Rajendran
Adjunct Professor @National Institute Of Advanced Studies
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WORK HISTORY
Adjunct Professor @National Institute Of Advanced Studies
Bangalore, IN
The past earthquakes leave their imprints in the form of surface displacements and the secondary impacts like soil liquefaction. By studying these proxies preserved in the geologic columns, we address the issues like where the extreme rare events like large earthquakes have occurred in the past; what control their distribution in space and time; and how large could be these expected earthquakes? Charles Lyell, the foremost geologist of his day was perhaps the first to appreciate the scientific value of landscape modifications, generated by earthquakes. An example, which he referred in his “Principles of Geology” (1830-33), was the 1819 Kachchh earthquake that produced dramatic land level and morphological changes. My first study sites in India were in Gujarat and Latur in Maharashtra. The seismo-tectonic and paleoseismological research has now become an important tool in earthquake hazard evaluation, and with high seismic productivity in the recent years, India offers excellent sites for such studies. For the past couple of years, we focused on the earthquake processes in the Andaman region, supplemented by the inputs from GPS-geodesy that monitor the ongoing tectonic movements. We are interested to decipher the characteristics and behaviors of the diverse seismic source zones of India and develop recurrence models of large earthquakes, and how their characteristics compare with earthquakes globally. We are now focusing on the challenging questions of earthquake potential of the Central Himalaya and the Kashmir Himalaya. We have also developed international linkages that led to collaborative work and cooperation on earthquake and tsunami hazard, among various researchers from many countries (United States, Chile, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Oman, Iran and Pakistan). We are also collaborating with researchers in the United States on the earthquake processes in the Andaman Island.
EDUCATION
Cochin University of Science and Technology, India
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, India.
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
SKILLS
ABOUT RAJENDRAN
I am an Earth scientist with special interests in geodynamics, earthquake geology, seismology and tectonics. I contribute to the understanding of the earthquake source zones and fault zones of India, thereby assisting the seismic hazard evaluation. My studies are mostly focused in the areas of active tectonics, earthquake geology, paleoseismology and tectonic geomorphology. To address the key questions in seismology like the seismic gap hypothesis, and characteristic earthquakes (slip-predictable or time predictable models) or spatial and temporal clustering of earthquakes (explained as due to stress triggering and fault interaction) it is important to understand how seismic sources behave in the longer term. Extensive database on spatial and temporal earthquake recurrence patterns for various fault systems helps to draw realistic statistical conclusions. My work is mainly focused on developing insights into earthquake sources, leading to their long-term behavior. I contribute to the understanding of the recurrence patterns of major earthquakes/tsunamis and nature of fault zone deformation in various tectonic regimes of India. My research targets to further the knowledge on the earthquake generation along the plate boundary systems like the Himalaya and Andaman-Nicobar tectonic zones as well as the intraplate regions like the failed rift zones like Kachchh, in the northwest India – major potential source of damaging earthquakes. I conduct rigorous field investigations of various geological and geomorphological features along with direct observations of fault offsets preserved in the local geology or the indirect indications like soil liquefaction to develop tectonic models of earthquake kinematics. I employ various dating and laboratory analyses to constrain the ages of the tectonic features. I have also contributed to the understanding of geodynamical aspects of the Andaman subduction zone- the source zone of the 2004 mega-earthquake and the consequent devastating tsunami through the application of global positioning system (GPS) based strain measurements and earthquake seismology. I am also involved in the collaborative work and international cooperation on tsunami hazard and capacity building as part of initiatives and have established linkages among various researchers from many Indian Ocean countries from Australia to Iran to understand the transoceanic tsunami hazards. I have been a contributor to the popular press on the topics of science policies, education and scientific temperament and environment.
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