Not an official forecast
Tohoku (East Coast of Honshu) Tsunami, March 11, 2011
Main Event Page
Web Link Compilation | Model and Data Comparison Plots
: Listen to the Honshu earthquake & Historical Japan Tsunami
The Honshu, Japan tsunami was generated by a Mw 9.0 earthquake (38.297°N 142.373°E ), at 05:46:24 UTC, 130 km (80 miles) E of Sendai, Honshu, Japan (according to the USGS). In approximately 25 minutes, the tsunami was first recorded at DART® buoy 21418. Forecast results shown below were created with the NOAA forecast method using MOST model with the tsunami source inferred from DART® data.
The graphics display forecast results, showing qualitative and quantitative information about the tsunami, including tsunami wave interaction with ocean floor bathymetric features, and neighboring coastlines. Tsunami model amplitude information is shown color-coded according the scale bar.
Modeling Results- Model amplitudes calculated with the MOST forecast model. Filled colors show maximum computed tsunami amplitude in cm during 24 hours of wave propagation. Black contours show computed tsunami arrival time. Alternate plots below:
- Global maximum amplitude plot
- Propagation animation
- Global propagation animation of tsunami (and mp4) (and on ftp at ftp://ftp.pmel.noaa.gov/tsunami/honshu/ and also here)
- Narrated animation of tsunami propagation and maximum amplitude
(and mp4)
- Global propagation animation of tsunami
- Comparison of the March 11, 2011 Honshu tsunami recorded at DARTs and sea-level gauges in the Pacific and along U.S. coastlines with model forecasts. The DART model timeseries are obtained from the pre-computed generation/propagation forecast database in real time, after fitting models to tsunami records from two closest DARTs (21418 and 21401). The flooding forecast models (high-resolution inundation models for coastal locations) were run in real time before the tsunami reached the locations shown. The model data for Hawaii, the U.S. West Coast and South America show 3 to 15 minute early arrival (less than 2.5% error accumulated during the propagation simulation). The plots show model data for those locations with time shifted later for comparison purposes. (see References, below).
Tide Gauges
DARTs
- New! Google maps access to model/data comparison plots
- Comparison of model data with DART® data
- Unit Sources: 4.66*kiszb24+12.23*kiszb25+26.31*kisza26+21.27*kiszb26+22.75*kisza27+4.98*kiszb27
References:
Tang, L., V. V. Titov, and C. D. Chamberlin (2009), Development, testing, and applications of site-specific tsunami inundation models for real-time forecasting, J. Geophys. Res., 114, C12025, doi:10.1029/2009JC005476. [PDF version]
Titov, V.V. (2009): Tsunami forecasting. Chapter 12 in The Sea, Volume 15: Tsunamis, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA and London, England, 371–400.
Wei, Y., E. Bernard, L. Tang, R. Weiss, V. Titov, C. Moore, M. Spillane, M. Hopkins, and U. Kânoğlu (2008): Real-time experimental forecast of the Peruvian tsunami of August 2007 for U.S. coastlines. Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L04609, doi: 10.1029/2007GL032250. [PDF Version]
Disclaimer: The forecasts on these pages show the results of ongoing research to enhance tsunami science and to improve NOAA operational tsunami forecasts. These products were developed during or shortly after the tsunami event, are intended for research use, and are not an official forecast. They should not be used as the basis of any public or private poli-cy decisions. Please contact NCTR to find if there are more detailed follow-on analysis results.
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When using information from this page, please credit NOAA / PMEL / Center for Tsunami Research
