March 11, 2011 Japan (Tsunami) - Magnitude 8.9 NEAR THE...

Modified Mercalli Intensity
Perceived
Shaking
Extreme
Violent
Severe
Very Strong
Strong
Moderate
Light
Weak
Not Felt
USGS Estimated shaking Intensity from M 8.9 Earthquake
Shaking intensity scales were developed to standardize the measurements and
ease comparison of different earthquakes. The Modified-Mercalli Intensity scale
is a twelve-stage scale, numbered
from I to XII. The lower numbers
represent imperceptible shaking
levels, XII represents total
destruction. A value of IV indicates
a level of shaking that is felt by
most people.
Image courtesy of the US Geological Survey
Magnitude 8.9 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN Magnitude 8.9 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
Friday, March 11, 2011 at 05:46:23 UTC March 11, 2011 at 05:46:23 UTC

Ground Motion Recorded at
Stony Brook Campus

This earthquake was the
result of thrust faulting
along or near the
convergent plate boundary
where the Pacific Plate
subducts beneath Japan.
This map also shows the
rate and direction of motion
of the Pacific Plate with
respect to the Eurasian
Plate near the Japan
Trench. The rate of
convergence at this plate
boundary is about 83 mm/yr
(8 cm/year). This is a fairly
high convergence rate and