Ionospheric multiple stratifications and irregularities induced by the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake

A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 occurred at 1446:23 JST on March 11, 2011, in Japan. Ionospheric disturbances were detected at 1500 JST at four ionosonde stations. An irregular distortion of echo trace was observed at Kokubunji, which is the nearest station to the epicenter and is 440 km from it. Multiple-cusp-type trace indicating extra stratification was observed at Wakkanai and Yamagawa, which are 870 and 1410 km away from the epicenter. A small wavy fluctuation was observed at Okinawa 1910 km away from the epicenter. The real height analysis of the ionograms showed a vertical structure with a scale size of 20~30 km.