A team of researchers has found that the massive New Year's Day earthquake that struck central Japan caused a shore upheaval of up to 5.5 meters in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

The team, which includes researchers from the University of Toyama and the University of Tokyo Earthquake Research Institute, surveyed about 100 locations along the northern coast of the Noto Peninsula between January and June of this year.

The researchers confirmed coastal uplift across an area stretching about 80 kilometers, from Shika Town to Suzu City. They found the shore had risen about 5.5 meters in Wajima City's Monzenmachi Yoshiura. This exceeds the maximum upheaval of 4 meters reported in January by the government's Earthquake Research Committee.

An elevation of nearly 3 meters was confirmed in Suzu City's Nagahashimachi. University of Toyama Associate Professor Tateishi Ryo said the significant coastal uplift was due to the close proximity of an active fault and large fault movements.

Tateishi added the study shows that active underwater faults near the shore are capable of causing major elevation. He said analyzing the data could help to predict future earthquakes.