C. P. Rajendran

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Chittenipattu Puthenveettil Rajendran
Born (1955-05-29) 29 May 1955 (age 68)
Ottapalam, Palakkad, Kerala, India
Alma mater Kerala University
Cochin University of Science and Technology University of South Carolina
Known for Tectonics Earthquake geology Paleoseismology
Spouse Kusala Rajendran
AwardsNational Geoscience Award (2009)
Scientific career
FieldsGeoscience
Institutions Indian Institute of Science
Centre for Earth Science Studies Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research National Institute of Advanced Studies

Chittenipattu Puthenveettil Rajendran, (born 29 May 1955) also known among his peers as CP, is an Indian geoscientist who has worked mainly on the Indian earthquakes and tectonics.

Contents

Education

Rajendran did his schooling in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and Chennai and did his BSc (1976) in Geology from University College, Kerala University and MSc (1978) from Cochin University of Science and Technology.[ citation needed ] He joined Centre for Earth Science Studies, CESS as a research scientist. After obtaining PhD from the Cochin University of Science and Technology in 1988, he moved to the University of South Carolina (USA) for postdoctoral studies and continued working there until 1993. He is married to Prof. Kusala Rajendran, a fellow researcher at the CESS, who later joined the faculty [1] at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. They have a son. [2]

Profession

CP moved back to Centre for Earth Science Studies, Trivandrum in 1994 where he continued till 2008. He accepted Ramanujan National Fellowship [3] by the Government of India at the Indian Institute of Science, IISc in 2009 and worked at the new centre initiated on Earth Science until 2013. After completing his tenure at the IISc, he joined the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) in Bengaluru as an associate faculty. Since 2020, he has been an adjunct professor with the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS). He is also an honorary consultant at the Centre of Excellence on Advanced Mechanics of Materials, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. He is also on the Director Board of Consortium for Sustainable Development Inc., Higganum, Connecticut, USA.

Rajendran is primarily responsible for introducing a relatively new research field of paleo-seismology in India. He is known for research in India's seismotectonics, earthquake geology, paleoseismology, archaeoseismology, and tsunami geology. His efforts have provided insights into the earthquake recurrence and fault zone deformation in various seismotectonic provinces of India. [4] [5]

Rajendran initiated paleoseismological work in various parts of the country including Killari (Latur), [6] Kerala, [6] Rann of Kachchh, [7] Saurashtra, Cambay, Panvel (Maharashtra), Assam, [8] Central Himalaya [9] and Andaman-Nicobar region. [10] His work before 2001 Gujarat earthquake on the 1819 Rann of Kutch earthquake and the linear elevated tract of land called "Allahbund" in the low-lying Rann in northwest India has led to basic understanding on earthquake processes in the northwestern part of India. His search in the epicentral area of the 1819 Rann of Kutch earthquake led to the identification of another event between 800 and 1,000 years B.P. [7] Based on the relative size and frequency of 2001 [11] and older sandblows, he interpreted that the earlier earthquake may have also originated from the same source.

Rajendran has also been working on the tsunami geology and hazard and worked in many globally important locations like the Chilean Coast [12] and Makran Coast in Iran. [13] He is also involved in the collaborative work and co-operation on tsunami hazard, among various researchers from many countries.

In 2005, Rajendran was ranked among the top ten young researchers in the country by the "Outlook" Magazine. [14]

Awards

He was awarded the National Geoscience Award in 2009 [15] by the Government of India for his contributions to disaster management.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seismology</span> Scientific study of earthquakes and propagation of elastic waves through a planet

Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes and the generation and propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or other planetary bodies. It also includes studies of earthquake environmental effects such as tsunamis as well as diverse seismic sources such as volcanic, tectonic, glacial, fluvial, oceanic microseism, atmospheric, and artificial processes such as explosions and human activities. A related field that uses geology to infer information regarding past earthquakes is paleoseismology. A recording of Earth motion as a function of time, created by a seismograph is called a seismogram. A seismologist is a scientist works in basic or applied seismology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Active fault</span> Geological fault likely to be the source of an earthquake sometime in the future

An active fault is a fault that is likely to become the source of another earthquake sometime in the future. Geologists commonly consider faults to be active if there has been movement observed or evidence of seismic activity during the last 10,000 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Gujarat earthquake</span> Earthquake in India

The 2001 Gujarat earthquake, also known as the Bhuj earthquake, occurred on 26 January at 08:46 am IST. The epicentre was about 9 km south-southwest of the village of Chobari in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch (Kachchh) District of Gujarat, India.

