DOCSLIB.ORG

Appraisal of Active Tectonics in Hindu Kush: Insights from DEM Derived Geomorphic Indices and Drainage Analysis

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Appraisal of Active Tectonics in Hindu Kush: Insights from DEM Derived Geomorphic Indices and Drainage Analysis GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS 3(4) (2012) 407e428 available at www.sciencedirect.com China University of Geosciences (Beijing) GEOSCIENCE FRONTIERS journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/gsf RESEARCH PAPER Appraisal of active tectonics in Hindu Kush: Insights from DEM derived geomorphic indices and drainage analysis Syed Amer Mahmood a,b,*, Richard Gloaguen a a Remote Sensing Group, Institute of Geology, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, Bernhard V. Cotta Str. 2, 09599 Freiberg (Saxony), Germany b Department of Space Science, University of the Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, 54590, Lahore (Punjab), Pakistan Received 13 May 2011; accepted 3 December 2011 Available online 11 December 2011 KEYWORDS Abstract Landscapes in tectonically active Hindu Kush (NW Pakistan and NE Afghanistan) result Active tectonics; from a complex integration of the effects of vertical and horizontal crustal block motions as well as Geomorphic indices; erosion and deposition processes. Active tectonics in this region have greatly influenced the drainage IRAT (index of relative system and geomorphic expressions. The study area is a junction of three important mountain ranges active tectonics); (Hindu Kush-Karakorum-Himalayas) and is thus an ideal natural laboratory to investigate the relative Hindu Kush; tectonic activity resulting from the India-Eurasia collision. We evaluate active tectonics using DEM PakistaneAfghanistan derived drainage network and geomorphic indices hypsometric integral (HI), stream-length gradient (SL), fractal dimension (FD), basin asymmetry factor (AF), basin shape index (Bs), valley floor width to valley height ratio (Vf ) and mountain front sinuosity (Smf). The results obtained from these indices were combined to yield an index of relative active tectonics (IRAT) using GIS. The average of the seven measured geomorphic indices was used to evaluate the distri- bution of relative tectonic activity in the study area. We defined four classes to define the degree of rela- tive tectonic activity: class 1__very high (1.0 IRAT < 1.3); class 2__high (1.3 IRAT < 1.5); class * Corresponding author. Remote Sensing Group, Institute of Geology, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, Bernhard V. Cotta Str. 2, 09599 Freiberg (Saxony), Germany. Tel.: þ49 3731444035. E-mail address: [email protected] (S.A. Mahmood). 1674-9871 ª 2011, China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Peer-review under responsibility of China University of Geosciences (Beijing). doi:10.1016/j.gsf.2011.12.002 Production and hosting by Elsevier 408 S.A. Mahmood, R. Gloaguen / Geoscience Frontiers 3(4) (2012) 407e428 3dmoderate (1.5 IRAT < 1.8); and class 4dlow (1.8 IRAT). In view of the results, we conclude that this combined approach allows the identification of the highly deformed areas related to active tectonics. Landsat imagery and field observations also evidence the presence of active tectonics based on the deflected streams, deformed landforms, active mountain fronts and triangular facets. The indicative values of IRAT are consistent with the areas of known relative uplift rates, landforms and geology. ª 2011, China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction In mountain ranges, recent and active tectonics can be viewed as the main factor contributing to rock uplift, their present-day Tectonic geomorphology is one of the emergent disciplines in topography being the result of the competition between tectonic geosciences due to the advent of novel geomorphological, geodetic and erosional processes (Andermann and Gloaguen, 2009; Perez- and geochronological tools which aid the acquisition of rates (uplift Pena et al., 2009). The drainage pattern in tectonically active rates, incision rates, erosion rates, slip rates on faults, etc.) at vari- regions is very sensitive to active processes such as folding and able time-scales (103e106 years; Burbank and Anderson, 2001; faulting which are responsible for accelerated river incision, basin Azor et al., 2002; Keller and Pinter, 