@article{fdi:010072850,
  title = {{M}igrating pattern of deformation prior to the {T}ohoku-{O}ki earthquake revealed by {GRACE} data},
  author = {{P}anet, {I}. and {B}onvalot, {S}ylvain and {N}arteau, {C}. and {R}{\'e}my, {D}ominique and {L}emoine, {J}. {M}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{U}nderstanding how and when far-field continuous motions lead to giant subduction earthquakes remains a challenge. {A}n important limitation comes from an incomplete description of aseismic mass fluxes at depth along plate boundaries. {H}ere we analyse {E}arth's gravity field variations derived from {GRACE} satellite data in a wide space-time domain surrounding the {M}-w 9.0 2011 {T}ohoku-{O}ki earthquake. {W}e show that this earthquake is the extreme expression of initially silent deformation migrating from depth to the surface across the entire subduction system. {O}ur analysis indeed reveals large-scale gravity and mass changes throughout three tectonic plates and connected slabs, starting a few months before {M}arch 2011. {B}efore the {T}ohoku-{O}ki earthquake rupture, the gravity variations can be explained by aseismic extension of the {P}acific plate slab at mid-upper mantle depth, concomitant with increasing seismicity in the shallower slab. {F}or more than two years after the rupture, the deformation propagated far into the {P}acific and {P}hilippine {S}ea plate interiors, suggesting that subduction accelerated along 2,000 km of the plate boundaries in {M}arch 2011. {T}his gravitational image of the earthquake's long-term dynamics provides unique information on deep and crustal processes over intermediate timescales, which could be used in seismic hazard assessment.},
  keywords = {{PACIFIQUE} ; {PHILIPPINES}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{N}ature {G}eoscience},
  volume = {11},
  numero = {5},
  pages = {367--373},
  ISSN = {1752-0894},
  year = {2018},
  DOI = {10.1038/s41561-018-0099-3},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010072850},
}