The video tells about the mega-earthquake that occurred in Nepal in 2015. This catastrophe affected the capital of Nepal and remote villages, as well as caused numerous avalanches in the Himalayas. Additionally, the earthquake caused many casualties among the local population and tourists. Most interestingly, the magnitude, which was 7.8, and the epicenter of the earthquake were determined at the center in the United States, which received data on the earthquake immediately after it began (“Himalayan Megaquake,” [10:00]). The video explains that the earthquake is due to the collision of the Indian tectonic plate with Eurasia, which also formed the Himalayas earlier.
Further, the material tells about how the rescue operations took place in the remote villages of Nepal. The greatest danger in the highlands of this country was aftershocks, which could at any moment provoke new collapses and avalanches, hindering rescue operations. The earthquake took the lives of many villagers and also deprived them of land and houses, which were the only source of income and food for them. Many of the victims have nowhere to go and remain in the area with a high risk of landslides.
The video then continues to explain how scientists study earthquakes in general and this mega-quake in Nepal in particular. The geodesists were able to establish with the use of GPS signals that despite the end of the aftershocks, the earthquake released only half of its accumulated energy. Thus, in Nepal, there remains the danger of future earthquakes that will release this energy. The researchers suggest that the earthquake may occur in the next ten years and have a magnitude even stronger than what happened in 2015. Additionally, on the basis of satellite data, geophysicists have established that in the area, there is a danger of slips, not only horizontal but also vertical ones. The material further talks about how avalanches form and what damage they caused as part of a mega-earthquake. Finally, the material talks about how local residents and rescuers are preparing for possible new aftershocks that may arise due to the accumulated energy.
Work Cited
“Himalayan Megaquake | Full-Length Broadcast.” PBS LearningMedia, Web.