out of plane components

15:13 Aug 2, 2016 

Word order seems wrong, which is rather common when translated from japanese, I understand:
subduction earthquakes that generate
components (I understand vector components)
out of the plane of fault displacement
are the cause of...

This is just because components that are IN the plane of fault displacement simply displace the masses on each side of the fault, which creates earthquakes, but not water swelling

09:51 Aug 2, 2016 

But you've had more informed answers now anyway

08:36 Aug 2, 2016 

Thanks for your reply. I did guess that it is not the same as an airplane. If it is not the same as an airplane, what it can be? A plate? (because the text is about geology)

08:34 Aug 2, 2016 

I don't know the technical words but "out of plane" equals "in a different plane". (Not the aeroplane type of plane, obviously :)). That may or may not help, depending on the problem you have with the expression.

08:02 Aug 2, 2016 

Tsunami hazards are caused by tsunami waves generated by fault dislocation at the seabed produced by earthquakes as the root cause. The tsunamitectonic model for calculating the tsunami wave height differs greatly from the seismotectonic model for calculating the seismic hazard expressed in terms of ground accelerations. Only subduction earthquakes which can generate out of plane components of fault displacement are the cause of the generated tsunami water waves.