Megathrust earthquakes occur at convergent plate boundaries, where one tectonic plate is forced underneath another. The earthquakes are caused by slip along the thrust fault that forms the contact between the two plates. These interplate earthquakes are the planet's most powerful, with moment magnitudes (Mw) that can exceed 9.0. Since 1900, all earthquakes of magnitude 9.0 or greater have been megathrust earthquakes.

The 1993 Latur earthquake struck India at 3:56 am local time (UTC+05:30) on 30 September. The main area affected is the districts of Latur and Osmanabad, including the Ausa block of Latur and Omerga of Osmanabad in Maharashtra, Western India. Fifty-two villages were demolished in the intraplate earthquake. It measured 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale, and approximately 10,000 people died, whilst another 30,000 were injured. The earthquake's hypocenter was around 10 km deep – relatively shallow – allowing shock waves to cause more damage. It is considered the deadliest earthquake in the stable continental crust to have occurred in recorded history.

The 1945 Balochistan earthquake occurred in British India at 1:26 PKT on 28 November 1945 with a moment magnitude of 8.1 and a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earthquake zones of India</span>

The Indian subcontinent has a history of devastating earthquakes. The major reason for the high frequency and intensity of the earthquakes is that the Indian plate is driving into Asia at a rate of approximately 47 mm/year. Geographical statistics of India show that almost 58% of the land is vulnerable to earthquakes. A World Bank and United Nations report shows estimates that around 200 million city dwellers in India will be exposed to storms and earthquakes by 2050. The latest version of seismic zoning map of India given in the earthquake resistant design code of India [IS 1893 2002] assigns four levels of seismicity for India in terms of zone factors. In other words, the earthquake zoning map of India divides India into 4 seismic zones unlike its previous version, which consisted of five or six zones for the country. According to the present zoning map, Zone 5 expects the highest level of seismicity whereas Zone 2 is associated with the lowest level of seismicity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology</span> Government agency in the Philippines

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology is a Philippine national institution dedicated to provide information on the activities of volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis, as well as other specialized information and services primarily for the protection of life and property and in support of economic, productivity, and sustainable development. It is one of the service agencies of the Department of Science and Technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1819 Rann of Kutch earthquake</span> Earthquake and tsunami in Gujarat, India

The 1819 Rann of Kutch earthquake occurred at about 18:45 to 18:50 local time on 16 June 1819. It had an estimated magnitude ranging from 7.7 to 8.2 on the moment magnitude scale and a maximum perceived intensity of XI (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. It triggered a tsunami and caused at least 1,543 deaths. The earthquake caused an area of subsidence that formed the Sindri Lake and a local zone of uplift to the north about 80 km (50 mi) long, 6 km (3.7 mi) wide and 6 m (20 ft) high that dammed the Koree / Kori / Puran / Nara river. This natural dam was known as the Allah Bund.

The 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes were magnitude 8.6 and 8.2 Mw  undersea earthquakes that struck near the Indonesian province of Aceh on 11 April at 15:38 local time. Initially, authorities feared that the initial earthquake would cause a tsunami and warnings were issued across the Indian Ocean; however, these warnings were subsequently cancelled. These were unusually strong intraplate earthquakes and the largest strike-slip earthquake ever recorded.

The 1931 Southwest Sumatra earthquake occurred on 25 September at 05:59 UTC. It was located between the Enggano Island and Sumatra, Indonesia, then under the rule of Dutch East Indies. It had a magnitude of Mw 7.3, or Ms 7.5.

In seismology, an earthquake rupture is the extent of slip that occurs during an earthquake in the Earth's crust. Earthquakes occur for many reasons that include: landslides, movement of magma in a volcano, the formation of a new fault, or, most commonly of all, a slip on an existing fault.

The 1956 Anjar earthquake occurred at 15:32 UTC on 21 July, causing maximum damage in town of Anjar in Kutch, Gujarat, India. It had an estimated magnitude of 6.1 on the surface wave magnitude scale and a maximum perceived intensity of IX on the Mercalli intensity scale.

Kusala Rajendran is an Indian seismologist and currently a professor at the Centre for Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. She prefers to call herself an earth scientist. She has primarily worked on earthquakes and their source mechanisms. She has worked extensively on earthquake patterns in India and is considered to be one of the pioneers in this field.

