This is the second of two volumes devoted to earthquakes and multi-hazards around the Pacific
Rim. The circum-Pacific seismic belt is home to roughly 80% of the world's largest earthquakes
making it the ideal location for investigating earthquakes and related hazards such as tsunamis
and landslides. Following the Introduction this volume includes 14 papers covering a range of
topics related to multi-hazards. The book is divided into five sections: viscoelastic
deformation earthquake source models earthquake prediction seismic hazard assessment and
tsunami simulation. Viscoelastic relaxation can play an important role in subduction zone
behavior and this is explored in the first section with specific examples including the
Tohoku-oki earthquake in Eastern Japan. In addition to laboratory rock friction experiments
the second section examines earthquake source models for the 2016 MW 6.6 Aketao earthquake in
Eastern Pamir and two earthquakes in Eastern Taiwan along with strong ground motion studies of
the 2008 MW 7.9 Wenchuan China earthquake. The Load Unload Response Ratio (LURR) Natural Time
(NT) and nowcasting are earthquake prediction techniques that are analyzed in the third
section with nowcasting predictions performed for a number of large cities globally.
Viscoelastic relaxation can play an important role in subduction zone behavior assessment are
the focus of the fourth section with specific applications to the Himalayan-Tibetan region and
the Xianshuihe Fault Zone in Southwest China. In the last section a new approach in modeling
tsunami height distributions is described. Rapid advances are being made in our understanding
of multi-hazards as well as the range of tools used to investigate them. This volume provides
a representative cross-section of how state-of-the-art knowledge and tools are currently being
applied to multi-hazards around the Pacific Rim. The material here should be of interest to
scientists involved in all areas of multi-hazards particularly seismic and tsunami hazards. In
addition it offers a valuable resource for students in the geosciences covering a broad
spectrum of topics related to hazard research.
