M7.8 quake epicenter inland in Turkey – Weather News

2023/02/06 13:35 Weather News

At around 10:17 on February 6 (Monday) Japan time, there was a large-scale earthquake overseas. The epicenter was in the Middle East (Turkey), and the scale (magnitude) of the earthquake is estimated to be 7.8. There is no worry of tsunami to Japan from this earthquake. (Added at 10:47)

The epicenter is presumed to be inland, and strong tremors may have struck near the epicenter.
*Hypocenters are from the National Earthquake Information Center (USGS, NEIC), US Geological Survey.

Due to this earthquake, a maximum sea level change of 0.13 m was observed near the epicenter. After that, a sea level change of 0.17m was also observed in eastern Cyprus.

▼ Observed tsunami height (announced by Turkish authorities at 13:16)
0.17m Famagusta Cyprus
0.13m Erdemli, Mersin Province, Turkey
0.12m Iskenderun, Hatay Province, Turkey (added at 13:30)

Observation of tsunami in Vanuatu, etc.

Due to this earthquake, a maximum sea level change of 0.04 m was observed near the epicenter.

Observed tsunami height (announced at PTWC at 3:28)
0.78m Tanna Island, Vanuatu
0.75m New Zealand Great Barrier Island
0.48m Norfolk Island Kingston
0.29m French New Caledonia Uwanne

Possibility of tsunami near epicenter

No worries regarding tsunami damage along the coast of Japan

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the following coasts in Japan are expected to experience slight sea level changes.

Shaking near the epicenter with a seismic intensity of 5 to 6 in Japan

Since the epicenter of the earthquake is believed to have occurred in a shallow inland location, it is believed that the area around the epicenter was hit by localized violent shaking.

The quake is believed to have occurred near the East Anatolian Fault in southeastern Turkey. The East Anatolian Fault is a strike-slip fault located on the boundary between the Arabian and Anatolian plates. The U.S. Geological Survey has analyzed the mechanism of this earthquake as a strike-slip type, which is consistent with fault activity.

Turkey is located on multiple plate boundaries and is frequently hit by large earthquakes. In recent years, many of the earthquakes that have caused great damage have occurred on the North Anatolian Fault, and there are no recent records of strong earthquakes exceeding magnitude 7 in the vicinity of this epicenter.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center (USGS, NEIC), there was a maximum shaking of regarding VIII on the revised Mercalli seismic intensity scale near the epicenter.

Although a rigorous comparison cannot be made, it is considered to be equivalent to a seismic intensity of 5-lower to 6-lower when converted to the seismic intensity scale of the Japan Meteorological Agency.

The epicenter is thought to have been a shallow earthquake, and it is thought that a fairly strong tremor struck around the epicenter. There is concern regarding damage caused by shaking.
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No damage expected due to shaking

Reference materials, etc.