ground motions are as follows: (1) During the M6.5 event, the forward and upward rupture directivities from two strike-slip SMGAs caused two distinct strong pulses in the fault normal and parallel components, respectively. (2) During the M7.3 event, the upward rupture directivity along the fault dip direction from the strike-slip SMGA, including a small normal-slip, caused a strong pulse in both the fault parallel and normal components.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aoi, S., Kunugi, T., Nakamura, H., & Fujiwara, H. (2011). Deployment of new strong motion seismographs of K-NET and KiK-net. In S. Akkar, P. Gülkan, & T. van Eck (Eds.), Earthquake data in engineering seismology: geotechnical, geological, and earthquake engineering (Vol. 14, pp. 167–168). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Asano, K., & Iwata, T. (2016). Source rupture processes of the foreshock and mainshock in the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence estimated from the kinematic waveform inversion of strong motion data. Earth, Planets and Space,68, 147. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-016-0519-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouchon, M. (1981). A simple method to calculate Green’s functions for elastic layered media. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America,71, 959–971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fire and Disaster Management Agency. (2018). The 2016 Kumamoto earthquake (111th report), http://www.fdma.go.jp/bn/2016/detail/960.html. Accessed 20 Feb. 2018 (in Japanese).

  • Fujiwara, H., Kawai, S., Aoi, S., Morikawa, N., Senna, S., Azuma, H., et al. (2012). Some improvements of seismic hazard assessment based on the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Technical Note of the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention,379.

  • Fujiwara, H., Kawai, S., Aoi, S., Morikawa, N., Senna, S., Kudo, N., et al. (2009). A Study on subsurface structure model for deep sedimentary layers of Japan for strong-motion evaluation. Technical Note of the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention,337.

  • Fujiwara, S., Yarai, H., Kobayashi, T., Morishita, Y., Nakano, T., Miyahara, B., et al. (2016). Small-displacement linear surface ruptures of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence detected by ALOS-2 SAR interferometry. Earth, Planets and Space,68, 160. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-016-0534-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fukuyama, E., Ishida, M., Dreger, D. S., & Kawai, H. (1998). Automated seismic moment tensor determination using on-line broadband seismic waveforms. Zisin (Journal of the Seismological Society of Japan),2(51), 149–156. (In Japanese with English abstract).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hao, J., Ji, C., & Yao, Z. (2017). Slip history of the 2016 Mw 7.0 Kumamoto earthquake: Intraplate rupture in complex tectonic environment. Geophysical Research Letters,44, 743–750.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irikura, K. (1986). Prediction of strong acceleration motions using empirical Green’s function. In: Proceedings of the 7th Japan Earthquake Engineering Symposium, Tokyo, 151–156.

  • Irikura, K., Kagawa, T., & Sekiguchi, H. (1997). Revision of the empirical Green’s function method by Irikura (1986), programme and abstracts. Seismological Society of Japan,69, B25. (In Japanese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Irikura, K., Miyakoshi, K., Kamae, K., Yoshida, K., Somei, K., Kurahashi, S., et al. (2017). Applicability of source scaling relations for crustal earthquakes to estimation of the ground motions of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. Earth, Planets and Space,69, 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-016-0586-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamae, K., & Irikura, K. (1998). Source model of the 1995 Hyogo–Ken Nanbu earthquake and simulation of near-source ground motion. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America,88, 400–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kato, A., Fukuda, J., Nakagawa, S., & Obara, K. (2016). Foreshock migration preceding the 2016 Mw 7.0 Kumamoto earthquake, Japan. Geophysical Research Letters,43, 8945–8953.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennett, B. L. M., & Kerry, N. J. (1979). Seismic waves in a stratified half space. Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society,57, 557–583.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi, H., Koketsu, K., & Miyake, H. (2017a). Rupture processes of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence: Causes for extreme ground motions. Geophysical Research Letters,44, 6002–6010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi, G., Mamada, Y., & Wu, C. (2017b). Analysis of the factors of large acceleration amplitude and estimation of the bedrock ground motions at the KiK-net Mashiki station caused by the maximum foreshock (Mj 6.5) of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. Journal of Japan Association for earthquake engineering,17–4, 101–139. (In Japanese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kubo, H., Suzuki, W., Aoi, S., & Sekiguchi, H. (2016). Source rupture processes of the 2016 Kumamoto, Japan, earthquakes estimated from strong-motion waveforms. Earth, Planets and Space,68, 161. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-016-0536-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurita, T. (2017). Nonlinearity amplification of subsurface ground at KiK-net Mashiki site during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake. Journal of civil engineering A1(structure/earthquake engineering),73, 74–82. (In Japanese, abstract in English).

