Friday 5 August 2016

Magnitude 4.2 Earthquake in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded a Magnitude 4.2 Earthquake at a depth of about 30 km, about 6 km off the coast of the Chiba Peninsula on Honshū Island, at about 1.10 am on Wednesday 3 August 2016 Japan Standard Time (about 4.10 pm on Tuesday 2 August GMT). There are no reports of any damage or casualties associated with this event, people have reported feeling it locally.

 Map showing the location of the 17 February 2014 Iwate Prefecture Earthquake, and areas where the event was felt. Japan Meteorological Agency.
 
Japan has a complex tectonic situation, with parts of the country on four different tectonic plates. Eastern Honshū area lies on the boundary between the Pacific, Eurasian and Philipine Plates, where the Pacific Plate is passing beneath the Eurasian and Philipine Plates as it is subducted into the Earth. This is not a smooth process; the rocks of the two plates constantly stick together, only to break apart again as the pressure builds up, causing Earthquakes in the process.

The movement of the Pacific and Philippine Plates beneath eastern Honshū. Laurent Jolivet/Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orléans/Sciences de la Terre et de l'Environnement.

See also...

http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/japan-restricts-access-to-mount-hakone.htmlJapan restricts access to Mount Hakone after small eruption.                                     Authorities in Japan have closed off part of Mount Hakone, a popular tourist resort in Kanagawa Prefecture with hot springs and views of Mount Fuji, following a small eruption on Monday 29 June...
http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/alert-level-around-mount-hakone-raised.htmlAlert level around Mount Hakone raised amid fears of a phraetic erruption.                 Authorities in Kanagawa Prefecture have closed off an area of Mount Hakone, a popular tourist destination, following a rise sharp in seismic activities since 26 April 2015. An area of around 300 m around the...
http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/magnitude-57-earthquake-off-east-coast.htmlMagnitude 5.7 Earthquake off the east coast of Honshū Island, Japan.                                The Japan Meteorological Agency (which also monitors seismic activity) recorded a Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake at a depth of 50 km off the coast of Iwate Prefecture, slightly after 1.45 pm Japan Standard Time (slightly after 4.45 am GMT) on Tuesday 17...
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