More than 21, hectares of farmland were destroyed by flooding and by salt water; some has been reclaimed and some has returned to wildland. The World Bank estimated it to be the costliest natural disaster in world history.
S on rebuilding the region to date. Story by Michael Carlowicz. View this area in EO Explorer. In March , a magnitude 9. Acquired in March and February , these images document the recession of flood waters after the Tohoku tsunami.
The earthquake was one of the most powerful of the last 35 years and had a magnitude of 8. After the initial quake, coastal residents witnessed a sudden draw-down of the ocean and knew a tsunami was imminent. They had less than 20 minutes to reach higher ground before the tsunami hit. Waves as high as 8 meters came in four destructive surges reaching as far as 1. Thousands of buildings were destroyed, and the combined earthquake and tsunami killed as many as people.
Image of the Day Land. Acquired March 18, , this natural-color image shows agricultural fields near Sendai, Japan, covered with either snow or flood water. The waves overtopped and destroyed protective tsunami seawalls at several locations. The massive surge destroyed three-story buildings where people had gathered for safety. Near Oarai, the tsunami generated a huge whirlpool offshore, captured on video.
The tsunami caused a cooling system failure at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant , which resulted in a level-7 nuclear meltdown and release of radioactive materials.
The electrical power and backup generators were overwhelmed by the tsunami, and the plant lost its cooling capabilities. The earthquake was not a factor," Titov said. Very low levels of radioactive chemicals that leaked from Fukushima have been detected along the North American coast offshore Canada and California. Trace amounts of cesium and cesium radioactive isotopes were found in seawater collected in and In the tsunami's aftermath, Japan's Meteorological Agency was criticized for issuing an initial tsunami warning that underestimated the size of the wave.
The country recently unveiled a newly installed, upgraded tsunami warning system. In some regions, such as Miyagi and Fukushima, only 58 percent of people headed for higher ground immediately after the earthquake, according to a Japanese government study published in August Many people also underestimated their personal risk , or assumed the tsunami would be as small as ones they had previously experienced, the study found. Scientists from around the world descended on Japan following the earthquake and tsunami.
Researchers sailed offshore and dropped sensors along the fault line to measure the forces that caused the earthquake. Teams studied the tsunami deposits to better understand ancient sediment records of the deadly waves. Earthquake engineers examined the damage, looking for ways to build buildings more resistant to quakes and tsunamis.
Studies are ongoing today. The tsunami waves also traveled across the Pacific, reaching Alaska, Hawaii and Chile. In Chile, some 11, miles 17, km distant, the tsunami was 6. The surge of water carried an estimated 5 million tons of debris out to sea, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency has reported.
Japanese docks and ships, and countless household items, have arrived on U. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom. Background Info Vocabulary.
Links map Click below to see a MapMaker Interactive map displaying tectonic activity surrounding the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Select Text Level: Educator Family. On March 11, , Japan experienced the strongest earthquake in its recorded history. The earthquake struck below the North Pacific Ocean, kilometers 81 miles east of Sendai, the largest city in the Tohoku region, a northern part of the island of Honshu. The Tohoku earthquake caused a tsunami.
Most tsunamis, like the one that formed off Tohoku, are triggered by underwater tectonic activity , such as earthquakes and volcanic eruption s. The Tohoku tsunami produced waves up to 40 meters feet high,. More than , people became homeless as a result of the tsunami. More than 15, people died.
The tsunami also severely cripple d the infrastructure of the country. In addition to the thousands of destroyed homes, businesses, roads, and railways, the tsunami caused the meltdown of three nuclear reactor s at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The Fukushima nuclear disaster released toxic , radioactive materials into the environment and forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes and businesses. More Dates in History January. Media Credits The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.
Media If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Text Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Interactives Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Related Resources.
0コメント