Himalayan Geology, Vol. 43 (1B), 2022, pp. 281-286, Printed in India

Brief History of Paleoseismology and Reminder of Hazard Posed by Great Earthquakes along the Himalayan Arc

STEVEN G. WESNOUSKY

Center for Neotectonic Studies and Nevada Seismological Laboratory, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV 89557

Email: wesnousky@unr.edu

Abstract: The career of K.S. Valdiya was marked by persistent calls to public agencies to organize and develop approaches to mitigating hazards posed by geologic processes. Prominent among them was the hazard posed by earthquakes. The observations brought forth with the development of paleoseismology over the past ~30 years have served well to quantify the size, location, and timing of great earthquakes that may be expected along the Himalayan arc in the future. The brief synopsis of the history of paleoseismology and the findings attendant to its application serve here to reiterate K.S. Valdiya's calls for public agencies to address the hazard posed by great earthquakes along the Himalayan arc.

Keywords: K.S. Valdiya, Paleoseismology, Himalayan Frontal Thrust, Seismic Hazard