2002; Bull, 2007). This disci- asymmetries, drainage geometry and complexity and river pline is important because the results of regional studies on neo- deflections (Cox, 1994). The geomorphic indices are important tectonics are significant for evaluating natural hazards, land use indicators capable of decoding landform responses to active development and management in populated areas (Pedrera et al., deformation processes and have been widely used as a reconnais- 2009). Besides its socio-economic importance, study of neo- sance tool to differentiate zones deformed by active tectonics tectonics is based on a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating data (Keller and Pinter, 2002; Chen et al., 2003). from remote sensing imagery, geomorphology, structural geology, This investigation applies a quantitative analysis of geomor- stratigraphy, geochronology, seismology, and geodesy. phic indices extracted from the digital elevation model (DEM) in Figure 1 Regional tectonic framework (Hindu Kush-Himalaya-Pamir-Karakorum) with inset showing the study area (Fig. 2). GPS velocity vectors (Red) with respect to Eurasia fixed reference frame from Mohadjer et al. (2010), the purple vector is transformed with respect to Pak- istaneIndia fixed. Abbreviations of fault names: DkF, Darvaz Karakul fault; AM, Alburz Marmul; CbF, Central Badakhshan fault; HvF, Henjvan fault; HF, Herat fault; CF, Chaman fault; MoF, Mokar fault; GzF, Gardez fault; KoF, Konar fault; SBF, Sulaiman Base front; MBT, Main Boundary Thrust; MFT, Main frontal thrust; MMT, Main Mantle Thrust; and MKT, Main Karakorum Thrust, Reshun fault; TMF, Tirch Mir fault; SF, Sarobi fault; ST, Spinghar Thrust; AF, Andarab fault; TbF, Tarbella fault; BgF, Bazgir fault; Sources: Lawrence et al., 1981; Wheeler et al., 2005; Doebrich and Wahl, 2006; Mahmood and Gloaguen, 2011. S.A. Mahmood, R. Gloaguen / Geoscience Frontiers 3(4) (2012) 407e428 409 Figure 2 Tectonic setting of the study area (A), sub-basins with reference numbers (B). 410 S.A. Mahmood, R. Gloaguen / Geoscience Frontiers 3(4) (2012) 407e428 Hindu Kush and its neighbourhood to evaluate relative active analyzed 33 sub-basins (Fig. 2B) using seven geomorphic indices: tectonics. The Hindu Kush is one of the most tectonically active hypsometric integral (HI), stream-length gradient (SL), fractal regions in the world as a result of the India-Eurasia collision dimension (FD), basin asymmetry factor (AF), basin shape index (Fig. 1). For the detailed study of the morphotectonic features as (Bs), valley floor width to valley height ratio (Vf ) and mountain described by Keller et al. (1996) and Keller and Pinter (2002),we front sinuosity (Smf). We then combined these seven indices to Figure 3 SL mechanism (modified after Hack, 1973) (A), and geological strength level map and SL anomalies (B). S.A. Mahmood, R. Gloaguen / Geoscience Frontiers 3(4) (2012) 407e428 411 provide a global estimator to characterize active tectonics (El rugged (Burtman and Molnar, 1993), (Figs. 1 and 2). Northern Hamdouni et al., 2008). Similar approaches were found to be Hindu Kush consists of folded Mesozoic and predominantly useful in various tectonically active areas such as the SW USA Tertiary sediments, while the southern part consists of highly (Rockwell et al., 1985), the Pacific coast of Costa Rica (Wells complicated metamorphic rocks, marbles and intrusions of et al., 1988), the Mediterranean coast of Spain (Silva et al., granodiorites (Gansser, 1964; Molnar and Tapponnier, 1975). 2003), the southwestern Sierra Nevada of Spain (El Hamdouni Evidences of active tectonics exist in the Western Karakoram, et al., 2008) and in Beotia. The previous studies (Dehbozorgi the Tirich Boundary Zone (Hildebrand et al., 2001) connected et al., 2010) were mainly conducted on relatively small areas with the Chaman-Gardez-Konar fault system (Mohadjer et al., (5350 km2) while we performed our analyses on a relatively large 2010). As a result, this activity is inferring a sinistral transpres- areas (132,259 km2) and introduced an additional fractal dimen- sional tectonic regime, which is ascribed to the progressive sion index (FD), which was found to improve the analysis of indentation and a possible anticlockwise regional rotation of India tectonic geomorphology. We also combined results from these into Eurasia (Tapponnier et al., 1981; Hildebrand et al., 2001). The analyses with