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyake, H., Iwata, T., & Irikura, K. (2003). Source characterization for broadband ground-motion simulation: Kinematic heterogeneous source model and strong motion generation area. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America,93, 2531–2545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyatake, T. (2000). Computer simulation of strong ground motion near a fault using dynamic fault rupture modeling: Spatial distribution of the peak ground velocity vectors. Pure and Applied Geophysics,157, 2063–2081.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakata, T., & Imaizumi, T. (Eds.). (2002). Digital active fault map of Japan. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ozawa, T., Fujita, E., & Ueda, H. (2016). Crustal deformation associated with the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake and its effect on the magma system of Aso volcano. Earth, Planets and Space,68, 186. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-016-0563-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Satoh, T. (2016). Source, path and site effects of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, the foreshocks and aftershocks using the spectral inversion method. In: Abstracts of Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2016, MIS34-P71.

  • Shirahama, Y., Yoshimi, M., Awata, Y., Maruyama, T., Azuma, T., Miyashita, Y., et al. (2016). Characteristics of the surface ruptures associated with the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence, central Kyushu, Japan. Earth, Planets and Space,68, 191. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-016-0559-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Si, H., & Midorikawa, S. (1999). New attenuation relationships for peak ground acceleration and velocity considering effects of fault type and site condition. Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering,523, 63–70. (In Japanese with English abstract).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somerville, P. G., Smith, N. F., Graves, R. W., & Abrahamson, N. A. (1997). Modification of empirical strong ground motion attenuation relations to include the amplitude and duration effects of rupture directivity. Seismological Research Letters,68, 199–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sugito, N., Goto, H., Kumahara, Y., Tsutsumi, H., Nakata, T., Kagohara, K., et al. (2016). Surface fault ruptures associated with the 14 April foreshock (Mj 6.5) of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence, southwest Japan. Earth Planets and Space,68, 170. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-016-0547-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki, W., Aoi, S., Kunugi, T., Kubo, H., Morikawa, N., Nakamura, H., et al. (2017). Strong motions observed by K-NET and KiK-net during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence. Earth, Planets and Space,69, 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-017-0604-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uchide, T., Horikawa, H., Nakai, M., Matsushita, R., Shigematsu, N., Ando, R., et al. (2016). The 2016 Kumamoto–Oita earthquake sequence: aftershock seismicity gap and dynamic triggering in volcanic areas. Earth, Planets and Space,68, 180. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-016-0556-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wessel, P., & Smith, W. H. F. (1998). New, improved version of Generic Mapping Tools released. Eos Transaction American Geophysical Union,79, 579.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yagi, Y., Okuwaki, R., Enescu, B., Kasahara, A., Miyakawa, A., & Otsubo, M. (2016). Rupture process of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake in relation to the thermal structure around Aso volcano. Earth, Planets and Space,68, 118. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-016-0492-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida, K., Miyakoshi, K., & Somei, K. (2016). Source processes of three large events of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes inferred from waveform inversion with strong-motion records. In: Abstracts of Japan Geoscience Union Meeting 2016, MIS34-P64.

  • Yoshida, K., Miyakoshi, K., Somei, K., & Irikura, K. (2017). Source process of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake (Mj7.3) inferred from kinematic inversion of strong-motion records. Earth Planets and Space,69, 64. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-017-0649-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Strong motion data from K-NET, KiK-net, and F-net were provided by the NIED. We also used moment tensor solutions routinely determined by F-net. The JMA unified earthquake catalog was produced by the JMA in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Most of the figures were drawn using Generic Mapping Tools (Wessel and Smith, 1998). We are grateful to Yoshimitsu Fukushima, Luis A. Dalguer, Catherine Berge-Thierry, Fabrice Hollender, Philippe Renault, Dogan Seber, Changjiang Wu, and Marion Bard who organized the 2nd international workshop on Best Practice in Physics-based Fault Rupture Models for Seismic Hazard Assessment of Nuclear Installations (Best-PSHANI), May 14–16, 2018, Cadarache-Château, France. The presentations and discussions during this conference stimulated us to focus and clarify this study. The careful reviews and comments by two anonymous reviewers and the guest editor Yoshimitsu Fukushima were quite helpful in improving the manuscript. This study was based on the 2016 research project “Examination for uncertainty of strong ground motion prediction for inland crustal earthquakes” by The Secretariat of the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), Japan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geo-Research Institute, 6F, Kokuminkaikan-Sumitomoseimei Bldg., 2-1-2, Otemae, Chuo-Ku, Osaka, 540-0008, Japan

    Kazuhiro Somei, Ken Miyakoshi & Kunikazu Yoshida

  2. Aichi Institute of Technology, 1247, Yachigusa, Yakusa Cho, Toyota, Aichi, 470-0392, Japan

    Susumu Kurahashi & Kojiro Irikura

Authors
  1. Kazuhiro Somei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ken Miyakoshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kunikazu Yoshida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Susumu Kurahashi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kojiro Irikura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kazuhiro Somei.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Somei, K., Miyakoshi, K., Yoshida, K. et al. Near-Source Strong Pulses During Two Large MJMA 6.5 and MJMA 7.3 Events in the 2016 Kumamoto, Japan, Earthquakes. Pure Appl. Geophys. 177, 2223–2240 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-019-02095-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-019-02095-6

Keywords

search

Navigation