Seismic subsidence near the source region of the 1662 Kanbun Hyuganada Sea earthquake; Geochemical, stratigraphical, chronological, and paleontological evidences in Miyazaki Plain, southwest Japan

Niwa, Masakazu   ; Kamataki, Takanobu*; Kurosawa, Hideki*; Kokubu, Yoko   ; Ikuta, Masafumi*

Based on detailed geochemical and paleontological analyses for lowland sediments in the Miyazaki Plain, southwest Japan, we clearly identified environmental change from the lower terrestrial sediments to the upper shallow marine sediments. Radiocarbon ages and tephra data suggest that the environmental change is attributed to local subsidence due to the 1662 Kanbun Hyuganada Sea Earthquake shown in historical records. This findings are important for historical earthquake studies because the study area is a part of the expected focal region of megathrust earthquakes along the Nankai Trough.