Documenting large earthquakes similar to the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake from sediments deposited in the Japan Trench over the past 1500 years

Ikehara, Ken; Kanamatsu, Toshiya; Nagahashi, Yoshitaka; Strasser, Michael; Fink, Hiske G; Usami, Kazuko; Irino, Tomohisa; Wefer, Gerold

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2016.04.009

Cited by 88 publications

(126 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Sediment remobilization induced by the Tohoku-oki earthquake (moment magnitude >9) and associated tsunami that struck NE Japan on 11 March 2011 triggered dense nepheloid layers in the >7 km-deep Japan Trench 9 and resulted in characteristic event deposits in underlying sediments 10,11,25 . The Japan Trench is an oceanic trench formed by the subduction of the oceanic Pacific Plate below the Okhotsk Plate 26 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Japan Trench is an oceanic trench formed by the subduction of the oceanic Pacific Plate below the Okhotsk Plate 26 . This plate boundary system is an active seismogenic zone that hosted the most recent tsunamigenic mega-earthquake 27 , triggering widespread remobilization and subsequent re-deposition of sediment and associated OM in confined terminal basins with water depths >7 km, far below the CCD 9,10,25 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Building on emerging knowledge of earthquake-triggered sediment remobilization processes gained from this recent earthquake, and the strong temporal constraints on prior similar events 25 , the objectives of this study were to assess the role of sediment mobilization and lateral transport processes on the characteristics and 14 C age of OM in hadal sediments, examine 14 C age-depth profiles of hadal sediments in the context of episodic, event-driven sedimentation, and assess whether reliable OM-based 14 C chronologies and age models can be established for carbonate biomineral-poor hadal zone sediments. We explore the utility of the RPO method for determining the radiocarbon ages and carbon isotopic compositions of OM in Japan Trench sediments, and for assessment of remobilization processes along this tectonically active subduction margin.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tectonically-triggered sediment and carbon export to the Hadal zone

et al. 2018

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Sediments in deep ocean trenches may contain crucial information on past earthquake history and constitute important sites of carbon burial. Here we present 14C data on bulk organic carbon (OC) and its thermal decomposition fractions produced by ramped pyrolysis/oxidation for a core retrieved from the >7.5 km-deep Japan Trench. High-resolution 14C measurements, coupled with distinctive thermogram characteristics of OC, reveal hemipelagic sedimentation interrupted by episodic deposition of pre-aged OC in the trench. Low δ13C values and diverse 14C ages of thermal fractions imply that the latter material originates from the adjacent margin, and the co-occurrence of pre-aged OC with intervals corresponding to known earthquake events implies tectonically triggered, gravity-flow-driven supply. We show that 14C ages of thermal fractions can yield valuable chronological constraints on sedimentary sequences. Our findings shed new light on links between tectonically driven sedimentological processes and marine carbon cycling, with implications for carbon dynamics in hadal environments.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tectonically-triggered sediment and carbon export to the Hadal zone

et al. 2018

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“…Trenches are probably among the most physically disturbed deep-sea habitats due to the frequent occurrence of turbidity flows and landslides resulting from the combination of seismic activity and steep topography (Blumberg et al 2008;Ikehara et al 2016). Thus, whilst food supply may not be as limiting as on the abyssal plain, it is likely to be highly patchy both temporally and spatially.…”

Section: Deep Sea: Hadal Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characteristics of meiofauna in extreme marine ecosystems: a review

