The 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake: Geological Setting and Regional Seismicity

On 1 January 2024 at 07:10 local time, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, at a focal depth of 10 km. This event represents the sole strong earthquake recorded in the region since 1 January 2000. The Noto Peninsula extends into the Sea of Japan along the western coast of Honshu. It lies within a zone of active crustal deformation influenced by the convergence of the Eurasian and Philippine Sea plates, with regional stress accommodated along reverse faults. The peninsula’s geology features Quaternary marine terraces and sedimentary basins underlain by Neogene volcanic and sedimentary rocks, which record long-term uplift driven by compressional tectonics. Seismic activity in the area is linked to mapped active faults, including the Noto Peninsula Fault Zone. These structures exhibit evidence of Holocene movement, consistent with the broader tectonic regime of the eastern margin of the Sea of Japan. The 2024 rupture occurred on a northeast-trending thrust fault, consistent with the regional stress field. Historical records indicate recurrent moderate to large earthquakes along the Japan Sea coast, though the provided catalog shows no other strong events (M ≥ 7.0) in the immediate vicinity after 2000. The 2024 earthquake therefore stands as the dominant recent release of strain in this segment of the peninsula. Post-event observations confirm widespread ground deformation and secondary effects typical of shallow reverse-faulting earthquakes in coastal settings. Ongoing monitoring continues to track aftershock sequences and potential triggered slip on adjacent faults.

References

• United States Geological Survey Earthquake Catalog (event parameters)
• Geological Survey of Japan, Active Fault Database of Japan (regional fault mapping)
• Headquarters for Earthquake Research Promotion, Long-term Evaluation of Noto Peninsula Fault Zone