Thatcham experts analyse Japan 'quake

Analysts at seismological centre say it will be almost a year before earthquake research can be completed

AN earthquake expert from a research centre in Thatcham has said that it would take the best part of a year before they have all the data needed to complete research into last Friday's ‘quake in Japan.

However, when the time comes, seismologist and analyst Emily Delahaye said it will give a clear picture of what happened.

Staff at the International Seismological Centre (ISC), based in Pipers Way, have been working with other agencies across the world to compile data from the 8.9 magnitude disaster which struck 250 miles north-east of Tokyo, just before 6am last Friday (March 11).

The tsunami that followed meant cars, ships and buildings were swept away by the water.

Ms Delahaye said earlier this week that the ISC would be obtaining data from about 100 seismological networks from across the world which they will, in time, use to calculate the clearest and most accurate picture they could.

She said: "There have been many, many aftershocks – hundreds of them.

"The aftershocks are not of concern for creating a tsunami as they were between a magnitude of five to 6.8.

"The largest one was 7.1 and that was on the same day (Friday) so they are tapering off in size.

"That's what we were expecting."

She explained that as the aftershocks were a lot smaller than the original earthquake she did not expect the damage to building structures to increase greatly but said: "What happens is that you have a big shaking building that has not fallen already but the walls have been weakened.”

She added that Japan should not see too much after-damage because of the structures of their buildings and the way they were built.

The ISC employs 19 staff and has existed in Thatcham since 1986.

Information and data will be uploaded onto its website at www.isc.ac.uk when it is available.