the geomorphic expressions mapped on enhanced Hindu Kush region is tectonically active with deep Landsat 7, þETM (Enhanced Thematic Mapper) imagery. (w70e300 km) and intense seismicity (Pavlis and Das, 2000). The sinistral Chaman transform fault south of the Hindu Kush infers the highest slip rate of 26 mm/y (Apel et al., 2006). The 2. Tectonic, geologic and geomorphic setting sinistral movement of Chaman transform fault appears to be influencing continental deep-subduction in the Pamir region as its The Hindu Kush is a very complex mountain range system in slip is distributed into several fault systems in the north (Mohadjer terms of tectonics, geology and geomorphology. This region et al., 2010), e.g., chaman-Mokar-Gardez.Konar-Main Karakorum located at the western syntaxis of Himalayas, in a broad defor- thrust-Tirch Mir-Reshun fault system and presumably, Chaman- mation belt created by the India-Eurasia collision zones is highly Gardez-Laghman-Bazgir fault system (Mahmood et al., 2009).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Afghanistan State Structure and Security Forces
    European Asylum Support Office Afghanistan State Structure and Security Forces Country of Origin Information Report August 2020 SUPPORT IS OUR MISSION European Asylum Support Office Afghanistan State Structure and Security Forces Country of Origin Information Report August 2020 More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). ISBN: 978-92-9485-650-0 doi: 10.2847/115002 BZ-02-20-565-EN-N © European Asylum Support Office (EASO) 2020 Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, unless otherwise stated. For third-party materials reproduced in this publication, reference is made to the copyrights statements of the respective third parties. Cover photo: © Al Jazeera English, Helmand, Afghanistan 3 November 2012, url CC BY-SA 2.0 Taliban On the Doorstep: Afghan soldiers from 215 Corps take aim at Taliban insurgents. 4 — AFGHANISTAN: STATE STRUCTURE AND SECURITY FORCES - EASO COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT Acknowledgements This report was drafted by the European Asylum Support Office COI Sector. The following national asylum and migration department contributed by reviewing this report: The Netherlands, Office for Country Information and Language Analysis, Ministry of Justice It must be noted that the review carried out by the mentioned departments, experts or organisations contributes to the overall quality of the report, it but does not necessarily imply their formal endorsement of the final report, which is the full responsibility of EASO. AFGHANISTAN: STATE STRUCTURE AND SECURITY
    [Show full text]
  • Pdf 325,34 Kb
    (Final Report) An analysis of lessons learnt and best practices, a review of selected biodiversity conservation and NRM projects from the mountain valleys of northern Pakistan. Faiz Ali Khan February, 2013 Contents About the report i Executive Summary ii Acronyms vi SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1. The province 1 1.2 Overview of Natural Resources in KP Province 1 1.3. Threats to biodiversity 4 SECTION 2. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS (review of related projects) 5 2.1 Mountain Areas Conservancy Project 5 2.2 Pakistan Wetland Program 6 2.3 Improving Governance and Livelihoods through Natural Resource Management: Community-Based Management in Gilgit-Baltistan 7 2.4. Conservation of Habitats and Species of Global Significance in Arid and Semiarid Ecosystem of Baluchistan 7 2.5. Program for Mountain Areas Conservation 8 2.6 Value chain development of medicinal and aromatic plants, (HDOD), Malakand 9 2.7 Value Chain Development of Medicinal and Aromatic plants (NARSP), Swat 9 2.8 Kalam Integrated Development Project (KIDP), Swat 9 2.9 Siran Forest Development Project (SFDP), KP Province 10 2.10 Agha Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) 10 2.11 Malakand Social Forestry Project (MSFP), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 11 2.12 Sarhad Rural Support Program (SRSP) 11 2.13 PATA Project (An Integrated Approach to Agriculture Development) 12 SECTION 3. MAJOR LESSONS LEARNT 13 3.1 Social mobilization and awareness 13 3.2 Use of traditional practises in Awareness programs 13 3.3 Spill-over effects 13 3.4 Conflicts Resolution 14 3.5 Flexibility and organizational approach 14 3.6 Empowerment 14 3.7 Consistency 14 3.8 Gender 14 3.9.
