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Largest earthquake in Himalaya: An appraisal

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

The largest earthquake (Mw 8.4 to 8.6) in Himalaya reported so far occurred in Assam syntaxial bend in 1950. However, some recent studies have suggested for earthquake of magnitude Mw 9 or more in the Himalayan region. In this paper, we present a detailed analysis of seismological data extending back to 1200 AD, and show that earthquake in Himalayan region may not be expected to be as large as those of subduction zones. Also, there appears to be a lateral variation in the earthquake magnitude, being lesser in the western syntaxial bend when compared close to the eastern syntaxial bend. This is attributed to the difference in the plate boundary scenario; dominance of strike-slip and thrusting along the western syntaxis as against thrusting and remnant subduction along the eastern syntaxis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 128, Pocket A, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi, 110 076, India

    H. N. Srivastava

  2. Geoscience Div., Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi, 110 003, India

    B. K. Bansal

  3. Centre for Seismology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi, 110 003, India

    Mithila Verma

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  1. H. N. Srivastava
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  2. B. K. Bansal
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  3. Mithila Verma
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Correspondence to H. N. Srivastava.

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Srivastava, H.N., Bansal, B.K. & Verma, M. Largest earthquake in Himalaya: An appraisal. J Geol Soc India 82, 15–22 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-013-0117-4

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