Media advisory: Expert in Himalayan seismology available to discuss earthquake in Nepal

LAWRENCE — An earthquake registering 7.8 in magnitude rocked the Asian nation of Nepal on Saturday, with 3,800 deaths confirmed so far. Occurring 50 miles from the Nepalese capital of Katmandu, much of the area hit hardest remains inaccessible.

Mike Taylor, associate professor of geology at the University of Kansas, is among the world’s foremost experts in the seismology of the affected region. He recently identified and mapped a previously unknown and active fault line about 40 miles long in the high, western Himalayas in the journal Nature Geoscience.

“Earthquakes in the western region of Nepal can direct seismic energy eastward toward Katmandu, which is an ancient lake,” Taylor said. “The energy is amplified, and shaking intensity is increased.”

 To schedule an interview with Taylor, contact Brendan M. Lynch at 785-864-8855 or brendan@ku.edu.