The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) is an office of India's Ministry of Earth Sciences. The office monitors earthquakes and conducts seismological research. Specifically, it provides earthquake surveillance and hazard reports to governmental agencies. It consists of various divisions:

Krishan Lal Kaila (1932–2003) was an Indian geophysicist and seismologist. Born in Lahore of the British India on 7 September 1932, he was known for his studies on deep seismic soundings (DSS) and was one of the pioneers of the DSS technique in India. His studies covered the tectonic regions of Kadapa, Dharwar Craton, Deccan Traps, and the sedimentary basins of Gujarat and the Himalayas and added to the understanding of the geophysics of the region. His researches have been documented as several peer-reviewed articles; ResearchGate, an online article repository has listed 117 of them. Several authors have cited his works in their work.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Himalayan Thrust</span> Geological feature

The Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) is a décollement under the Himalaya Range. This thrust fault follows a NW-SE strike, reminiscent of an arc, and gently dips about 10 degrees towards the north, beneath the region. It is the largest active continental megathrust fault in the world.

The 1803 Garhwal earthquake occurred in the early morning of September 1 at 01:30 local time. The estimated 7.8-magnitude-earthquake had an epicenter in the Garhwal Himalaya near Uttarkashi, British India. Major damage occurred in the Himalaya and Indo-Gangetic Plain, with the loss of between 200 and 300 lives. It is among the largest Himalaya earthquakes of the 19th-century, caused by thrust faulting.

References

  1. ↑ "Home". Ceas.iisc.ernet.in. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  2. ↑ Rajendran, Kusala. "An Indian Geophysicist Reflects". Inference. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "Welcome to Science and Engineering Research Council". Serc-dst.org. Archived from the original on 19 November 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  4. ↑ "1198.pdf | nov102000 | currsci | Indian Academy of Sciences" (PDF).
  5. ↑ "Current Science – Contents". Ias.ac.in. 25 December 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  6. 1 2 Rajendran, C. P.; Rajendran, Kusala; John, Biju (30 September 1993). "The 1993 Killari (Latur), central India, earthquake: An example of fault reactivation in the Precambrian crust". Geology. 24 (7). Geology.geoscienceworld.org: 651. doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0651:TKLCIE>2.3.CO;2 . Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  7. 1 2 Rajendran, C. P. (1 June 2001). "Characteristics of Deformation and Past Seismicity Associated with the 1819 Kutch Earthquake, Northwestern India". Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 91 (3). Bssa.geoscienceworld.org: 407–426. Bibcode:2001BuSSA..91..407R. doi:10.1785/0119990162 . Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  8. ↑ "Interpreting the style of faulting and paleoseismicity associated with the 1897 Shillong, northeast India, earthquake: Implications for regional tectonism". Agu.org. 6 August 2004. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  9. ↑ Rajendran, C.P; Rajendran, Kusala (1999). "Tectonophysics : Geological investigations at Killari and Ter, central India and implications for palaeoseismicity in the shield region". Tectonophysics. 308 (1–2): 67–81. Bibcode:1999Tectp.308...67R. doi:10.1016/S0040-1951(99)00086-4.
  10. ↑ Rajendran, C. P.; Rajendran, K.; Anu, R.; Earnest, A.; Machado, T.; Mohan, P. M.; Freymueller, J. (26 December 2004). "Crustal Deformation and Seismic History Associated with the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake: A Perspective from the Andaman–Nicobar Islands". Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 97. Bssa.geoscienceworld.org: S174–S191. doi:10.1785/0120050630 . Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  11. ↑ "Cover Photo – July/August 2002, 73 (4)". Srl.geoscienceworld.org. 6 January 2001. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  12. ↑ Nature (2005). "Predecessors of the giant 1960 Chile earthquake: Abstract". Nature. 437 (7057): 404–407. Bibcode:2005Natur.437..404C. doi:10.1038/nature03943. hdl: 10533/176718 . PMID   16163355. S2CID   4398549.
  13. ↑ "1739.pdf | dec252008 | currsci | Indian Academy of Sciences" (PDF).
  14. ↑ "Kusala & C.P. Rajendran". Outlookindia.com. 18 July 2005. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
  15. ↑ "Press Information Bureau English Releases". Pib.nic.in. Retrieved 3 December 2011.
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