5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[MIS24-P05] Liquefaction in the Hokuriku region due to the 1891 Nobi Earthquake based on communications research
★Invited Papers
Keywords:Liquefaction, 1891 Nobi Earthquake, Hokuriku region, Boiling sand and boiling water
1. Introduction
The Nobi Earthquake occurred in 1891 (Meiji 24) with an epicenter in central Gifu Prefecture. It is well known that the Neotani fault was activated by this earthquake, causing severe damage mainly in Gifu Prefecture. According to seismic intensity distribution maps, the Hokuriku area recorded an intensity of 6 to 3 on the present seismic intensity scale (Usami et al., 2013; National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2022), and the earthquake was recorded to have been of considerable magnitude according to ancient legends and documents. However, liquefaction caused by this earthquake was not known in detail. Wakamatsu (2011) identified the liquefaction site of the earthquake, but did not describe the details of the liquefaction. Aoshima (2024.2025) clarified the distribution and characteristics of liquefaction in the Tokai region due to the Nobi earthquake, but did not mention the Hokuriku region on the Japan Sea side. Therefore, we investigated the details of liquefaction in the Hokuriku area caused by this earthquake.
2. method
The materials used in this study are “Collection of data on the October 28, 1894 Nobi Earthquake” (Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 1992) and “Collection of responses to the questionnaire survey on the Nobi Earthquake (1894)” (Muramatsu and Kominami, 1992), which is a printed version of the collection of data. This collection is a compilation of the answer sheets from a correspondence survey conducted approximately one month after the earthquake. This correspondence survey was conducted under the name of Hiroyuki Kato, then President of Tokyo Imperial University, and was distributed to local government offices, some police stations, post offices, lighthouse keepers, and others. A total of 1,616 responses were received, ranging from Kyushu to Hokkaido. The questionnaires included observations of various phenomena such as physical sensations, damage to houses, ground cracks, and vibrations of ponds and wells. Among them, “Water, sand, and mud spewed out of the ground. Water, sand, and mud spewed from the well. The well became muddy. The water level in the well changed. The whole area was flooded. Sand piles formed after the quake. “The ground sank after the earthquake. The descriptions identified as liquefaction phenomena, such as “The ground sank after the earthquake,” were selected. These descriptions were then tabulated and plotted on a topographic map to examine the relationship between liquefaction points, topography, ground, and epicentral distance.
3. results
Of the 279 questionnaires received in the Hokuriku region, 22 reported “water, mud, or sand spewing from a crack in the ground” and 78 reported “water, mud, or sand spewing from a well,” for a total of 100. Fig.1 shows shows the areas of liquefaction.
4. Discussion
Liquefaction is mainly frequent in the lowlands of northeastern Fukui Prefecture and southwestern Ishikawa Prefecture, and is concentrated along natural levees and old river channels of the Kuzuryu River in the Fukui Plain. These areas are covered with Holocene sand, sand and gravel beds, and mud and gravel beds. In the coastal areas of Ishikawa Prefecture, there are many lagoons that were formed when inner bays were cut off from the open sea by the development of sand dunes, and liquefaction has occurred in many of these areas. In particular, liquefaction occurred not only during the Nobi earthquake but also the Noto Peninsula earthquake of 2024 in the present Uchinada town in Kahoku County. In Ohnebu, Uchinada Village, there is a description of ‘sand erupting at one place and forming a mountain with a circumference of 7.2 m’(see Fig.2).In relation to the distance from the epicenter, liquefaction occurred in areas with an intensity of 4 or higher near the epicenter, especially in the basin of Ono City, Fukui Prefecture, which is the closest to the epicenter. On the other hand, liquefaction was not reported in the northern Noto Peninsula and Toyama Prefecture, 180 km from the epicenter (see Fig.3).
References
Aoshima Akira,2024a. Aoshima Akira,2024b. Kayano Ichiro and Utsu Tokuji,2001. National Astronomical Observatory of Japan,2022. Matsuda Tokihiko,1974. Muramatsu Ikuei and Masataka Kominami,1992. University of Tokyo, Earthquake Research Institute,1992. Tatsuo Usami, et al.,2013. Wakamatsu Kazue, 2011.
