Subduction erosion and secular subsidence of NE Japan

Heki, K., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 219, 13-20, 2004.

Both horizontal and vertical interseismic velocity fields are consistent w ith models in SWJ (left panel). In NEJ, however, significant negative deviation exists in the vertical velocity field (right panel), i.e., some unknown mechanism is making it subside secularly. This might be interpreted as the on-going basal subduction erosion that has let the Oyashio paleoland subside millions of years ago and created beautiful coastline along the Sanriku Coast (below).