Abstract
Coastal forests along the Pacific coast of Miyagi Prefecture exhibited a protective effect against inundation from the mega tsunami following the 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku. Damage (rate of standing versus fallen trees) to the coastal forests, tree diameter, annual rings, tree height, and ground level were surveyed. Using the surveyed data, satellite photos from Google and Yahoo, and electronic data obtained from the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, the mutual relationships among the tsunami inundation depth, the rate of forest damage, tree diameter, and height of coastal forests were examined. The diameter and age of tsunami-resistant trees still standing after the tsunami were considered in detail. Results indicate that trees with a diameter greater than 35 cm, which were more than 51years old, were not felled by the mega tsunami.
