Host: The Association of Japanese Geographers
Noto Hanto earthquake (M-6.9) occurred at the depth of 10 km, off shore of West Noto peninsula on 25 March 2007. The previous study detected horseshoe-shaped surface deformation at Furue, Nakajima Town in Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interfeferograms. It indicated the possibility that the deformation initially occurred regardless of crustal deformation and existing landslide landform, mapped by Disaster Prevention Research Institute. In this study we described micro landform on the topographic map, surveyed by airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and investigated the relation between the surface deformation and the micro landform. As a result, existing landslide was identified at the southwest part of the deformation; however, its scar orientation is not coincident with the direction of motion by the deformation. Furthermore, we could not existing landslide landforms with in the deformation. Therefore, we again revealed that the deformation initially occurred as the landslide motion. To reveal its cause of the motion, further investigations are needed to reveal 3-D distribution of weathering layer thickness, acquifer, and tuff within the geologic unit where deformation is located. In the future it is desirable to investigate them using boring and geophysical exploration.