    [Show full text]
  • The Geographic, Geological and Oceanographic Setting of the Indus River
    16 The Geographic, Geological and Oceanographic Setting of the Indus River Asif Inam1, Peter D. Clift2, Liviu Giosan3, Ali Rashid Tabrez1, Muhammad Tahir4, Muhammad Moazam Rabbani1 and Muhammad Danish1 1National Institute of Oceanography, ST. 47 Clifton Block 1, Karachi, Pakistan 2School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UE, UK 3Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA 4Fugro Geodetic Limited, 28-B, KDA Scheme #1, Karachi 75350, Pakistan 16.1 INTRODUCTION glaciers (Tarar, 1982). The Indus, Jhelum and Chenab Rivers are the major sources of water for the Indus Basin The 3000 km long Indus is one of the world’s larger rivers Irrigation System (IBIS). that has exerted a long lasting fascination on scholars Seasonal and annual river fl ows both are highly variable since Alexander the Great’s expedition in the region in (Ahmad, 1993; Asianics, 2000). Annual peak fl ow occurs 325 BC. The discovery of an early advanced civilization between June and late September, during the southwest in the Indus Valley (Meadows and Meadows, 1999 and monsoon. The high fl ows of the summer monsoon are references therein) further increased this interest in the augmented by snowmelt in the north that also conveys a history of the river. Its source lies in Tibet, close to sacred large volume of sediment from the mountains. Mount Kailas and part of its upper course runs through The 970 000 km2 drainage basin of the Indus ranks the India, but its channel and drainage basin are mostly in twelfth largest in the world. Its 30 000 km2 delta ranks Pakiistan.
    [Show full text]
  • Agricultural Review of Paktya Province, Afghanistan
    AGRICULTURAL REVIEW OF PAKTYA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN Paktya Abstract Paktya Province is a mountainous province with irrigated and rainfed agricultural land. The population of Paktya is more than 516,000 with about 51% male and 95% of all people living in rural areas. According to the national statistics, 91% of the population is Pashtun and 9% are Tajik. Literacy rates are estimated at 11 – 15% and predominately male. The major natural resources of this province are wood, lumber, and gas. Farmers grow wheat, barley, maize, rice and potatoes. Fruit orchards of peaches, apple, pomegranates, and grapes exist in the province. Almonds are produced as well. Commodities are sold in local bazaars and to Pakistani markets. Dairy and meat production is limited to subsistence with forage production inadequate for significant commercial production. Aquaculture is non-existent with little interest because the people do not eat fish. Paktya is a cold region which limits double cropping to only Chamkani and Dand Patan Districts. Arable land is at a premium due to the terrain and most of land owners cultivate their own land with some renting or sharecropping to smaller growers. The rent for one jerib (2000 m²) is 270- 280 Kg wheat. The sharecropper receives a percentage of the yield based on the share of inputs. The majority of landowners own 1 to 2 jeribs, with average ownership of 5-10 jeribs. There are about 10,000 Kuchis that overwinter in Paktya with about 6,000 migrating north in the summer.i Supplies of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, chemicals and seeds originate from Pakistan with no apparent shortages.
