Earthquake Hazard, Risk and Disasters

The recent mega earthquakes of richter scale 9 and above, of 2010 and 2004 (Sumatra-Andaman) in Indian ocean plate or the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, have killed hundreds of thousands and have given a new terminology to the study of earthquakes. Before these, the mankind had only known great earthquakes of magnitude 8 +, giving the superlative mega earthquake expression. The importance is of not only of the understanding of risks of ruptures along the tectonic plates that these mega and great earthquakes of the 21st century, but the disaster preparedness role in the view of a seismic event. This book describes the new and important tools or methods of earthquake hazard estimations to reduce the risk of mortality in the event of a mega earthquake in the known fault lines as well as preparedness for a surprise seismological event in the plate boundaries not known to have produced mega earthquake rupturing in the recorded history. The Nepal earth quake of 2015 was merely a magnitude of 7.8-8.1, which killed more than 8000 people, and is a reminder of the terrible disasters that could have been better managed.