Finding an Undocumented Earthquake That Moved a River – State of the Planet

The sand dike exposure and research team in the Ganges floodplain of Bangladesh stumbled upon a fascinating discovery while investigating river meandering. Led by sedimentologists Liz Chamberlain and Steve Goodbred from Vanderbilt University, the team, along with their collaborators, found unique sand dikes in a freshly dug pond. Believed to be seismites resulting from a distant earthquake, further research supported this hypothesis. The earthquake-induced avulsion of the Ganges River about 2,500 years ago was a groundbreaking finding, shedding light on the potential link between seismic activity and river shifts in deltas. This discovery highlights the complex interconnectedness between geological phenomena and can provide valuable insights into the hazards faced by vulnerable regions.