Tsunami Source Inversion with Time Evolution and Real-time Estimation of Permanent Deformation at Observation Points

Abstract

A new tsunami source inversion method is proposed, which includes both effects of spatio-temporal evolution of tsunami source and estimation of permanent deformation at observation points. The method was applied to the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku tsunami. The accuracy of source estimation and wave prediction is significantly improved by this method. Ridge-shaped sea-surface uplift along the Japan Trench with the maximum height of about 7 m was estimated in the tsunami source inversion. The uplift is thought to be the origin of waveforms with a sharp peak which were recorded at northern Tohoku observation points. The applicability of real-time estimation of permanent deformation was verified for tsunami prediction. The maximum error of the estimated permanent deformation was less than 10 cm.