The Nobi Earthquake occurred in 1891 (Meiji 24) with an epicenter in central Gifu Prefecture. It is well known that the Neotani fault was activated by this earthquake, causing severe damage mainly in Gifu Prefecture. According to seismic intensity distribution maps, the Hokuriku area recorded an intensity of 6 to 3 on the present seismic intensity scale (Usami et al., 2013; National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2022), and the earthquake was recorded to have been of considerable magnitude according to ancient legends and documents. However, liquefaction caused by this earthquake was not known in detail. Wakamatsu (2011) identified the liquefaction site of the earthquake, but did not describe the details of the liquefaction. Aoshima (2024.2025) clarified the distribution and characteristics of liquefaction in the Tokai region due to the Nobi earthquake, but did not mention the Hokuriku region on the Japan Sea side. Therefore, we investigated the details of liquefaction in the Hokuriku area caused by this earthquake.
2. method
The materials used in this study are “Collection of data on the October 28, 1894 Nobi Earthquake” (Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 1992) and “Collection of responses to the questionnaire survey on the Nobi Earthquake (1894)” (Muramatsu and Kominami, 1992), which is a printed version of the collection of data. This collection is a compilation of the answer sheets from a correspondence survey conducted approximately one month after the earthquake. This correspondence survey was conducted under the name of Hiroyuki Kato, then President of Tokyo Imperial University, and was distributed to local government offices, some police stations, post offices, lighthouse keepers, and others. A total of 1,616 responses were received, ranging from Kyushu to Hokkaido. The questionnaires included observations of various phenomena such as physical sensations, damage to houses, ground cracks, and vibrations of ponds and wells. Among them, “Water, sand, and mud spewed out of the ground. Water, sand, and mud spewed from the well. The well became muddy. The water level in the well changed. The whole area was flooded. Sand piles formed after the quake. “The ground sank after the earthquake. The descriptions identified as liquefaction phenomena, such as “The ground sank after the earthquake,” were selected. These descriptions were then tabulated and plotted on a topographic map to examine the relationship between liquefaction points, topography, ground, and epicentral distance.
3. results
Of the 279 questionnaires received in the Hokuriku region, 22 reported “water, mud, or sand spewing from a crack in the ground” and 78 reported “water, mud, or sand spewing from a well,” for a total of 100. Fig.1 shows shows the areas of liquefaction.
4. Discussion
Liquefaction is mainly frequent in the lowlands of northeastern Fukui Prefecture and southwestern Ishikawa Prefecture, and is concentrated along natural levees and old river channels of the Kuzuryu River in the Fukui Plain. These areas are covered with Holocene sand, sand and gravel beds, and mud and gravel beds. In the coastal areas of Ishikawa Prefecture, there are many lagoons that were formed when inner bays were cut off from the open sea by the development of sand dunes, and liquefaction has occurred in many of these areas. In particular, liquefaction occurred not only during the Nobi earthquake but also the Noto Peninsula earthquake of 2024 in the present Uchinada town in Kahoku County. In Ohnebu, Uchinada Village, there is a description of ‘sand erupting at one place and forming a mountain with a circumference of 7.2 m’(see Fig.2).In relation to the distance from the epicenter, liquefaction occurred in areas with an intensity of 4 or higher near the epicenter, especially in the basin of Ono City, Fukui Prefecture, which is the closest to the epicenter. On the other hand, liquefaction was not reported in the northern Noto Peninsula and Toyama Prefecture, 180 km from the epicenter (see Fig.3).
References
Aoshima Akira,2024a. Aoshima Akira,2024b. Kayano Ichiro and Utsu Tokuji,2001. National Astronomical Observatory of Japan,2022. Matsuda Tokihiko,1974. Muramatsu Ikuei and Masataka Kominami,1992. University of Tokyo, Earthquake Research Institute,1992. Tatsuo Usami, et al.,2013. Wakamatsu Kazue, 2011.