Earthquakes: Tragic Challenges in History (Popular Science)

Discover the profound, surprising, and instructive tales embedded within the tragic earthquakes and tsunamis of the years 1755, 1906, 1960, 1985, 2004, 2011, and 2023. Uncover the impact these events have had on our understanding of the planet we call home and explore how they shaped the destinies of entire nations.

In this book, you’ll delve into the intriguing connection between seismic events and human missions to the Moon and Mars; pondering the warnings they carry for our future. As seismic risks on Earth escalate and humanity extends its reach into space, these challenges become pivotal for both current and future seismologists.

Lastly, this book will allow you to embark on a riveting journey through the seismic tapestry of our past, present, and the uncharted territories of our future.

Peter Moczo is a Professor of Physics at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. He is an Academician of the Learned Society of Slovakia and serves as the Head of the Division of Physics of the Earth at the Department of Astronomy, Physics of the Earth, and Meteorology.

Prof. Moczo supervises the Master's program in Physics of the Earth and the PhD program in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics. Additionally, he is a Member of the Scientific Council of Comenius University and the Presidium of the Slovak Research and Development Agency. Furthermore, he is a researcher at the Earth Sciences Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

He studied Physics at Charles University in Prague from 1975 to 1980, where he completed his PhD in Seismology in 1988 under the supervision of Prof. Vlastislav Cervený. In 1999, he earned the highest scientific degree, DrSc. (Doctor of Sciences), in Geophysics.

Throughout his research career, Prof. Moczo has focused on the development of finite-difference modelling of seismic wave propagation and earthquake motion in rheologically and structurally complex media. He has also contributed to the numerical modelling of site effects of earthquakes. His extensive contributions include being the first author of the monograph “The Finite-Difference Modelling of Earthquake Motions: Waves and Ruptures,” published by Cambridge University Press, along with other books.

Prof. Moczo's scientific achievements have been recognized with awards from the Minister of Education and Science, the Rector of Comenius University, and the Presidium of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

 

Eva Rutšeková is currently a 3rd-year History student at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. Her bachelor's thesis deals with the historical earthquakes in Komárno in 1763 and 1783.

In her role as a scientific editor's assistant,she made notable contributions to the anthology “On Enlightened Prime Minister, Christmas Carp, and Slovak Greta,” a printed compilation of scientific articles featured in a section dedicated to science and research within a digital daily news platform.

In 2022, Eva Rutšeková achieved the remarkable feat of securing the 3rd position in the Falling Walls Lab Slovakia, showcasing her commitment to her academic and scientific endeavors.

 

Jozef Kristek is an Associate Professor of Physics at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. Additionally, he serves as the Head of the Physics Section and is a member of the Scientific Council of the Faculty. He is also a researcher at the Earth Science Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

He pursued his Physics studies at Comenius University in Bratislava from 1988 to 1993, completing his PhD in Seismology in 2002 under the supervision ofProf. Peter Moczo. In 2021, he attained the highest scientific degree, DrSc. (Doctor of Sciences), in Geophysics.

Throughout his research career, Professor Kristek has dedicated his efforts to advancing finite-difference modeling of seismic wave propagation and earthquake motion in rheologically and structurally complex media. He has also made significant contributions to the numerical modeling of site effects of earthquakes.

Professor Kristek co-authored the monograph "The Finite-Difference Modelling of Earthquake Motions: Waves and Ruptures," published by Cambridge University Press in 2014. His scientific achievements have been acknowledged with awards from the Minister of Education and Science.

 

Martin Galis is an Associate Professor of Physics at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. He is also a researcher at the Earth Science Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences.

He studied Physics at Comenius University in Bratislava from 1997 to 2002, completing his Ph.D. in Geophysics in 2008 under the supervision of Prof. Peter Moczo. From 2012 to 2017, he served as a postdoctoral fellow in the team of Prof. Martin Mai at KAUST – King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.

Throughout his two-decade research career, Prof. Galis has focused on numerical modeling of earthquake ruptures and seismic waves. He has explored the conditions leading to the nucleation and arrest of earthquake ruptures and the variability of earthquake ground motion. Prof. Galis is the co-author of the monograph “The Finite-Difference Modeling of Earthquake Motions: Waves and Ruptures,” published by Cambridge University Press.

Prof. Galis's scientific achievements have been recognized with an award from the Minister of Education and Science.

 

Miriam Kristekova is a senior researcher at the Earth Science Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. Additionally, she serves as a researcher and teacher at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia.

She pursued her studies in Physics at Comenius University in Bratislava from 1988 to 1993, culminating in the completion of her PhD in Seismology in 2006 under the supervision of Prof. Peter Moczo.

Throughout her research career, Dr. Kristekova has concentrated on the time-frequency analysis of seismic signals, ambient noise and earthquake ground motion analyses, and methodology development. She made significant contributions to the monograph titled "The Finite-Difference Modelling of Earthquake Motions: Waves and Ruptures," published by Cambridge University Press.

Dr. Kristekova's scientific achievements have garnered recognition, including an award from the Minister of Education and Science.