# Bhutan Earthquake Opens Doors to Geophysical Studies

György Hetényi, Rodolphe Cattin, Dowchu Drukpa

► To cite this version:

György Hetényi, Rodolphe Cattin, Dowchu Drukpa. Bhutan Earthquake Opens Doors to Geophysical Studies. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union, 2018, 99, 10.1029/2018EO103055. hal-02132338

HAL Id: hal-02132338

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Submitted on 6 Jun 2024

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<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>

Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
# Bhutan Earthquake Opens Doors to Geophysical Studies

György Hetényi, Rodolphe Cattin, Dowchu Drukpa

► To cite this version:

György Hetényi, Rodolphe Cattin, Dowchu Drukpa. Bhutan Earthquake Opens Doors to Geophysical Studies. Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union, 2018, 99, 10.1029/2018EO103055. hal-02132338

HAL Id: hal-02132338

https://hal.umontpellier.fr/hal-02132338v1

Submitted on 6 Jun 2024

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access
archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci-
entific research documents, whether they are pub-
lished or not. The documents may come from
teaching and research institutions in France or
abroad, or from public or private research centers.

L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est
destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents
scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non,
émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de
recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires
publics ou privés.

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>

Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Eos

# Bhutan Earthquake Opens Doors to Geophysical Studies

A multinational research team discovered an underestimated earthquake hazard during their 7-year exploration of the unique geodynamics of the eastern Himalayas in Bhutan.

By G. Hetényi, R. Cattin, and D. Drukpa

13 August 2018

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

Taktsang, also known as the Tiger's Nest, is a famous cliffside monastery in western Bhutan. Recent geophysical surveys have uncovered evidence of past earthquakes in this region that were much stronger than more recent events. Credit: iStock.com/KiltedArab

In 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook the Gorkha District of Nepal, killing more than 9,000. The memory of this event is still vivid for the residents of this central Himalayan nation.
Eos®

# Bhutan Earthquake Opens Doors to Geophysical Studies

A multinational research team discovered an underestimated earthquake hazard during their 7-year exploration of the unique geodynamics of the eastern Himalayas in Bhutan.

By G. Hetényi, R. Cattin, and D. Drukpa

13 August 2018

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

Taktsang, also known as the Tiger's Nest, is a famous cliffside monastery in western Bhutan. Recent geophysical surveys have uncovered evidence of past earthquakes in this region that were much stronger than more recent events. Credit: iStock.com/KiltedArab

In 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook the Gorkha District of Nepal, killing more than 9,000. The memory of this event is still vivid for the residents of this central Himalayan nation.
But farther east in the mountains, in Bhutan, many residents doubt the likelihood of a similar event happening to them. Bhutan had experienced several other earthquakes with a magnitude of about 6 during the past century. However, there was no clear evidence that Bhutan had ever seen an earthquake similar to the M7.8 Nepal event.

Findings from recent geophysical exploration suggest that this confidence may be overly optimistic. These results have shown that the eastern Himalayas region is extremely complex compared with the rest of the mountain belt.

The kingdom of Bhutan sets great store in its traditions and its principle of Gross National Happiness.

Although its rugged terrain and remote location have allowed this kingdom to preserve its unique culture, these factors have also limited the development of international collaborations there, notably in the Earth sciences. This situation changed in 2009 after a damaging M6.1 [earthquake] that claimed 11 lives persuaded Bhutan to open its doors to exploration of the region's geophysics.

> *During our campaigns, we found evidence that at least one M8 earthquake had, in fact, occurred in Bhutan.*

Our team studied mountain-building processes in this region after the 2009 earthquake. After 7 years of multipronged field campaigns, we learned that Bhutan's geodynamics are as unique as its culture. The region's crustal structure, seismicity, and deformation pattern are all different from what scientists had speculated previously.

During our campaigns, we found evidence that at least one M8 earthquake had, in fact, occurred in Bhutan. This means that other earthquakes of this magnitude could occur in the region again [Hetényi et al., 2016b; Berthet et al., 2014; Le Roux-Mallouf et al., 2016].

