MEGA-EARTHQUAKE ON 11 MARCH 2011 IN JAPAN AND AFTERSHOCK PROCESS DYNAMICS' DEVELOPMENT
Abstract and keywords
Abstract (English):
The article provides data on seismic activity and recurrence periods of strongest (M ge; 7.6 earthquakes for the historical and instrumental periods of observations in epicenter area of a mega-event. It was shown that a period of recurrence of strongest events in this area was about 40 years. To the east of Honshu island a long seismic gap (~800nbsp;km was discovered, located to the south of latitude 39oN and filled recently with aftershocks of the 11.03.2011 mega-earthquake. Significant analogues in aftershocks dynamics of the 2011 Great Japan Earthquake with aftershock sequences of the Sumatra-Andaman 2004, Mw = 9.3 and Simushir 2006, Mw = 8.3 earthquakes were described. A similarity over time for the first event and over space field of aftershocks' epicenters for the second event was noted. The author suggested a possibility of occurrence of a recurrent strong event with magnitude approximately equal to 8, shifted along the main thrust towards the deep oceanic trench.

Keywords:
Large earthquake, recurrence of the large earthquakes, seismic gap, mega-earthquake, aftershock sequence, strongest aftershock, field of aftershocks' epicenters, probable scenario
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