    [Show full text]
  • Makran Gateways: a Strategic Reference for Gwadar and Chabahar
    IDSA Occasional Paper No. 53 MAKRAN GATEWAYS A Strategic Reference for Gwadar and Chabahar Philip Reid MAKRAN GATEWAYS | 1 IDSA OCCASIONAL PAPER NO. 53 MAKRAN GATEWAYS A STRATEGIC REFERENCE FOR GWADAR AND CHABAHAR PHILIP REID 2 | PHILIP REID Cover image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/ File:Buzi_Pass,_Makran_Coastal_Highway.jpg Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, sorted in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-copying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). ISBN: 978-93-82169-85-7 First Published: August 2019 Published by: Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses No.1, Development Enclave, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Delhi Cantt., New Delhi - 110 010 Tel. (91-11) 2671-7983 Fax.(91-11) 2615 4191 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.idsa.in Cover & Layout by: Vaijayanti Patankar MAKRAN GATEWAYS | 3 MAKRAN GATEWAYS: A STRATEGIC REFERENCE FOR GWADAR AND CHABAHAR AN OCEAN APART In 1955, Jawaharlal Nehru shared his perceptions with India’s Defence Minister, K.N. Katju, on what is now referred to as the ‘Indian Ocean Region’ (IOR), ‘We have been brought up into thinking of our land frontier during British times and even subsequently and yet India, by virtue of her long coastline, is very much a maritime country.’1 Eurasia’s ‘southern ocean’ differs in an abstract sense, from the Atlantic and Pacific basins, in so much as it has primarily functioned, since the late-medieval and early- modern eras, as a closed strategic space: accessible, at least at practical latitudes, by only a handful of narrow channels.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Project Report
    Oil & Natural Gas Technology DOE Award No.: DE-NT0005669 Final Scientific/Technical Report October 1 2008 toJune 30 2011 Heat Flow and Gas Hydrates on the Continental Margin of India: Building on Results from NGHP Expedition 01 Submitted by: College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Science Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331-5503 Principal Investigator: Anne Trehu Graduate Research Assistant: Peter Kannberg Prepared for: United States Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory November 15, 2012 Office of Fossil Energy 2 Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. 3 Abstract The Indian National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition 01 presented the unique opportunity to constrain regional heat flow derived from seismic observations by using drilling data in three regions on the continental margin of India. The seismic bottom simulating reflection (BSR) is a well-documented feature in hydrate bearing sediments, and can serve as a proxy for apparent heat flow if data are available to estimate acoustic velocity and density in water and sediments, thermal conductivity, and seafloor temperature.
    [Show full text]
  • Physical Geography of the Punjab
    19 Gosal: Physical Geography of Punjab Physical Geography of the Punjab G. S. Gosal Formerly Professor of Geography, Punjab University, Chandigarh ________________________________________________________________ Located in the northwestern part of the Indian sub-continent, the Punjab served as a bridge between the east, the middle east, and central Asia assigning it considerable regional importance. The region is enclosed between the Himalayas in the north and the Rajputana desert in the south, and its rich alluvial plain is composed of silt deposited by the rivers - Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chanab and Jhelam. The paper provides a detailed description of Punjab’s physical landscape and its general climatic conditions which created its history and culture and made it the bread basket of the subcontinent. ________________________________________________________________ Introduction Herodotus, an ancient Greek scholar, who lived from 484 BCE to 425 BCE, was often referred to as the ‘father of history’, the ‘father of ethnography’, and a great scholar of geography of his time. Some 2500 years ago he made a classic statement: ‘All history should be studied geographically, and all geography historically’. In this statement Herodotus was essentially emphasizing the inseparability of time and space, and a close relationship between history and geography. After all, historical events do not take place in the air, their base is always the earth. For a proper understanding of history, therefore, the base, that is the earth, must be known closely. The physical earth and the man living on it in their full, multi-dimensional relationships constitute the reality of the earth. There is no doubt that human ingenuity, innovations, technological capabilities, and aspirations are very potent factors in shaping and reshaping places and regions, as also in giving rise to new events, but the physical environmental base has its own role to play.
