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Prompt gravity signal induced by the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake

Author

Listed:
  • Jean-Paul Montagner

    (Laboratoire de Sismologie, Institut de Physique du Globe, UMR/CNRS 7154)

  • Kévin Juhel

    (Laboratoire de Sismologie, Institut de Physique du Globe, UMR/CNRS 7154)

  • Matteo Barsuglia

    (APC, AstroParticule et Cosmologie, Université Paris Diderot, CNRS/IN2P3, CEA/Irfu, Observatoire de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité)

  • Jean Paul Ampuero

    (Seismological Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E. California Blvd.)

  • Eric Chassande-Mottin

    (APC, AstroParticule et Cosmologie, Université Paris Diderot, CNRS/IN2P3, CEA/Irfu, Observatoire de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité)

  • Jan Harms

    (National Institute for Nuclear Physics, Sezione Firenze)

  • Bernard Whiting

    (2001 Museum Road, University of Florida)

  • Pascal Bernard

    (Laboratoire de Sismologie, Institut de Physique du Globe, UMR/CNRS 7154)

  • Eric Clévédé

    (Laboratoire de Sismologie, Institut de Physique du Globe, UMR/CNRS 7154)

  • Philippe Lognonné

    (Laboratoire de Sismologie, Institut de Physique du Globe, UMR/CNRS 7154)

Abstract

Transient gravity changes are expected to occur at all distances during an earthquake rupture, even before the arrival of seismic waves. Here we report on the search of such a prompt gravity signal in data recorded by a superconducting gravimeter and broadband seismometers during the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake. During the earthquake rupture, a signal exceeding the background noise is observed with a statistical significance higher than 99% and an amplitude of a fraction of μGal, consistent in sign and order of magnitude with theoretical predictions from a first-order model. While prompt gravity signal detection with state-of-the-art gravimeters and seismometers is challenged by background seismic noise, its robust detection with gravity gradiometers under development could open new directions in earthquake seismology, and overcome fundamental limitations of current earthquake early-warning systems imposed by the propagation speed of seismic waves.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean-Paul Montagner & Kévin Juhel & Matteo Barsuglia & Jean Paul Ampuero & Eric Chassande-Mottin & Jan Harms & Bernard Whiting & Pascal Bernard & Eric Clévédé & Philippe Lognonné, 2016. "Prompt gravity signal induced by the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13349
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13349
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