et al. 2017

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Extreme marine environments cover more than 50% of the Earth's surface and offer many opportunities for investigating the biological responses and adaptations of organisms to stressful life conditions. Extreme marine environments are sometimes associated with ephemeral and unstable ecosystems, but can host abundant, often endemic and welladapted meiofaunal species. In this review, we present an integrated view of the biodiversity, ecology and physiological responses of marine meiofauna inhabiting several extreme marine environments (mangroves, submarine caves, Polar ecosystems, hypersaline areas, hypoxic/anoxic environments, hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, carcasses/sunken woods, deep-sea canyons, deep hypersaline anoxic basins [DHABs] and hadal zones). Foraminiferans, nematodes and copepods are abundant in almost all of these habitats and are dominant in deep-sea ecosystems. The presence and dominance of some other taxa that are normally less common may be typical of certain extreme conditions. Kinorhynchs are particularly well adapted to cold seeps and other environments that experience drastic changes in salinity, rotifers are well represented in polar ecosystems and loriciferans seem to be the only metazoan able to survive multiple stressors in DHABs. As well as natural processes, human activities may generate stressful conditions, including deoxygenation, acidification and rises in temperature. The behaviour and physiology of different meiofaunal taxa, such as some foraminiferans, nematode and copepod species, can provide vital information on how organisms may respond to these challenges and can provide a warning signal of anthropogenic impacts. From an evolutionary perspective, the discovery of new meiofauna taxa from extreme environments very often sheds light on phylogenetic relationships, while understanding how meiofaunal organisms are able to survive or even flourish in these conditions can explain evolutionary pathways. Finally, there are multiple potential economic benefits to be gained from ecological, biological, physiological and evolutionary studies of meiofauna in extreme environments. Despite all the advantages offered by meiofauna studies from extreme environments, there is still an urgent need to foster meiofauna research in terms of composition, ecology, biology and physiology focusing on extreme environments.

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“…Seismo-turbidites (turbidites deposited by earthquake-triggered turbidity currents) have been also used to estimate the recurrence history of earthquakes in other active tectonic margins (Goldfinger et al 2012;Gutierrez-Pastor et al 2013;Pouderoux et al 2014;Patton et al 2015). According to analysis of turbidites corresponding to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, the upper few centimeters of surface sediments (as distinct from largescale slope failure) were the primary contributors to sediment remobilization along the Japan Trench when the 2011 earthquake occurred (Ikehara et al 2016;McHugh et al 2016). Repeated depositions of seismo-turbidites due to similar remobilizations of surface sediments are speculated to have occurred along the Japan Trench.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supercycle in great earthquake recurrence along the Japan Trench over the last 4000 years

et al. 2018

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On the landward slope of the Japan Trench, the mid-slope terrace (MST) is located at a depth of 4000-6000 m. Two piston cores from the MST were analyzed to assess the applicability of the MST for turbidite paleoseismology and to find out reliable recurrence record of the great earthquakes along the Japan Trench. The cores have preserved records of ~ 12 seismo-turbidites (event deposits) during the last 4000 years. In the upper parts of the two cores, only the following earthquakes (magnitude M ~ 8 and larger) were clearly recorded: the 2011 Tohoku, the 1896 Sanriku, the 1454 Kyotoku, and the 869 Jogan earthquake. In the lower part of the cores, turbidites were deposited alternately in the northern and southern sites during the periods between concurrent depositional events occurring at intervals of 500-900 years. Considering the characteristics of the coring sites for their sensitivity to earthquake shaking, the concurrent depositional events likely correspond to a supercycle that follows giant (M ~ 9) earthquakes along the Japan Trench. Preliminary estimations of peak ground acceleration for the historical earthquakes recorded as the turbidites imply that each rupture length of the 1454 and 869 earthquakes was over 200 km. The earthquakes related to the supercycle have occurred over at least the last 4000 years, and the cycle seems to have become slightly shorter in recent years. Earthquakes off the Sanriku coast forming the alternative deposition of turbidites in the two cores have released a part of accumulated slip, as indicated by the turbidites deposited in only one core. Decreases in the release of accumulated slip have possibly caused the recent shortening of the supercycle.

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Documenting large earthquakes similar to the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake from sediments deposited in the Japan Trench over the past 1500 years

Cited by 88 publications

References 42 publications

Tectonically-triggered sediment and carbon export to the Hadal zone

Tectonically-triggered sediment and carbon export to the Hadal zone

Characteristics of meiofauna in extreme marine ecosystems: a review

Supercycle in great earthquake recurrence along the Japan Trench over the last 4000 years

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