    [Show full text]
  • The People and Land of Sindh by Ahmed Abdullah
    THE PEOPLE AD THE LAD OF SIDH Historical perspective By: Ahmed Abdullah Reproduced by Sani Hussain Panhwar Los Angeles, California; 2009 The People and the Land of Sindh; Copyright © www.panhwar.com 1 COTETS Introduction .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 The People and the Land of Sindh .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 The Jats of Sindh .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 The Arab Period .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 Mohammad Bin Qasim’s Rule .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 Missionary Work .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 Sindh’s Progress Under Arabs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 Ghaznavid Period in Sindh .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 Naaseruddin Qubacha .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 The Sumras and the Sammas .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 The Arghans and the Turkhans .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 The Kalhoras and Talpurs .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 The People and the Land of Sindh; Copyright © www.panhwar.com 2 ITRODUCTIO This material is taken from a book titled “The Historical Background of Pakistan and its People” written by Ahmed Abdulla, published in June 1973, by Tanzeem Publishers Karachi. The original
    [Show full text]
  • Oligocene Strata in the South Sistan Suture Zone, Southeast Iran: Implications for the Tectonic Setting
    RESEARCH Detrital zircon and provenance analysis of Eocene– Oligocene strata in the South Sistan suture zone, southeast Iran: Implications for the tectonic setting Ali Mohammadi, Jean-Pierre Burg, and Wilfried Winkler DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES, ETH ZURICH, SONNEGGSTRASSE 5, 8092, ZURICH, SWITZERLAND ABSTRACT The north-south–trending Sistan suture zone in east Iran results from the Paleogene collision of the Central Iran block to the west with the Afghan block to the east. We aim to document the tectonic context of the Sistan sedimentary basin and provide critical constraints on the closure time of this part of the Tethys Ocean. We determine the provenance of Eocene–Oligocene deep-marine turbiditic sandstones, describe the sandstone framework, and report on a geochemical and provenance study including laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry U-Pb zircon ages and 415 Hf isotopic analyses of 3015 in situ detrital zircons. Sandstone framework compositions reveal a magmatic arc provenance as the main source of detritus. Heavy mineral assemblages and Cr-spinel indicate ultramafic rocks, likely ophio- lites, as a subsidiary source. The two main detrital zircon U-Pb age groups are dominated by (1) Late Cretaceous grains with Hf isotopic compositions typical of oceanic crust and depleted mantle, suggesting an intraoceanic island arc provenance, and (2) Eocene grains with Hf isotopic compositions typical of continental crust and nondepleted mantle, suggesting a transitional continental magmatic arc provenance. This change in provenance is attributed to the Paleocene (65–55 Ma) collision between the Afghan plate and an intraoceanic island arc not considered in previous tectonic reconstructions of the Sistan segment of the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic system.
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Plants in Arabian Sea Face Tsunami Risk 21 September 2020
    Nuclear plants in Arabian Sea face tsunami risk 21 September 2020 Karachi in Pakistan (also being expanded to 2,200 megawatts). A mega nuclear power plant coming up at Jaitapur, Maharashtra will generate 9,900 megawatts, while another project at Mithi Virdi in Gujarat may be shelved because of public opposition. Nuclear power plants are located along coasts because their enormous cooling needs can be taken care of easily and cheaply by making using abundant seawater. "Siting nuclear reactors in areas prone to natural The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP). disasters is not very wise," says M.V. Ramana, Nuclear power plants are located along coasts because Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human the water can be used to help cool these down. Credit: Security and Director, Liu Institute for Global The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) (CC BY- Issues, University of British Columbia, tells SA 2.0) SciDev.Net. "In principle, one could add safety systems to lower the risk of accidents—a very high sea wall, for instance. Such safety systems, however, add to the cost of nuclear plants and A major tsunami in the northern Arabian Sea could make them even more uncompetitive when severely impact the coastlines of India and compared with other ways of generating electricity." Pakistan, which are studded with sensitive installations including several nuclear plants, says "All nuclear plants can be subject to severe the author of a new study. accidents due to purely internal causes, but natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, "A magnitude 9 earthquake is a possibility in the and storm surges make accidents more likely Makran subduction zone and consequent high because they cause stresses on the reactor that tsunami waves," says C.P.