## A Different Plate?

Although the western and central Himalayan arc curves gently from Pakistan to Sikkim and has a low-lying foreland, the eastern third curves more sharply and has significant topographical relief south of the mountain belt, namely, the Shillong Plateau and neighboring hills (Figure 1). Previous studies proposed that these structures accommodate part of the India-Eurasia tectonic plate convergence. These earlier studies also proposed that the great 1897 Assam earthquake (M8.1) had relieved some of the strain between these converging tectonic plates, thereby lowering earthquake hazard in Bhutan.

Fig. 1. Topographic map of the 2,500-kilometer-long Himalayan arc and surrounding region, with formerly (yellow) and newly (pink) cataloged seismicity. The dextral fault zone (white arrows) between Sikkim and the Shillong Plateau marks the break of the India plate, east of which a zone of complex 3-D deformation begins. Red dates mark the three largest earthquakes mentioned in the text. Green lines mark the surface trace of the megathrust along which the India plate underthrusts the Himalayan orogen, as well as the thrust faults bounding the Shillong Plateau. Political boundaries are shown for reference.
Abbreviations: Pl. = plateau; Pr. = Pradesh; Sik. = Sikkim.
But farther east in the mountains, in Bhutan, many residents doubt the likelihood of a similar event happening to them. Bhutan had experienced several other earthquakes with a magnitude of about 6 during the past century. However, there was no clear evidence that Bhutan had ever seen an earthquake similar to the M7.8 Nepal event.

Findings from recent geophysical exploration suggest that this confidence may be overly optimistic. These results have shown that the eastern Himalayas region is extremely complex compared with the rest of the mountain belt.

The kingdom of Bhutan sets great store in its traditions and its principle of Gross National Happiness.

Although its rugged terrain and remote location have allowed this kingdom to preserve its unique culture, these factors have also limited the development of international collaborations there, notably in the Earth sciences. This situation changed in 2009 after a damaging M6.1 [earthquake] that claimed 11 lives persuaded Bhutan to open its doors to exploration of the region's geophysics.

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

> *During our campaigns, we found evidence that at least one M8 earthquake had, in fact, occurred in Bhutan.*

Our team studied mountain-building processes in this region after the 2009 earthquake. After 7 years of multipronged field campaigns, we learned that Bhutan's geodynamics are as unique as its culture. The region's crustal structure, seismicity, and deformation pattern are all different from what scientists had speculated previously.

During our campaigns, we found evidence that at least one M8 earthquake had, in fact, occurred in Bhutan. This means that other earthquakes of this magnitude could occur in the region again [Hetényi et al., 2016b; Berthet et al., 2014; Le Roux-Mallouf et al., 2016].

## A Different Plate?

Although the western and central Himalayan arc curves gently from Pakistan to Sikkim and has a low-lying foreland, the eastern third curves more sharply and has significant topographical relief south of the mountain belt, namely, the Shillong Plateau and neighboring hills (Figure 1). Previous studies proposed that these structures accommodate part of the India-Eurasia tectonic plate convergence. These earlier studies also proposed that the great 1897 Assam earthquake (M8.1) had relieved some of the strain between these converging tectonic plates, thereby lowering earthquake hazard in Bhutan.

Fig. 1. Topographic map of the 2,500-kilometer-long Himalayan arc and surrounding region, with formerly (yellow) and newly (pink) cataloged seismicity. The dextral fault zone (white arrows) between Sikkim and the Shillong Plateau marks the break of the India plate, east of which a zone of complex 3-D deformation begins. Red dates mark the three largest earthquakes mentioned in the text. Green lines mark the surface trace of the megathrust along which the India plate underthrusts the Himalayan orogen, as well as the thrust faults bounding the Shillong Plateau. Political boundaries are shown for reference.
Abbreviations: Pl. = plateau; Pr. = Pradesh; Sik. = Sikkim.
<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

We collected new gravity, geodetic, and seismology data, and we found that the lithosphere—the rigid top layer of Earth—beneath Bhutan and the Shillong Plateau is most likely not part of the Indian plate or, if it once was, that it is now detached from it. The demarcation between plates stretches in a NW–SE direction, without a surface trace, but it is evident in a middle to lower crustal zone of continuously active seismicity and dextral (right-lateral) motion [Diehl et al., 2017]. This fault zone most likely hosted an **M7 earthquake in 1930**.

