Japan moved eastward after 2011 earthquake as waves bounced off Earth core
Research indicates that seismic waves from the 2011 magnitude 9.0 earthquake traveled to Earth's core and reflected back, shifting the Japanese archipelago. GPS data recorded an eastward movement of the country approximately 16 minutes after the initial quake.
Amalgamated from Phys.org (opens in new tab), Scientific American (opens in new tab)
Analysis of seismic data from the 2011 magnitude 9.0 earthquake in Japan indicates that the island shifted toward the east. Reports from Scientific American and Phys.org suggest this movement was caused by powerful seismic waves traveling into the Earth's interior, hitting the core, and reflecting back toward the surface.
Phys.org reports that GPS stations across the country recorded a distinct eastward lurch approximately 16 minutes after the initial earthquake began. This shift occurred before the onset of major aftershocks and was not linked to any specific local seismic activity at that time.
The scale of the 2011 event provided enough energy for these waves to interact with the core. Scientists described the interaction as an unusual occurrence where the reflected waves resulted in a measurable change in the geographical position of the Japanese archipelago.