The Centre for Earthquake Studies (CES) ( ur, ) is a federally funded research institute and national laboratory dedicated to the advancement in understanding of natural vibration,
seismology
Seismology (; from Ancient Greek σεισμός (''seismós'') meaning "earthquake" and -λογία (''-logía'') meaning "study of") is the scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth or through other ...
, and
yield-based energy measurement
In physics, energy (from Ancient Greek: wikt:ἐνέργεια#Ancient_Greek, ἐνέργεια, ''enérgeia'', “activity”) is the physical quantity, quantitative physical property, property that is #Energy transfer, transferred to a phy ...
of
seismic waves
A seismic wave is a wave of acoustic energy that travels through the Earth. It can result from an earthquake, volcanic eruption, magma movement, a large landslide, and a large man-made explosion that produces low-frequency acoustic energy. S ...
.
The CES was established through federal funding as a direct response to the devastating
2005 Kashmir earthquake
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake occurred at on 8 October in Pakistani-administered Azad Kashmir. It was centred near the city of Muzaffarabad, and also affected nearby Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and some areas of Indian-administered Jammu and ...
in order to understand earthquakes and provide
scientific prediction of quakes to improve
earthquake preparedness Earthquake preparedness is a set of measures taken at the individual, organisational and societal level to minimise the effects of an earthquake. Preparedness measures can range from securing heavy objects, structural modifications and storing suppl ...
. The CES is the only national site in Pakistan working on earthquake precursors.
The national laboratory is headquartered in the campus area of the
National Centre for Physics
The Abdus Salam Centre for Physics , () Previously known as Riazuddin Centre for Physics. is a federally-funded research institute and national laboratory site managed by the Quaid-i-Azam University for the Ministry of Energy (MoE) of the Gover ...
(NCP) and conducts mathematical research in
earth science
Earth science or geoscience includes all fields of natural science related to the planet Earth. This is a branch of science dealing with the physical, chemical, and biological complex constitutions and synergistic linkages of Earth's four spheres ...
s, in close coordination with the NCP.
History
The national site was founded by the
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan ( ur, , translit=hakúmat-e pákistán) abbreviated as GoP, is a federal government established by the Constitution of Pakistan as a constituted governing authority of the Administrative units of Pakistan, four provin ...
on the advice of the science adviser Dr.
Ishfaq Ahmad
Ishfaq Ahmad Khan (3 November 1930 – 18 January 2018) , was a Pakistani nuclear physicist, emeritus professor of high-energy physics at the National Centre for Physics, and former science advisor to the Government of Pakistan.
A versatile ...
.
The establishment of the national site came in response to Pakistans' deadliest earthquake, the
2005 Kashmir earthquake
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake occurred at on 8 October in Pakistani-administered Azad Kashmir. It was centred near the city of Muzaffarabad, and also affected nearby Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and some areas of Indian-administered Jammu and ...
on 8 October 2005.
Initially created as the Earthquake Studies Department at the National Centre for Physics, it gained independence shortly after its establishment. The CES undertakes research studies in the development of expertise in anomalous
geophysical phenomenon prior to
seismic activity
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from ...
. The CES primarily produces its research outcomes by using
computer simulation
Computer simulation is the process of mathematical modelling, performed on a computer, which is designed to predict the behaviour of, or the outcome of, a real-world or physical system. The reliability of some mathematical models can be dete ...
and
mathematical model
A mathematical model is a description of a system using mathematical concepts and language. The process of developing a mathematical model is termed mathematical modeling. Mathematical models are used in the natural sciences (such as physics, ...
ling to interpret seismic activity and give
earthquake prediction
Earthquake prediction is a branch of the science of seismology concerned with the specification of the time, location, and magnitude of future earthquakes within stated limits, and particularly "the determination of parameters for the ''next'' s ...
s.
The CES's campus also includes the various ATROPATENA stations network, and supports its research and development with close collaboration with the Global Network for the Forecasting of Earthquakes.
Its first and founding director was Dr. Ahsan Mubarak who is still designated as the CES's senior scientist.
Currently, Dr. Muhammad Qaisar is the CES's current administrator.
Galleries
Image:Station Atropatena-Pk (Pakistan).jpg, International Station for the Forecasting of Earthquakes ATROPATENA-PK (Pakistan)
Image:Prof. Dr. M.Qasim Jan.jpg, Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad
Ishfaq Ahmad Khan (3 November 1930 – 18 January 2018) , was a Pakistani nuclear physicist, emeritus professor of high-energy physics at the National Centre for Physics, and former science advisor to the Government of Pakistan.
A versatile ...
, Dr. Elchin Khalilov and Dr. M. Qasim Jan
M. Qasim Jan (born 10 January 1944) is a geologist and research scientist from Pakistan. He has been the vice-chancellor of three Pakistani universities. His research has been in geology, mineralogy, petrology, geochemistry, and tectonics. He ...
meeting at the CES on February, 2009.
See also
*
2005 Pakistan earthquake
The 2005 Kashmir earthquake occurred at on 8 October in Pakistani-administered Azad Kashmir. It was centred near the city of Muzaffarabad, and also affected nearby Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and some areas of Indian-administered Jammu and ...
Notes
Official links
Official website{{authority control
Nuclear weapons programme of Pakistan
Pakistan federal departments and agencies
2005 establishments in Pakistan
Geology organizations
Laboratories in Pakistan
Earth science research institutes
International research institutes
Research institutes in Pakistan
Science parks in Pakistan
2005 Kashmir earthquake
Earthquake engineering