Seismic vulnerability assessment of earthquake-prone mega-city Shillong,India using geophysical mapping and remote sensing

ABSTRACT

The concept of seismic vulnerability is a yard-stick of damage estimation from a probable earthquake considering physical cum social dimension and enables a basis for decision-makers to develop preparedness and mitigation strategies. We aim at vulnerability assessment of the typical urban system of capital city Shillong situated on hilly terrain. High-resolution satellite imagery of Shillong facilitates analysis of building footprints, communication network, and open ground. Different building typologies are identified taking into account the building’s structural configuration assessed through a rapid visual survey of more than 15% of total residential households. Slope map demarcates the landslide-prone area through discrete elevation modelling. A methodology incorporating several parameters e.g. building typology, slope angle, shear wave velocity characteristics, geomorphology, and the number of occupants in correlation with a physical measurement of vulnerability is presented and is applied to estimate the dimension of vulnerability. Additionally, MASW survey indicates lithology up to 30?m deep along with the existence of stiff soil and rocks at different depths whereas resonant frequency is identified to be in the range of 6–8?Hz through H/V ratio. Integrating all, it is observed that more than 60% of Shillong city falls under moderate to higher vulnerability and the rest is less vulnerable.     

Multi-Parametric Geophysical Observatory for Earthquake Precursory Research in Assam Valley,Eastern Himalaya (India): Seismotectonic Features of Kopili and Bomdila Faults

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Multi-Parametric Approach for Earthquake Precursor Detection in Assam Valley (Eastern Himalaya,India) using Satellite and Ground Observation Data

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Natural Hazards - We applied multiple linear regressions to scrutinize the maximum variability produced in soil gas radon (Rn-222) by pressure, temperature and rainfall. Statistical methodologies...     

Explosive hydrogen burning in supernovae

Rapid proton capture is supposed to be responsible for the synthesis of a number of proton-rich nuclei. This process of hydrogen burning is considered here for mass elements, the atomic numbers of which range fromZ=10 toZ=20. The possible site for this process is assumed to be the outer envelope of the supernova at a proton number density (n _p )ranging fromn _p =10²² cm^–3 ton _p =10²⁸ cm^–3 at temperatures in the range ofT=2–3×10⁹ K.The capture path is determined by considering that a dynamical equilibrium between (p, ) and (,p) reactions exists between the reacting nuclei. In this situation, the abundances of elements become proportional to the lifetime of ⁺ decaying nuclei at the waiting points.It is suggested that these rapid proton-capture reactions are responsible for the production of a number of nuclei in the rangeA40 during supernova outbursts.