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The Thrust of the Problem: New Understanding of Quake That Killed 9,000 People

By UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - RIVERSIDE



A new understanding of a fault that caused a deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake can help scientists better understand where and when the next big one will hit.

For decades, scientists have debated the structure of the Main Himalayan Thrust — the fault responsible for a 2015 earthquake that killed nearly 9,000 people, injured 22,000, and destroyed 600,000 homes in Gorkha, Nepal. This fault is a direct result of the ongoing collision between two tectonic plates — the Indian and Eurasian – that gives rise to the Himalayas.

Led by UC Riverside, a team of researchers has determined a new geometric model for the fault that will allow... Read more

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