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

Research team member Théo Berthet monitors data collection during a campaign to a less visited region in central Bhutan. The Black Mountains, which rise to 4,500–4,600 meters, are visible in the background. Credit: György Hetényi

Our GPS measurements confirm the relative motion of the newly defined **microplate**. These measurements also show that this microplate is rotating clockwise with respect to the Indian plate [Vernant et al., 2014]. The different behaviors of the two lithospheres are clearly expressed in their differences in flexural stiffness along the strike direction of the orogen (mountain belt). The flexural stiffness beneath Nepal is homogeneous [Berthet et al., 2013] but is comparatively weaker beneath Bhutan [Hammer et al., 2013].

A similar, but less well defined, deep seismicity zone, with distinct GPS vectors and flexural signatures, may mark another terrain boundary farther east along the Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh [Hetényi et al., 2016a].

## Not a Safe Haven

India's **1897 Assam earthquake**, which occurred farther south, is only a few human generations in the past and has not completely faded from memory. No event since then has reached magnitude 7 in Bhutan, and many of the local population believe that big earthquakes cannot happen there.
<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

We collected new gravity, geodetic, and seismology data, and we found that the lithosphere—the rigid top layer of Earth—beneath Bhutan and the Shillong Plateau is most likely not part of the Indian plate or, if it once was, that it is now detached from it. The demarcation between plates stretches in a NW–SE direction, without a surface trace, but it is evident in a middle to lower crustal zone of continuously active seismicity and dextral (right-lateral) motion [Diehl et al., 2017]. This fault zone most likely hosted an **M7 earthquake in 1930**.

Our GPS measurements confirm the relative motion of the newly defined **microplate**. These measurements also show that this microplate is rotating clockwise with respect to the Indian plate [Vernant et al., 2014]. The different behaviors of the two lithospheres are clearly expressed in their differences in flexural stiffness along the strike direction of the orogen (mountain belt). The flexural stiffness beneath Nepal is homogeneous [Berthet et al., 2013] but is comparatively weaker beneath Bhutan [Hammer et al., 2013].

A similar, but less well defined, deep seismicity zone, with distinct GPS vectors and flexural signatures, may mark another terrain boundary farther east along the Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh [Hetényi et al., 2016a].

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /></figure>

Research team member Théo Berthet monitors data collection during a campaign to a less visited region in central Bhutan. The Black Mountains, which rise to 4,500–4,600 meters, are visible in the background. Credit: György Hetényi

## Not a Safe Haven

India's **1897 Assam earthquake**, which occurred farther south, is only a few human generations in the past and has not completely faded from memory. No event since then has reached magnitude 7 in Bhutan, and many of the local population believe that big earthquakes cannot happen there.
However, the return period of large Himalayan events is longer than oral history: Western Nepal, for example, has not experienced a significant event [since 1505]. It is true that over the past decades, the seismicity rate in Bhutan has been low, but we have found evidence of several great earthquakes in the past on the local megathrust.

Geomorphological analysis of uplifted river terraces in central Bhutan revealed two major events over the past millennium [Berthet et al., 2014]. A newly excavated paleoseismological trench has documented surface rupture during a medieval event and a 17th–18th century event [Le Roux-Mallouf et al., 2016]. Calculations based on newly translated historical eyewitness reports, macroseismic information, and reassessed damage reports have constrained a M8 ± 0.5 earthquake on 4 May 1714 [Hetényi et al., 2016b].

Thus, the seismic gap proved to be an **information gap**: The entire length of the Himalayas can generate earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 7.5, and it has done so in the past 500 years.

