Showing posts with label USGS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USGS. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Training on earthquake hazard assessment and aftershock forecasting

A training on 'Earthquake Hazard Assessment and Aftershock Forecasting' has begun – in Kathmandu – with the objectives to enhance the understanding on earthquake monitoring, seismological studies, data generation, and hazard evaluation,
The training has been jointly organised by Department of Mines and Geology (DMG), United States Geological Survey (USGS), National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET) and Earthquake Safety Solutions (ESS) with the support from Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA).
Addressing the inaugural session, Prof Dr Prem Nath Maskey from Institute of Engineering (IOE) acknowledged the importance of this endeavor. "While talking about the disaster risk, hazard becomes a more important component," he said, adding that with that sense, it’s very much pertinent to conduct training on earthquake hazard assessment and also on topic of aftershock forecasting, which is new idea for Nepal. "We are not only conducting training for new generation, but we are also going to learn new ideas and approaches."
From the chair, director general of DMG Dr Soma Nath Sapkota stressed on how important it is to have right policies for right purpose. "The deliberations from this training are to serve for better policies and ultimately serve our people," he said, adding that all scientists should be committed to make better policies and contribute to the people.
Likewise, earthquake expert Dr Amod Mani Dixit talked about recent Feta tornado and Gorkha Earthquake. "Feta Tornado has asked challenging question to scientists," he said, reminding the 2015 Gorkha earthquake.
Seismologist Dr Susan Hough from USGS, on the occasion, mentioned about ongoing collaboration that is helping work together for building better knowledge and understanding on seismic issues. "The 2015 Gorkha Earthquake was a great tragedy and also an impetus for actions not only to address reconstruction needs but also for hazard assessment, building code implementation, seismic monitoring and range of activities," she said appreciating Nepal’s efforts in the areas of seismic science and hazards assessment during past 15 years, and wished from USGS side to continue collaborating with Nepal Government, NSET and partners.
On the occasion, executive director to NSET Surya Narayan Shrestha highlighted the objectives of training that was conducted to enhance understanding on what is going on in our country, in terms of earthquake monitoring, in terms of seismological studies and also in terms of data generation and hazard evaluation, to familiarise with new idea, new concepts, new methodologies, tools, techniques such as on aftershock forecasting and to go one step ahead in enhancing collaboration – among Nepali professionals and experts from USGS and other agencies.
After the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, earthquake phenomena have been much discoursed in public, academic and scientific communities in Nepal. There is a felt need of building better scientific understanding and enhanced civic education on seismic phenomena in Nepal.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Share market likely to open from May 24

Instead of tomorrow, the share market is going to start trading from May24.
The market has been closed since April 26 after the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake of April 25. And it had initially planned to start trading from tomorrow. But the market lost confidence after another earthquake of 7.3-magnitude, according to USGS, on May 12. The market is closed - for the first time in its history - since April 26.
However, Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) is yet to inform its regulator, Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon), according to general manager of Nepse Sitaram Thapaliya.
The Nepse has not officially notified the public, but the marker cannot open tomorrow, he said, adding that it would not be possible to resume trading from Sunday according to earlier plan due to Registrar to Shares, brokerage companies, Central Depository System and Clearing Ltd and investors are shaken after the May 12 earthquake.
Nepse will remain closed next week also due to pressure from some big investors and the brokerage companies. The share market was closed after the April 25 earthquake as some of the brokerage firms and Registrar to Shares (RTS) suffered huge damage, apart from Central Depository System (CDS) and Clearing Ltd, that was worst hit.
Though, some of the stakeholders proposed the market to open partially – during today's meeting – most of the stakeholders sought for few more days to calm the nerves of the shaken investors. "The market has lost confidence after the May 12 earthquake," they said, suggesting Nepse to open trading for an hour Sunday, and gradually increase its trading hour to normal. But Thapaliya said that the Nepse cannot open for only one hour. "Either the trading hours will be normal or the market will remain closed for the time being," he added.
The market operates for three hours from 12 to 3 five days a week from Sunday to Thursday.
Some of the Registrar to Shares including Civil Capital, Siddhartha Capital, NMB Capital and Growmore Merchant Banker have asked for an additional period of one week to set up their offices damaged by the earthquakes. Similarly, CDS and Clearing Ltd has also sought time to shift its office to Nepse premises in Bhadrakali from the current building that has been damaged badly.
The share market that is going to open after a month from the earthquake of April 25 is expected to see a selling pressure due to investors' need of cash and also lost confidence.