Geoengineering and seismological aspects of the Niigata-ken Chuetsu-Oki earthquake of 16 July 2007

• Published in: Earthquake spectra 2009-11, Vol.25 (4), p.777-802
• Main Authors: Kayen, Robert, Brandenberg, Scott J, Collins, Brian D, Dickenson, Stephen, Ashford, Scott, Kawamata, Yohsuke, Tanaka, Yasuo, Koumoto, Hidetaka, Abrahamson, Norman A, Cluff, Lloyd, Tokimatsu, Kohji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acceleration; Asia; bridges; coseismic processes; damage; deformation; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; earthquakes; Earthquakes, seismology; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Engineering geology; engineering properties; Exact sciences and technology; Far East; geologic hazards; ground motion; Honshu; imagery; Internal geophysics; Japan; land subsidence; landslides; liquefaction; mapping; mass movements; natural hazards; Natural hazards: prediction, damages, etc; Niigata Japan; Niigata-ken Chuetsu-Oki earthquake 2007; nuclear facilities; power plants; roads; Seismology; surveys
• ISSN: 8755-2930; 1944-8201
• DOI: 10.1193/1.3240397

The M6.6 Niigata-Ken Chuetsu-Oki earthquake of 16 July 2007 occurred off the west coast of Japan with a focal depth of 10 km, immediately west of Kashiwazaki City and Kariwa Village in southern Niigata Prefecture. Peak horizontal ground accelerations of 0.68 g were measured in Kashiwazaki City, as well as at the reactor floor level of the world's largest nuclear reactor, located on the coast at Kariwa Village. Liquefaction of historic and modern river deposits, aeolian dune sand, and manmade fill was widespread in the coastal region nearest the epicenter and caused ground deformations that damaged bridges, embankments, roadways, buildings, ports, railways and utilities. Landslides along the coast of southern Niigata Prefecture and in mountainous regions inland of Kashiwazaki were also widespread affecting transportation infrastructure. Liquefaction and a landslide also damaged the nuclear power plant sites. This paper, along with a companion digital map database available at http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/infobank/n/nii07jp/html/n-ii-07-jp.sites.kmz, describes the seismological and geo-engineering aspects of the event.