| Session Details | |
| Section | SE - Solid Earth Sciences |
| Session Title | Current scenario of Seismic Hazard Assessment, Early Warning, Earthquake Forecast, Prediction; and Earthquake Risk in the Himalayas |
| Main Convener | Dr. Sushil Kumar (Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, India) |
| Co-convener(s) | Dr. Hiroaki Negishi (National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, Japan) Dr. Sudhir Rajaure (Department of Mines and Geology, Nepal) |
| Session Description | Asia is the most populated continent of the Earth, and has a high level of seismic hazard. Earthquakes are a major threat to the social and economic development of many developing nations in Asia. Death tolls from recent earthquakes in urban areas have been the largest in the world. Science for mitigation of seismic hazard is making rapid progress, but the risk to society also grows rapidly as civilization grows. Reduction of disasters involves two major aspects. One is earthquake prediction science and establishment of effective forecasting/early warning systems based on the science. The other is hazard assessment and construction of earthquake resistant structures and all kinds of infrastructures based on the assessment. Thus, both aspects require integration of science and social factors. This session welcomes any aspect of the above. Contributions are invited on all aspects of earthquake early warning systems, and forecasting and prediction on long, medium, or short time-scales. Studies of precursory observations that show promise for forecasting are of interest, based on either seismicity patterns or other geophysical or geochemical measurements. Studies that seek to integrate the information from several types of precursors or forecasting methods are also of interest. Reliable studies on emission of radon as an earthquake precursor. Earthquakes are a great threat to environmental stability and life in the Himalayan region as almost the entire region is prone to high seismic activity. The Himalayas were formed by a head on collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, and the Indian plate continues to push the Asian plate northward, this colliding force builds up pressure continually for several years and is released in the form of earthquakes. Earthquakes of varying intensities have hit the region in the past and similar threats remain imminent. Four great earthquakes of Himalaya i.e., Assam earthquake of 1897, Kangra earthquake of 1905, Nepal-Bihar earthquake of 1934 and Assam earthquake of 1950. In the last few decades, the major amongst them are the Kinnaur earthquake of 1975, Dharchula earthquake of 1980, the Uttarkashi earthquake of 1991, the Chamoli earthquake of 1999 and the Kashmir earthquake of 2005, which resulted in tremendous loss of life and property. Papers are invited on Seismotectonics, Paleoseismology, Focal mechanisms, GPS observations, space geodesy, particularly Global Positioning System (GPS) and Interferometric Side Aperture Radar (INSAR) to understanding deformation and the physical nature of the earthquake cycle |