National Tsunami Warning Center, NOAA/NWS

TSUNAMI of 9 March, 2011 (Honshu, Japan)

A major earthquake with a moment magnitude of 7.2 (USGS magnitude) occurred at 02:45:20 UTC 09 March 2011 (day 068) and was located 104 miles/168 km E of Sendai, Honshu, Japan (38.424N, 142.836E, 19.9 mi/32 km depth--USGS location).

This earthquake produced a tsunami that was recorded at tide gages monitored by the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC). Many observatories provide data to the centers; such as the NOAA National Ocean Service, the U. of Hawaii Sea Level Center, the Chilean Navy, and the National Tidal Facility in Australia among others. Click on the site name to see a graph of the tsunami, when available. Listed wave heights are maximum amplitude in cm (above sea level). Observed Arrival time is the actual tsunami arrival time in UTC on gages where it could be determined. The Computed Arrival time is the estimated time of wave arrival computed at the NTWC based on the earthquake origin time and location. The Sample Interval column shows the time between data samples.

For additional information about this tsunami event see the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center's homepage.


Travel Time Map (click to enlarge)	Maximum Amplitude Graph (click to enlarge)

Tide gage/ Measurement Location	Peak amplitude (above sea level in cm)	Observed Initial Arrival time [UTC (J.Day)]	Estimated Arrival Time (UTC)	Initial motion	Sample Interval (min)	Data File (Julian Day Starts at 0000 UTC)
Hanasaki, Japan	6	03:54 (068)		up	1	068
Ofunato, Japan	54	03:04(068)	03:12	down	1	068
Tokai, Japan	3	03:58 (068)	04:08	?	1	068
Midway Island, USA	8	07:46 (068)	07:34	up	1	068
Penrhyn, Cook Is., NZ	1	12:01 (068)	12:28	up	1	068
Rikitea, Fr. Polynesia	2	?	16:18	?	1	068

Return To:
NTWC Home Page