    [Show full text]
  • ICC-02/17 Date: 20 November 2017 PRE-TRIAL CHAMBER III Before
    ICC-02/17-7-Red 20-11-2017 1/181 NM PT ras Original: English No.: ICC-02/17 Date: 20 November 2017 PRE-TRIAL CHAMBER III Before: Judge Antoine Kesia-Mbe Mindua, Presiding Judge Judge Chang-ho Chung Judge Raul C. Pangalangan SITUATION IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF AFGHANISTAN PUBLIC with confidential, EX PARTE, Annexes 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 4C, 6, public Annexes 4, 5 and 7, and public redacted version of Annex 1-Conf-Exp Public redacted version of “Request for authorisation of an investigation pursuant to article 15”, 20 November 2017, ICC-02/17-7-Conf-Exp Source: Office of the Prosecutor ICC-02/17-7-Red 20-11-2017 2/181 NM PT Document to be notified in accordance with regulation 31 of the Regulations of the Court to: The Office of the Prosecutor Counsel for the Defence Mrs Fatou Bensouda Mr James Stewart Mr Benjamin Gumpert Legal Representatives of the Victims Legal Representatives of the Applicants Unrepresented Victims Unrepresented Applicants (Participation/Reparation) The Office of Public Counsel for The Office of Public Counsel for the Victims Defence States’ Representatives Amicus Curiae REGISTRY Registrar Defence Support Section Mr Herman von Hebel Victims and Witnesses Unit Detention Section Mr Nigel Verrill No. ICC- 02/17 2/181 20 November 2017 ICC-02/17-7-Red 20-11-2017 3/181 NM PT I. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 6 II. Confidentiality .................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Earthquakes, Tornadoes and Storms Water
    EARTHQUAKES, TORNADOES AND STORMS WATER Earthquakes along the Indus Delta and Baluchistan Coast. Coastal area of Sindh is in active seismic zone as shown in the Maps No.26 and 27. There is geological fault from Ahmedabad and Bhuj and Ormara along Makran coast and another geological fault from Ormara to Gulistan about 80 kms west of Quetta to Jalalabad and then turning eastwards under Himalayan foot hills through Kohistan towards Haryana in India and beyond. It is called Karakoram fault. Another one is located Abbottabad, Mansehra, Kohistan and Swat district. The 2005 earthquake was more intensive than 1974 earthquake, which had created havoc in Pattan, Duba, Palas and other villages. The first causes earthquakes along the northern Gujarat, Kutch, Rann of Kutch and affects Sindh coast and Karachi. In 1945 earthquake with epicentre in Makran between Pasni and Gawadar, Karachi also got shocks and some islands along Baluchistan coast disappeared and new ones emerged. The 2003 earthquake destroyed many houses in Ahmedabad, destroyed almost the whole town of Bhuj and affected coastal area of Sindh including damage to some buildings in Nagar Parker, Islamkot, Mithi, Diplo and Badin and bridges on roads south of Badin, though figures of such damage have not been published. The 1819 earthquake is well recorded and survey of Sindh Coast by Carless in 1817 and again in 1837 showed lot of changes in the various branches of the Indus. Besides these Sindhri a coastal town on the eastern branch of the Indus called Puran leading to Lakhpat on Koree Creek, submerged about 6 meters below the water in the Rann of Kutch and probably Rann of Kutch got disconnected with sea due to rise of its western edge close to and turned into inland lake.
    [Show full text]