ESTIMATION OF MAGNITUDE OF EACH STRONG MOTION GENERATION AREA OF THE 2011 OFF THE PACIFIC COAST OF TOHOKU EARTHQUAKE

Abstract

 The March 11th, 2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku Earthquake of Mw9.0 was the biggest instrumentally recorded earthquake Japan has ever been shaken by. Several wave groups were observed in each strong ground motion record near the source area suggesting that multiple source areas were ruptured consecutively. It is imperative to examine magnitude of each strong motion generation area to discuss in a rational manner the source rupturing process of this earthquake and the destructive nature of the shake. We estimate the magnitude of each strong motion generation area using an empirical attenuation relationship for peak ground velocity and observed peak ground velocities.