## Differences at Multiple Scales

The major change along the Himalayas occurs between their central western part (with a single convergence zone) and the eastern third (with distributed deformation including strike-slip motion), and the east-west extent of Bhutan exhibits even greater complexity. The crust appears to be smoothly descending in western Bhutan and is subhorizontal in the eastern part of the country [Singer et al., 2017a]. Our measurements of seismic wave speeds in the upper crust show important changes across the country, and they coincide well with the geological structure mapped at the surface [Singer et al., 2017b].

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /></figure>

The landscape in eastern Bhutan, south of Trashigang, typically features incised valleys, steep slopes, and terraces. The hut in the center is shown in the inset for scale. The view here is to the east, and the hut is located at 27.2784°N, 91.4478°E. Credit: György Hetényi

The most striking difference between western and eastern Bhutan is the crustal deformation pattern. In the west, the accommodation of present-day crustal shortening is very similar to the rest of the Himalayas: The plates in the megathrust region are fully locked [Vernant et al., 2014], and microseismicity (the occurrence of small events) is scattered across the crust [Diehl et al., 2017]. In the east, the locked segment of the megathrust is shorter, and it focuses most of the microseismic activity within a smaller region. Also, the fault appears to be creeping (**sliding** without producing significant seismicity) in both shallower and deeper segments [Marechal et al., 2016].

This variation of loading and background seismicity warrants further research along the entire Himalayan orogen because there is very little existing insight into variations of structures and processes at such short distance scales.
However, the return period of large Himalayan events is longer than oral history: Western Nepal, for example, has not experienced a significant event [since 1505]. It is true that over the past decades, the seismicity rate in Bhutan has been low, but we have found evidence of several great earthquakes in the past on the local megathrust.

Geomorphological analysis of uplifted river terraces in central Bhutan revealed two major events over the past millennium [Berthet et al., 2014]. A newly excavated paleoseismological trench has documented surface rupture during a medieval event and a 17th–18th century event [Le Roux-Mallouf et al., 2016]. Calculations based on newly translated historical eyewitness reports, macroseismic information, and reassessed damage reports have constrained a M8 ± 0.5 earthquake on 4 May 1714 [Hetényi et al., 2016b].

Thus, the seismic gap proved to be an **information gap**: The entire length of the Himalayas can generate earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 7.5, and it has done so in the past 500 years.

## Differences at Multiple Scales

The major change along the Himalayas occurs between their central western part (with a single convergence zone) and the eastern third (with distributed deformation including strike-slip motion), and the east-west extent of Bhutan exhibits even greater complexity. The crust appears to be smoothly descending in western Bhutan and is subhorizontal in the eastern part of the country [Singer et al., 2017a]. Our measurements of seismic wave speeds in the upper crust show important changes across the country, and they coincide well with the geological structure mapped at the surface [Singer et al., 2017b].

<figure><img src="image_6.png" /></figure>

The landscape in eastern Bhutan, south of Trashigang, typically features incised valleys, steep slopes, and terraces. The hut in the center is shown in the inset for scale. The view here is to the east, and the hut is located at 27.2784°N, 91.4478°E. Credit: György Hetényi

The most striking difference between western and eastern Bhutan is the crustal deformation pattern. In the west, the accommodation of present-day crustal shortening is very similar to the rest of the Himalayas: The plates in the megathrust region are fully locked [Vernant et al., 2014], and microseismicity (the occurrence of small events) is scattered across the crust [Diehl et al., 2017]. In the east, the locked segment of the megathrust is shorter, and it focuses most of the microseismic activity within a smaller region. Also, the fault appears to be creeping (**sliding** without producing significant seismicity) in both shallower and deeper segments [Marechal et al., 2016].

