Publication: Seismic damage to ancient monuments in Chiang Saen (Northern Thailand): Implication for historical earthquakes in Golden Triangle area
Issued Date
2019
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
The Royal Society Publishing
Bibliographic Citation
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 377(2155):20180255
Suggested Citation
Teraphan Ornthammarath Seismic damage to ancient monuments in Chiang Saen (Northern Thailand): Implication for historical earthquakes in Golden Triangle area. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. 377(2155):20180255. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/48358
Research Projects
Organizational Units
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Title
Seismic damage to ancient monuments in Chiang Saen (Northern Thailand): Implication for historical earthquakes in Golden Triangle area
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Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Over the last few decades, three moderate earthquakes (Mw greater than 6.0) occurred in and around the Golden Triangle area (including Myanmar, Thailand and Lao PDR) causing unprecedented damage and loss of lives in the epicentral region. In addition to the damage to modern structures, most heritage structures in Chiang Saen, a major city of the Lan Na kingdom (from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century), were also affected. This work is intended to present observed historical structure damage from recent earthquakes, which could provide evidence for the severity of historical earthquakes from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century. Based on historical records, geological evidence and observed damage to ancient monuments in this historic town, existing heritage stupas and temples constructed since the fourteenth century sustained only minor to moderate damage from these historical earthquakes. Considering the seismic vulnerability of these historical monuments, Chiang Saen might have never been subjected to severe ground shaking greater than MMI intensity VII, similar to the major earthquake in 460 A.D. along the Mae Chan fault, which was responsible for the large-scale liquefaction and inundation of ancient Yonok town. This information could be important for paleoseismological and historical earthquake research to constrain the recurrence interval of major active faults in this area.
Sponsorship
This project is partially supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and
Innovation Programme RISE under grant agreement no. 730888 (RESET). The author is
supported by the Thailand Research Fund, Office of the Higher Education Commission under
contract No. MRG6180284, and it is gratefully acknowledged.