1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake

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1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake
1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake is located in Tibetan Plateau
1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake
UTC time1950-08-15 14:09:34
ISC event895681
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateAugust 15, 1950 (1950-08-15)
Local time19:39:34 IST
Magnitude8.7 Mw [1]
Depth15 km (9.3 mi) [1]
Epicenter28°22′N 96°27′E / 28.36°N 96.45°E / 28.36; 96.45 [1]
FaultMain Himalayan Thrust
TypeStrike-slip[2]
Areas affectedAssam, India
Tibet, China
Max. intensityMMI XI (Extreme)[3]
Casualties4,800

The 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake,

Strike-slip
earthquake to date.

Occurring on a Tuesday evening at 7:39 pm Indian Standard Time, the earthquake was destructive in both Assam (India) and Tibet (China), and approximately 4,800 people were killed. The earthquake is notable as being the largest recorded quake caused by continental collision rather than subduction, and is also notable for the loud noises produced by the quake and reported throughout the region.

Geology

In an attempt to further uncover the seismic history of

seismic activity. Radiocarbon dating identified the deposits at roughly 500 years old, which would correspond with a recorded earthquake in 1548.[5]

Earthquake

The earthquake occurred in the rugged mountainous areas between the

seismological observing stations.

It was the sixth largest earthquake of the 20th century.[6] It is also the largest known earthquake to have not been caused by an oceanic subduction. Instead, this quake was caused by two continental plates colliding.

epicentre location. From such data the Indian Seismological Service established an enormous geographical spread of this activity, from about 90 deg to 97 deg east longitude, with the epicentre of the great earthquake near the eastern margin.[citation needed
]

Impact

The 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake had devastating effects on both Assam and Tibet. In Assam, 1,526 fatalities were recorded[7] and another 3,300 were reported in Tibet for a total of approximately 4,800 deaths.[citation needed]

Alterations of relief were brought about by many rock falls in the Mishmi Hills and surrounding forested regions. In the Abor Hills, 70 villages were destroyed with 156 casualties due to landslides. Landslides blocked the tributaries of the

Dibang Valley, a landslide lake burst without causing damage, but another at Subansiri River opened after an interval of 8 days and the wave, 7 m (23 ft) high, submerged several villages and killed 532 people.[citation needed
]

The shock was more damaging in Assam, in terms of property loss, than the

landslides
, some of which were photographed.

In Tibet,

Burma at the time, wrote letters home describing the main shake, the numerous aftershocks, and of the noise coming out of the earth.[10]

One of the more westerly aftershocks, a few days later, was felt more extensively in Assam than the main shock. This led certain journalists to the belief that the later shock was 'bigger' and must be the greatest earthquake of all time. This is a typical example of the confusion between the essential concepts of magnitude and intensity. The extraordinary sounds heard by Kingdon-Ward and many others at the times of the main earthquake have been specially investigated. Seiches were observed as far away as Norway and England. (p. 63–64.)

Future threat

An article in

2001 Bhuj earthquake, calculated that 70 percent of the Himalayas could experience an extremely powerful earthquake. The prediction came from research of the historical records from the area as well as the presumption that since the 1950 Medog earthquake enough slippage has taken place for a large earthquake to occur.[11] In 2015, the Himalayas were hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake
with an epicenter further west in Nepal.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c ISC (2022), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1904–2018), Version 9.1, International Seismological Centre
  2. ^ USGS. "M8.6 - eastern Xizang-India border region". United States Geological Survey.
  3. ^ USGS (September 4, 2009), PAGER-CAT Earthquake Catalog, Version 2008_06.1, United States Geological Survey
  4. ^ a b "Historic Earthquakes, Assam - Tibet". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  5. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2009.04.024
    .
  6. ^ "Largest Earthquakes in the World Since 1900". United States Geological Survey. September 20, 2011. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
  7. ^ "Significant Earthquake INDIA-CHINA". National Geophysical Data Center. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  8. ^ Harrer, Heinrich (1953). Seven Years in Tibet. Putnam.
  9. JSTOR 1791200
    .
  10. ^ Myers Morse, Helen (2003). Once I Was Young. Terre Haute, Indiana. pp. 167–171.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. ^ "Quake in Himalayas: US & Indian experts differ". The Statesman. September 6, 2001.

External links

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