This variation of loading and background seismicity warrants further research along the entire Himalayan orogen because there is very little existing insight into variations of structures and processes at such short distance scales.
<figure><img src="image_6.png" /></figure>

Gangkhar Puensum, a mountain in north central Bhutan, is clearly visible from the main road between Ura and Sengor, looking north-northwest. Gangkhar Puensum, at an altitude of 7,570 meters, is the highest unclimbed peak on Earth. For religious reasons, mountaineering above 6,000 meters is prohibited in Bhutan, so this record is very likely to remain. Credit: György Hetényi

## Bhutan Is Moving Forward

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /></figure>

> Our 7 years of field campaigns in this region have advanced our geophysical exploration and geodynamic understanding considerably.

Bhutan is an exotic place that has self-imposed isolation for a long time, but the country's technology is now catching up at a rate that is higher than for the rest of the Himalayan regions. During our 2010 campaign, we used paper traveler's checks, and we lacked individual cell phones. During our 2017 campaign, we had access to automated teller machines (ATMs) and 3G internet.

Likewise, our 7 years of field campaigns in this region have advanced our geophysical exploration and

geodynamic understanding considerably. Still, there is a strong need to continue and build on the existing knowledge, which includes freely available seismological, gravity, and GPS data from our projects.

Focusing on three areas would help improve future development in Bhutan:

* Broadening timescales. Acquiring long-term data needed to confirm or to adjust interpretations made on relatively short timescales is possible only with national observatories. We have launched seismology
<figure><img src="image_7.png" /></figure>

Gangkhar Puensum, a mountain in north central Bhutan, is clearly visible from the main road between Ura and Sengor, looking north-northwest. Gangkhar Puensum, at an altitude of 7,570 meters, is the highest unclimbed peak on Earth. For religious reasons, mountaineering above 6,000 meters is prohibited in Bhutan, so this record is very likely to remain. Credit: György Hetényi

## Bhutan Is Moving Forward

Bhutan is an exotic place that has self-imposed isolation for a long time, but the country's technology is now catching up at a rate that is higher than for the rest of the Himalayan regions. During our 2010 campaign, we used paper traveler's checks, and we lacked individual cell phones. During our 2017 campaign, we had access to automated teller machines (ATMs) and 3G internet.

> Our 7 years of field campaigns in this region have advanced our geophysical exploration and geodynamic understanding considerably.

Likewise, our 7 years of field campaigns in this region have advanced our geophysical exploration and

geodynamic understanding considerably. Still, there is a strong need to continue and build on the existing knowledge, which includes freely available seismological, gravity, and GPS data from our projects.

Focusing on three areas would help improve future development in Bhutan:

* Broadening timescales. Acquiring long-term data needed to confirm or to adjust interpretations made on relatively short timescales is possible only with national observatories. We have launched seismology
and GPS monitoring initiatives, and we hope for long-term funding and training of local manpower for
all levels of operation.

* Broadening investigations. Some fields of study have advanced dramatically, including work on **glacial lake outburst floods** and on landslides. Others, like **seismic microzonation**, have been limited so far and could benefit from more extensive efforts. There is also a strong need for up-to-date **building codes** that reflect the scientific knowledge coming from these investigations.

* Increasing **public awareness** of natural hazards. The Bhutanese Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs now has a full department devoted to disaster management that includes well-trained employees and comprehensive administration. However, education is the key to reaching the broadest population possible, which requires regular adaptation of school curricula and concise, practical information that local residents from any generation can understand.

We hope that recent efforts by our teams have promoted progress in the right direction. We also hope that large portions of the population will be sufficiently aware to deal with the next natural disaster. As our research shows, the next event may come sooner than previously thought.

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /></figure>

The main Himalayan peaks in northwest Bhutan, on the border with southern Tibet, are, from left to right, Chomolhari, Jichu Drake, and Tserim Kang. Exact altitudes are debated, but Chomolhari is higher than 7,000 meters, and Tserim Kang towers above 6,500 meters. Credit: György Hetényi

## Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge all scientific, fieldwork, and logistical help provided by participants of the projects GANSSER and BHUTANEPAL, carried out in collaboration with the Department of Geology and Mines and the National Land Commission, Thimphu, Bhutan, and with support of Helvetas. Research highlighted in this article became possible thanks to the seed funding of the North-South Centre (ETH Zurich), followed by funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (grants 200021_143467 and PP00P2_157627) and the French Agence
and GPS monitoring initiatives, and we hope for long-term funding and training of local manpower for all levels of operation.

