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Science 25 February 2005:
Vol. 307. no. 5713, pp. 1302 - 1305
DOI: 10.1126/science.1104804
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Reports

Evidence for a Great Medieval Earthquake (~1100 A.D.) in the Central Himalayas, Nepal

J. Lavé,1*{dagger} D. Yule,2* S. Sapkota,3 K. Basant,3 C. Madden,4 M. Attal,1 R. Pandey3

The Himalayan orogen has produced three thrust earthquakes with moment magnitude (Mw) 7.8 to 8.5 during the past century, yet no surface ruptures associated with these great earthquakes have been documented. Here, we present paleoseismic evidence from east central Nepal that, since ~700 A.D., a single earthquake ruptured the Frontal Thrust fault at ~1100 A.D., with a surface displacement of ~17 (+5/–3) meters and a lateral extent and size that could have exceeded 240 kilometers and ~Mw 8.8, respectively. Ruptures associated with Mw <8.2 events would contribute to the frontal Himalayas folding but would stop before reaching the surface. These findings could require substantial modifications to current regional seismic hazard models.

1 Laboratoire de Géodynamique des Chaînes Alpines, BP53, 38041 Grenoble, France.
2 California State University, Northridge, CA 91330, USA.
3 Seismolab, Department of Mines and Geology, Lainchaur, Kathmandu, Nepal.
4 Earth Consultants International, Tustin, CA 92780, USA.

* These authors contributed equally to this work.

{dagger} To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: jlave{at}ujf-grenoble.fr

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