Editorial: Mega quakes: Cascading earthquake hazards and compounding risks

Abstract

Mega quakes pose major threats to modern society, generating casualties and fatalities, disrupting socioeconomic activities, and causing enormous economic loss across the world. Recent major disasters, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2011 Tohoku Japan earthquake and tsunami, and the 2015 Gorkha Nepal earthquake, are vivid reminders that complex risk cascades drive most earthquake crises. Examples of cascading chains of geological events are as follows: earthquake rupture generating tsunami; strong shaking triggering large-scale landslide and liquefaction; and mainshock inducing a sequence of damaging aftershocks. Our society and infrastructures are subjected to multiple types of cascading earthquake hazards; therefore, integrated hazard assessment and risk management strategies are needed for mitigating potential consequences due to multiple concurrent hazards. For effective disaster risk reduction, accurate risk assessments of earthquake-related hazards are the fundamental requirements. Moreover, uncertainty modeling and its impact on hazard prediction and anticipated consequences are essential parts of earthquake risk management decision-making. The Mega Quakes Research Topic collects the cutting-edge research contributions from 84 leading researchers and professionals around the world, who are actively involved with modeling, assessment, mitigation, and management of earthquake hazards and risks. It contains 19 articles that cover a wide range of cascading earthquake-triggered hazards and risks in various geographical regions, including Cascadia (Pacific Northwest), Indian Ocean, Japan, Mexico, and Nepal.