* Broadening investigations. Some fields of study have advanced dramatically, including work on **glacial lake outburst floods** and on landslides. Others, like **seismic microzonation**, have been limited so far and could benefit from more extensive efforts. There is also a strong need for up-to-date **building codes** that reflect the scientific knowledge coming from these investigations.

* Increasing **public awareness** of natural hazards. The Bhutanese Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs now has a full department devoted to disaster management that includes well-trained employees and comprehensive administration. However, education is the key to reaching the broadest population possible, which requires regular adaptation of school curricula and concise, practical information that local residents from any generation can understand.

We hope that recent efforts by our teams have promoted progress in the right direction. We also hope that large portions of the population will be sufficiently aware to deal with the next natural disaster. As our research shows, the next event may come sooner than previously thought.

<figure><img src="image_8.png" /></figure>

The main Himalayan peaks in northwest Bhutan, on the border with southern Tibet, are, from left to right, Chomolhari, Jichu Drake, and Tserim Kang. Exact altitudes are debated, but Chomolhari is higher than 7,000 meters, and Tserim Kang towers above 6,500 meters. Credit: György Hetényi

## Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge all scientific, fieldwork, and logistical help provided by participants of the projects GANSSER and BHUTANEPAL, carried out in collaboration with the Department of Geology and Mines and the National Land Commission, Thimphu, Bhutan, and with support of Helvetas. Research highlighted in this article became possible thanks to the seed funding of the North-South Centre (ETH Zurich), followed by funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation (grants 200021_143467 and PP00P2_157627) and the French Agence
Nationale de la Recherche (grant 13-BS06-0006-01).

## References

Berthet, T., et al. (2013), Lateral uniformity of India plate strength over central and eastern Nepal, *Geophys. J. Int.*, **195**, 1,481–1,493, https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggt357.

Berthet, T., et al. (2014), Active tectonics of the eastern Himalaya: New constraints from the first tectonic geomorphology study in southern Bhutan, *Geology*, **42**, 427–430, https://doi.org/10.1130/G35162.1.

Diehl, T., et al. (2017), Seismotectonics of Bhutan: Evidence for segmentation of the eastern Himalayas and link to foreland deformation, *Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.*, **471**, 54–64, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.04.038.

Hammer, P., et al. (2013), Flexure of the India plate underneath the Bhutan Himalaya, *Geophys. Res. Lett.*, **40**, 4,225–4,230, https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50793 ISTEX.

Hetényi, G., et al. (2016a), Segmentation of the Himalayas as revealed by arc-parallel gravity anomalies, *Sci. Rep.*, **6**, 33866, https://doi.org/10.1038/srep33866.

Hetényi, G., et al. (2016b), Joint approach combining damage and paleoseismology observations constrains the 1714 A.D. Bhutan earthquake at magnitude 8±0.5, *Geophys. Res. Lett.*, **43**, 10,695–10,702, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL071033.

Le Roux-Mallouf, R., et al. (2016), First paleoseismic evidence for great surface-rupturing earthquakes in the Bhutan Himalayas, *J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth*, **121**, 7,271–7,283, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JB012733.

Marechal, A., et al. (2016), Evidence of interseismic coupling variations along the Bhutan Himalayan arc from new GPS data, *Geophys. Res. Lett.*, **43**, 12,399–12,406, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL071163.

Singer, J., et al. (2017a), The underthrusting Indian crust and its role in collision dynamics of the eastern Himalaya in Bhutan: Insights from receiver function imaging, *J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth*, **122**, 1,152–1,178, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB013337.

Singer, J., et al. (2017b), Along-strike variations in the Himalayan orogenic wedge structure in Bhutan from ambient seismic noise tomography, *Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst.*, **18**, 1,483–1,498, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GC006742.

