Drainage response to active tectonics and evolution of tectonic geomorphology across the Himalayan Frontal Thrust, Kumaun Himalaya

Geomorphology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 239 ◽  
pp. 58-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khayingshing Luirei ◽  
Surendra S. Bhakuni ◽  
Girish Ch. Kothyari
2004 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 1716 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Zovoili ◽  
E. Konstantinidi ◽  
I. K. Koukouvelas

Most active processes on the surface imply that tectonics and geomorphology converge in a way that landscape change may be used as a tectonic signal, given that erosion and weathering have been taken into account. We selected two faults, the Kompotades and the Nea Anchialos faults in the Sperchios and South Thessaly rift zones respectively, and we performed a morphometric analysis. This analysis comprises geomorphic indices that have been used successfully in studies of active tectonics, as the mountain front sinuosity index (Smf), stream gradient index (SL) and valley floor width to valley height ratio (Vf). At both studied mountain fronts, the Vf index ranged between 0,4 to 1,2, implying high uplift rates, while the Smf «1 index revealed relatively high tectonic activity, which decreases towards the west. On the other hand, the SL index though more sensitive to non-tectonic processes, (i.e. the rock resistance, stream length) is less indicative of tectonic activity. Based on the distribution of the geomorphic indices a two-fault strand model is suggested forming the mountain front in the two examples with the range-ward fault strand to be more appropriate for Kompotades fault and the basinward fault strand for Nea Anchialos fault.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aashna Tandon ◽  
Siddharth Prizomwala

<p>This work emphasizes the efficient use of geomorphic parameters to form a unified index ~ Relative Index of Active Tectonics (RIAT), which has seldom been tested in areas with broader variability in the rate of deformation. This study aims to verify whether the geomorphic parameters can be used efficiently for RIAT to assess the spatial variability in deformation along the fault. The Himalayan Frontal Thrust has been chosen for morphotectonic evaluation owing to its active interplate thrust fault setting. For this purpose, we select vertical uplift sensitive geomorphic parameters viz., Mountain front sinuosity (S<sub>mf</sub>), Valley floor width-height ratio (V<sub>f</sub>), and Steepness index (K<sub>sn</sub>), as a primary tool to test the RIAT.</p><p>The result of RIAT shows the along-strike variation in response to the varying degree of deformation along the HFT. This is in fine agreement with the available long-term uplift/shortening rates and geodetic rates. Overall examination reveals RIAT being an excellent tool to assess the spatial variability in uplift rates in large tectonically active regions. However, the detailed scrutiny of individual geomorphic parameters reveals that only V<sub>f, </sub>and the K<sub>sn</sub> index are more responsive and go hand-in-hand with the RIAT variation. Whereas, S<sub>mf</sub> shows no spatial variation and function as least sensitive to such an investigation. The sensitivity of these individual parameters has implications for studies with similar settings elsewhere when quantitative rates are absent.</p>


Geology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 427-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Berthet ◽  
J.-F. Ritz ◽  
M. Ferry ◽  
P. Pelgay ◽  
R. Cattin ◽  
...  

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