The Gorkha earthquake (M 7.8) on 25 April 2015 and later aftershocks struck South Asia, killing 9,000 and damaging a large region. Supported by a large campaign of responsive satellite data acquisitions over the earthquake disaster zone, our team undertook a satellite image survey of the earthquakes’ induced geohazards in Nepal and China and an assessment of the geomorphic, tectonic, and geologic controls on quake-induced landslides. Timely analysis and communication aided response and recovery and informed decision makers. We mapped 4312 co-seismic and post-seismic landslides and surveyed 491 glacier lakes for earthquake damage, but found only 9 landslide-impacted lakes and no visible satellite evidence of outbursts. Landslide densities are correlated with slope, peak ground acceleration, surface downdrop, and specific metamorphic lithologies and large plutonic intrusions.

Points representing individual houses as an exposure elements while doing flood risk analysis.

Open space is mapped on Google Earth at 1:1500 scale.

Land cover data of Greater Chittagong, Bangladesh for 2010. This dataset is created using the LandSat 30 meter spatial resolution satellite image of 2000.

Inundation layer for incremental discharge.

Land cover data of Bhutan for 1990. This dataset is created using the LandSat 30 meter spatial resolution satellite image of 1990.

The Gorkha earthquake (M 7.8) on 25 April 2015 and later aftershocks struck South Asia, killing 9,000 and damaging a large region. Supported by a large campaign of responsive satellite data acquisitions over the earthquake disaster zone, our team undertook a satellite image survey of the earthquakes’ induced geohazards in Nepal and China and an assessment of the geomorphic, tectonic, and geologic controls on quake-induced landslides. Timely analysis and communication aided response and recovery and informed decision makers. We mapped 4312 co-seismic and post-seismic landslides and surveyed 491 glacier lakes for earthquake damage, but found only 9 landslide-impacted lakes and no visible satellite evidence of outbursts. Landslide densities are correlated with slope, peak ground acceleration, surface downdrop, and specific metamorphic lithologies and large plutonic intrusions.

Flood risk layer for different return period.

Flood hazard layer for different return period.

Land cover data of Hindu Kush Himalayan region of Pakistan for 2000. This dataset is created using the LandSat 30 meter spatial resolution satellite image of 2000.