Vernant, P., et al. (2014), Clockwise rotation of the Brahmaputra Valley relative to India: Tectonic convergence in the eastern Himalaya, Naga Hills, and Shillong Plateau, *J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth*, **119**, 6,558–6,571, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JB011196 ISTEX.
Nationale de la Recherche (grant 13-BS06-0006-01).

## References

Berthet, T., et al. (2013), Lateral uniformity of India plate strength over central and eastern Nepal, *Geophys. J. Int.*, **195**, 1,481–1,493, [https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggt357](https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggt357).

Berthet, T., et al. (2014), Active tectonics of the eastern Himalaya: New constraints from the first tectonic geomorphology study in southern Bhutan, *Geology*, **42**, 427–430, [https://doi.org/10.1130/G35162.1](https://doi.org/10.1130/G35162.1).

Diehl, T., et al. (2017), Seismotectonics of Bhutan: Evidence for segmentation of the eastern Himalayas and link to foreland deformation, *Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.*, **471**, 54–64, [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.04.038](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.04.038).

Hammer, P., et al. (2013), Flexure of the India plate underneath the Bhutan Himalaya, *Geophys. Res. Lett.*, **40**, 4,225–4,230, [https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50793](https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50793) ISTEX.

Hetényi, G., et al. (2016a), Segmentation of the Himalayas as revealed by arc-parallel gravity anomalies, *Sci. Rep.*, **6**, 33866, [https://doi.org/10.1038/srep33866](https://doi.org/10.1038/srep33866).

Hetényi, G., et al. (2016b), Joint approach combining damage and paleoseismology observations constrains the 1714 A.D. Bhutan earthquake at magnitude 8±0.5, *Geophys. Res. Lett.*, **43**, 10,695–10,702, [https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL071033](https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL071033).

Le Roux-Mallouf, R., et al. (2016), First paleoseismic evidence for great surface-rupturing earthquakes in the Bhutan Himalayas, *J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth*, **121**, 7,271–7,283, [https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JB012733](https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JB012733).

Marechal, A., et al. (2016), Evidence of interseismic coupling variations along the Bhutan Himalayan arc from new GPS data, *Geophys. Res. Lett.*, **43**, 12,399–12,406, [https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL071163](https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL071163).

Singer, J., et al. (2017a), The underthrusting Indian crust and its role in collision dynamics of the eastern Himalaya in Bhutan: Insights from receiver function imaging, *J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth*, **122**, 1,152–1,178, [https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB013337](https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB013337).

Singer, J., et al. (2017b), Along-strike variations in the Himalayan orogenic wedge structure in Bhutan from ambient seismic noise tomography, *Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst.*, **18**, 1,483–1,498, [https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GC006742](https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GC006742).

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Author Information

György Hetényi (email: gyorgy.hetenyi@unil.ch), Faculty of Geosciences and Environment, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, Switzerland; Rodolphe Cattin, Géosciences Montpellier, University of Montpellier, France; and Dowchu Drukpa, Department of Geology and Mines, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Thimphu, Bhutan

Citation:

Hetényi, G., Cattin, R., and Drukpa, D. (2018), Bhutan earthquake opens doors to geophysical studies, *Eos*, 99, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018EO103055. Published on 13 August 2018.

Text © 2018. The authors. [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

Except where otherwise noted, images are subject to copyright. Any reuse without express permission from the
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Author Information

György Hetényi (email: gyorgy.hetenyi@unil.ch), Faculty of Geosciences and Environment, Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, Switzerland; Rodolphe Cattin, Géosciences Montpellier, University of Montpellier, France; and Dowchu Drukpa, Department of Geology and Mines, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Thimphu, Bhutan

Citation:

Hetényi, G., Cattin, R., and Drukpa, D. (2018), Bhutan earthquake opens doors to geophysical studies, *Eos*, 99, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018EO103055. Published on 13 August 2018.

Text © 2018. The authors. [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

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