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Abstract

This data set was taken within the Perturbations of Earth Surface Processes by Large Earthquakes PRESSurE Project (https://www.gfz-potsdam.de/en/section/geomorphology/projects/pressure/) of the GFZ Potsdam. This project aims to better understand the role of earthquakes on earth surface processes. Strong earthquakes cause transient perturbations of the near Earth’s surface system. These include the widespread landsliding and subsequent mass movement and the loading of rivers with sediments. In addition, rock mass is shattered during the event, forming cracks that affect rock strength and hydrological conductivity. Often overlooked in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake, these perturbations can represent a major part of the overall disaster with an impact that can last for years before restoring to background conditions. Thus, the relaxation phase is part of the seismically induced change by an earthquake and needs to be monitored in order to understand the full impact of earthquakes on the Earth system. Early June 2015, shortly after the April 2015 Mw7.9 Gorkha earthquake, 6 automatic compact weather station were installed in the upper Bhotekoshi catchment covering an area ~50km2. The weather station network is centered around the Kahule Khola catchment, a small headwater catchment and is part of a wider data acquisition strategy including hydrological monitoring, seismometers, geophones and high resolution optical (RapidEye) as well as radar imagery (TanDEM TerraSAR-X). https://www.gfz-potsdam.de/sektion/geomorphologie/projekte/pressure/