This animation shows how PTWC's realtime tsunami forecast model, RIFT, predicts the behavior of the tsunami following the 9.0 magnitude earthquake offshore of the TōhokuOki region, Japan, on 11 March 2011. This version uses the USGS finite fault model (link below) as the source mechanism for the tsunami model, therefore the animation begins in "slow motion" to show the details of how the tsunami starts. The animation covers a 48hour period finishing with an "energy map" showing the forecasted maximum heights of openocean tsunami waves over that time period, followed with the forecasted tsunami runup on the coasts. If you look carefully you will see not only the waves leaving Japan, but also the reflected waves leaving South America after about 23 hours.

For a "flat earth" version, please see:    • Tsunami Animation:  Tohoku, Japan 201...  

For the earthquake and its aftershocks, please see:    • The Great TōhokuOki Earthquake: Its ...  

Finite fault model: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquake...