Correlation of frontal prism structures and slope failures near the trench axis with shallow megathrust slip at the Japan Trench

Abstract

Since the giant 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, much research has focused on the distribution of coseismic slip at shallow depths during this subduction megathrust event. Here we present seismic images obtained in the immediate vicinity of the trench axis, that show thrust faults and fold-and-thrust type deformation structures near the epicenter of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake where the large coseismic slip has been inferred, and chaotic structure and the absence of thrust faults in northern and southern source areas. Seismic profiles show evidence of slope failures of the trench inner wall in a proposed tsunami source region around 39°–40° N, where the slips estimated from previous studies are in disagreement. Our results show that structural characteristics in the trench axis may be related to the occurrence of shallow megathrust slip and tsunamigenesis in the Japan Trench.