Strong ground motion in the Kathmandu Valley during the 2015 Gorkha, Nepal, earthquake

The 2015 Gorkha earthquake (Mw 7.8) in Nepal revealed significant ground motion variations in the Kathmandu Valley, with sediment-filled sites experiencing prolonged, large-amplitude oscillations—up to 10 times greater than rock sites—due to basin response. While peak ground accelerations were lower than predicted, peak velocities exceeded predictions, particularly at sedimentary sites. These long-period oscillations (3–5 s) posed a destructive risk to high-rise buildings, highlighting the valley's complex structure and its role in amplifying seismic energy. The study analyzed strong ground motions from four observation sites, combining tectonic offset data with sediment-specific responses to assess earthquake hazards in urban areas.

Takai, N., Shigefuji, M., Rajaure, S., Bijukchhen, S., Ichiyanagi, M., Dhital, M. R., & Sasatani, T. (2016). Strong ground motion in the Kathmandu Valley during the 2015 Gorkha, Nepal, earthquake. Earth, Planets and Space, 68(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-016-0383-7