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1586 (1586-1586) | 1586 Aleutian Earthquake

Description

This earthquake is a so-called orphan. There are records in Japan for Tsunamis waves arriving on the Sanriku coast, Japan in 1586. Initially an earthquake in Peru in the same year was considered as its offspring. However directionality from Peruvian tsunamis is not a source of Japanese orphan tsunamis. Butler et al. (2017) propose a megathrust earthquake of Mw>9.25 along the Aleutian islands which would also fit paleo-tsunami records from Northern Hawaii.
Satake et al. (2020) also support that the 1586 Peru earthquake is probably not linked to a records from Japan (and even doubt the records themselves). Witter et al. (2019) question that the Aleutian Islands tsunami took place in 1586, they propose dates earlier in the same century which.
Despite the uncertainties of the Peruvian tsunami in this matter, there is still evidence for a paleo-tsunami in these years leaving traces in Hawaii.

Epicentre for this earthquake was estimated by the authors of this database.

Events in the same region
Date Title Region Preferred Magnitude Quality*
1586s 1586 Aleutian Earthquake Aleutian Islands 9.3 D
References
  • Butler et al. (2017) -Butler, R., Walsh, D., & Richards, K. (2017). Extreme tsunami inundation in Hawai ‘i from Aleutian–Alaska subduction zone earthquakes. Natural Hazards, 85(3), 1591-1619. - Link
Event Characteristics
Preferred Magnitude 9.30 (9.20-9.40)
Epicenter 51.500°N, -173.200°E
Depth unknown
Tsunami yes
Paleo-Event yes
Quality of Evidence D
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Magnitude Range
Year Reference Magnitude
2017 Butler et al. (2017) 9.3 (9.2-9.4)

This table lists some of the most relevant publications in estimating the moment magnitude of this earthquake. If you think there are other important or new publications, please get in contact.