19.18.3. Nepal-Gorkha Earthquake (2015)

Try these first

1. 1.

   What was the magnitude of the Nepal-Gorkha earthquake?

   Hint

   It is a significant number on the Richter scale.

2. 2.

   Which two plates collided causing the earthquake?

   Hint

   Think about the geographical regions involved.

3. 3.

   What was the earthquake magnitude of the Nepal-Gorkha earthquake?

   • 5.0
   • 6.5
   • 7.8
   • 8.0

   Hint

   It’s known as one of the largest earthquakes of that year.

4. 4.

   True or False: The Nepal-Gorkha earthquake led to improvements in earthquake preparedness in the Himalayan region.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think about how disasters often lead to changes in policies.

5. 5.

   Given the magnitude of the Nepal-Gorkha earthquake, calculate the energy released in joules using the formula for moment magnitude. Discuss how this information could influence engineering practices.

   Hint

   Use appropriate seismology formulas related to magnitude.

6. 6.

   Assess the effectiveness of current building codes in the Himalayan states post-2015. What improvements can you suggest based on recent geophysical research?

   Hint

   Examine how effective building codes are in light of changing geophysical data.