Berggipfel im Pamir-Gebirge, Kirgistan.
Pamir Mountains in Central Asia. (Photo: GFZ)

Earthquake damage to buildings is mainly due to the existing shear waves which transfer their energy during an earthquake to the houses. These shear waves are significantly influenced by the underground and the topography of the surrounding area. Detailed knowledge of the landform and the near-surface underground structure is, therefore, an important prerequisite for a local seismic hazard assessment and for the evaluation of the ground-effect, which can strongly modify and increase local ground motion.

As described in the latest issue of Geophysical Journal International, a team of scientists from the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences could show that it is possible to map complex shear wave velocity structures almost in real time by means of a newly developed tomographic approach. 

Querschnitt durch die Erdkruste und den oberen Erdmantel im Pamir-Gebirge (nördlichster Teil der Kollisionszone von Indien und Eurasien). Dort treten sowohl flache als auch tiefe Erdbeben auf (weiße Kreise). Die tiefen Beben werden durch die Subduktion der unteren Eurasischen Kruste verusacht. Lage der Seismometerkette (schwarze Dreiecke).
Cross section through the earth's crust and the upper mantle in the Pamir Mountains (the northernmost part of the collision zone of India and Eurasia). There occur both flat and deep earthquakes (white circles). The deep quakes are caused by the subduction of the Eurasian lower crust. (Illustration: GFZ)

Literature:
 M. Pilz, S. Parolai, D. Bindi, "Three-dimensional passive imaging of complex seismic fault systems: evidence of surface traces of the Issyk-Ata fault (Kyrgyzstan)", Geophysical Journal International, September 2013, 194(3), doi:10.1093/gji/ggt214
 Schneider, F. M.; Yuan, X.; Schurr, B.; Mechie, J.; Sippl, C.; Haberland, C.; Minaev, V.; Oimahmadov, I.; Gadoev, M.; Radjabov, N.; Abdybachaev, U.; Orunbaev, S.; Negmatullaev, S. (2013): "Seismic imaging of subducting continental lower crust beneath the Pamir", Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 375, August 2013, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2013.05.015

Original press release:
German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ)