Geomorphic Evolution of Dehra Dun, NW Himalaya: Tectonics and Climatic Coupling

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Geomorphic Evolution of Dehra Dun, NW Himalaya: Tectonics and Climatic Coupling Geomorphology 266 (2016) 20–32 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Geomorphology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/geomorph Geomorphic evolution of Dehra Dun, NW Himalaya: Tectonics and climatic coupling Swati Sinha, Rajiv Sinha ⁎ Department of Earth Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, India article info abstract Article history: The Dehra Dun is a good example of a piggyback basin formed from the growth of the Siwalik hills. Two large riv- Received 22 November 2015 ers, the Ganga and the Yamuna, and their tributaries deposit a significant part of their sediment load in the Dun Received in revised form 1 May 2016 before they enter the Gangetic plains. This work documents the geomorphic complexities and landform evolu- Accepted 2 May 2016 tion of the Dehra Dun through geomorphic mapping and chronostratigraphic investigation of the incised fan sec- Available online 6 May 2016 tions. Lesser Himalayan hills, inner and outer dissected hills, isolated hills, proximal fan, distal fan, dip slope unit, fl fi Keywords: oodplains, and terraces are the major geomorphic units identi ed in the area. Isolated hills of fan material (IHF), fi Intermontane valleys proximal fan (PF), and distal fan (DF) are identi ed as fan surfaces from north to south of the valley. The OSL Himalayan foreland based chronology of the fan sediments suggests that the IHF is the oldest fan consisting of debris flow deposits Valley fills with a maximum age of ~43 ka coinciding with the precipitation minima. The proximal fan consisting of sheet Fan deposits flow deposits represents the second phase of aggradation between 34 and 21 ka caused by shifting of deposition locus downstream triggered by high sediment supply that exceeded the transport capacity. The distal fan was formed by braided river deposits during 20–11 ka coinciding with the deglacial period. The IHF, PF and DF sur- faces were abandoned by distinct incision phases during ~40–35, ~20–17, and ~11–4 ka respectively. A minor phase of terrace deposition in Dehra Dun was documented during 3–2 ka. Our results thus show that the evolu- tionary history of the alluvial fans in Dehra Dun was primarily controlled by climatic forcing with tectonics playing a minimum role in terms of providing accommodation space and sediment production. © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction developed through multiple phases of aggradation and entrenchment during the late Quaternary period (Kumar et al., 2007). The develop- Tectonic and climatic processes have interacted through tightly ment of these fans is influenced by tectonic and climate factors such coupled feedbacks at variable spatiotemporal scales to shape mountain- as glacial-interglacial cycles, base-level changes, sediment supply from ous landscapes along the Himalayan belt (Seeber and Gornitz, 1983; Ori the catchment, availability of accommodation space, and degree of tec- and Friend, 1984; Lavé, and Avouac, 2000, 2001; Kirby and Whipple, tonic activity (Harvey, 1990, 2004; Silva et al., 1992; Ritter et al., 1995; 2001; Kumar et al., 2007; Suresh et al., 2007; Singh and Tandon, 2007, Harvey et al., 1999a, 1999b; Harvey and Wells, 2003; Mather and 2008). Intermontane valleys (Duns) are important elements of moun- Stokes, 2003; Mather et al., 2009; Viseras et al., 2003; Robustelli et al., tainous landscapes in the Himalaya that have developed in response 2009). Fluvial terraces also occur widely in Duns, and multiple levels to climatic fluctuations and neotectonic activities during the Quaternary of terraces have been mapped in the frontal parts of the Himalaya, period (Kimura, 1999; Singh et al., 2001; Dühnforth et al., 2007; e.g., three to five levels in the Yamuna valley (Singh et al., 2001; Dutta Goswami and Pant, 2007; Kumar et al., 2007; Suresh et al., 2007; et al., 2012) and four levels in the Ganga valley (Sinha et al., 2010). Singh and Tandon, 2008; Suresh and Kumar, 2009; Malik et al., 2010; Most rivers draining the fan surfaces are incised and therefore have de- Dutta et al., 2012). Alluvial fans, fluvial terraces and floodplains have veloped rather narrow floodplains except in the distal parts (discussed been mapped as the main landforms in the Duns (Nossin, 1971; later). In a more recent work, several piggyback basins along the Hima- Nakata, 1972; Rao, 1978; Chandel and Singh, 2000; Singh et al., 2001; layan front were examined to explore storage and release of sediments Suresh et al., 2007; Thakur et al., 2007; Singh and Tandon, 2010; Sinha from these basins and their downstream influence (Densmore et al., et al., 2010; Dutta et al., 2012). The alluvial fans in the Duns occur at 2015). The suggestion has been made that the Duns have controlled multiple topographic levels (Nakata, 1972; Suresh et al., 2002, 2007; the temporal variations in sediment flux into the Gangetic plains and Philip et al., 2009) and have been described as a piggyback system have therefore influenced the landscape development in the plains (Densmore et al., 2015). ⁎ Corresponding author. Despite several generations of geomorphic mapping and landform E-mail address: rsinha@iitk.ac.in (R. Sinha). evolution studies in the Duns in the NW Himalaya, we note significant http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2016.05.002 0169-555X/© 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. S. Sinha, R. Sinha / Geomorphology 266 (2016) 20–32 21 gaps in terms of terminologies, field validation, and controlling factors. hillocks, river terraces, and floodplains are the major geomorphic For example, the term ‘piedmont’ was used to describe the depositional units in this region, and the valley fills have been described as ‘Dun surfaces by Singh et al. (2001), Thakur and Pandey (2004) and Thakur gravels’ (Nossin, 1971; Nakata, 1972; Singh et al., 2001; Thakur and et al. (2007) but they do not ascribe the processes that might have Pandey, 2004; Thakur et al., 2007). The study area is confined to the shaped them. Generally, the terminology ‘piedmont’ is used for erosion- western part of the Dehra Dun between latitudes 30°20′ to 30°35′ N al and depositional landforms formed adjacent to a mountain front and longitudes 77°40′ to 78°05′ E bounded by the Tons and Yamuna riv- (Leece, 1990; Goudie, 2004). Chandel and Singh (2000) described the ers to the east and west, respectively (Fig. 1). Several ephemeral streams post-Siwalik deposits in Dehra Dun as ‘doon piedmont’ but without namely, the Suarna, Sitla Rao, Koti, Mauti, Chor Khala, and Nimi, are much process interpretation of the associated geomorphic elements. Fur- flowing in this area. These streams and several other smaller rivulets ther, a suggestion was made that the geomorphic evolution of the Dun flow SW and join the axial Asan river that in turn flows NW and involved a number of depositional and erosional phases superimposed meets the Yamuna River. The Siwalik hills to the north of the valley on each other and regulated by climatic changes and tectonics (Nakata, are highly dissected and disjointed and are separated by topographical 1972), but very limited information is available in terms of field evidence breaks that are marked by sharp turns of the streams flowing through and chronological data. Age data on different geomorphic surfaces in the the area (Thakur et al., 2007). The southern part of the valley is the Duns has been limited, and therefore a sound chronostratigraphic frame- dip-controlled slope of Siwalik Ranges and mainly composed of upper work of fans is lacking. In summary, the understanding of the evolution of Siwalik conglomerates and the boulders and gravels of quartzite and landforms and their spatial relationships is fragmentary. sandstone derived from the middle Siwalik hills (Thakur et al., 2007). We present here a detailed geomorphology of the Dehra Dun based on Table 1 shows the various geomorphic elements in the Dehra Dun mapping from high-resolution satellite images and digital elevation area proposed by various workers. Nossin (1971) mapped several large- models (DEM) coupled with field validation. Stratigraphic framework is sized fans descending from the foothills of the Mussoorie ranges. Nakata based on several lithologs from incised fan sections and a sound chrono- (1972, 1975) identified four fill surfaces and interpreted them to have re- logical data that provides an insight to the depositional history of the Dun. sulted from differential uplift within the valley. Chandel and Singh (2000) mapped Siwalik hills and post-Siwalik deposits as piedmonts that were 2. Study area and previous work further divided into high-level terraces, and upper and lower doon pied- monts. Alluvial fans are the major geomorphological units identified by The Dehra Dun is one of the largest intermontane valleys between Singh et al. (2001) and Thakur et al. (2007) in the Dehra Dun. The Main the Mussoorie Ranges of the Lesser Himalaya to the north and the Boundary thrust is the major structure that separates the Siwaliks and Siwalik Ranges to the south (Fig. 1). The Siwalik Ranges are mainly a the Lesser Himalaya. Other major structural features documented in this group of rocks and categorized as lower (mudstone), middle (sand- area include the Santaurgarh thrust (Raiverman et al., 1983), the stone), and upper (conglomerate) units. The Dehra Dun is bounded by Bhauwala thrust (Singh, 1998), the Asan and Tons faults (Thakur and major faults from all sides; the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) to its Pandey, 2004), and the Majahaun fault (Thakur et al., 2007). north, the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) to its south, the Yamuna Fan deposits in Dehra Dun mainly consist of boulders, cobbles, and Tear Fault (YTF) to the west, and the Ganga Tear Fault (GTF) to the pebbles with a sandy and silty matrix (Nossin, 1971; Thakur, 1995). Pre- east, making it a structurally isolated block (Fig.
Recommended publications
  • The Alaknanda Basin (Uttarakhand Himalaya): a Study on Enhancing and Diversifying Livelihood Options in an Ecologically Fragile Mountain Terrain”
    Enhancing and Diversifying Livelihood Options ICSSR PDF A Final Report On “The Alaknanda Basin (Uttarakhand Himalaya): A Study on Enhancing and Diversifying Livelihood Options in an Ecologically Fragile Mountain Terrain” Under the Scheme of General Fellowship Submitted to Indian Council of Social Science Research Aruna Asaf Ali Marg JNU Institutional Area New Delhi By Vishwambhar Prasad Sati, Ph. D. General Fellow, ICSSR, New Delhi Department of Geography HNB Garhwal University Srinagar Garhwal, Uttarakhand E-mail: vishwambhar.sati@yahoo.com Vishwambhar Prasad Sati 1 Enhancing and Diversifying Livelihood Options ICSSR PDF ABBREVIATIONS • AEZ- Agri Export Zones • APEDA- Agriculture and Processed food products Development Authority • ARB- Alaknanda River Basin • BDF- Bhararisen Dairy Farm • CDPCUL- Chamoli District Dairy Production Cooperative Union Limited • FAO- Food and Agricultural Organization • FDA- Forest Development Agency • GBPIHED- Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development • H and MP- Herbs and Medicinal Plants • HAPPRC- High Altitude Plant Physiology Center • HDR- Human Development Report • HDRI- Herbal Research and Development Institute • HMS- Himalayan Mountain System • ICAR- Indian Council of Agricultural Research • ICIMOD- International Center of Integrated Mountain and Development • ICSSR- Indian Council of Social Science Research LSI- Livelihood Sustainability Index • IDD- Iodine Deficiency Disorder • IMDP- Intensive Mini Dairy Project • JMS- Journal of Mountain Science • MPCA- Medicinal Plant
    [Show full text]
  • Cambridge University Press 978-1-108-44568-9 — Active Faults of the World Robert Yeats Index More Information
    Cambridge University Press 978-1-108-44568-9 — Active Faults of the World Robert Yeats Index More Information Index Abancay Deflection, 201, 204–206, 223 Allmendinger, R. W., 206 Abant, Turkey, earthquake of 1957 Ms 7.0, 286 allochthonous terranes, 26 Abdrakhmatov, K. Y., 381, 383 Alpine fault, New Zealand, 482, 486, 489–490, 493 Abercrombie, R. E., 461, 464 Alps, 245, 249 Abers, G. A., 475–477 Alquist-Priolo Act, California, 75 Abidin, H. Z., 464 Altay Range, 384–387 Abiz, Iran, fault, 318 Alteriis, G., 251 Acambay graben, Mexico, 182 Altiplano Plateau, 190, 191, 200, 204, 205, 222 Acambay, Mexico, earthquake of 1912 Ms 6.7, 181 Altunel, E., 305, 322 Accra, Ghana, earthquake of 1939 M 6.4, 235 Altyn Tagh fault, 336, 355, 358, 360, 362, 364–366, accreted terrane, 3 378 Acocella, V., 234 Alvarado, P., 210, 214 active fault front, 408 Álvarez-Marrón, J. M., 219 Adamek, S., 170 Amaziahu, Dead Sea, fault, 297 Adams, J., 52, 66, 71–73, 87, 494 Ambraseys, N. N., 226, 229–231, 234, 259, 264, 275, Adria, 249, 250 277, 286, 288–290, 292, 296, 300, 301, 311, 321, Afar Triangle and triple junction, 226, 227, 231–233, 328, 334, 339, 341, 352, 353 237 Ammon, C. J., 464 Afghan (Helmand) block, 318 Amuri, New Zealand, earthquake of 1888 Mw 7–7.3, 486 Agadir, Morocco, earthquake of 1960 Ms 5.9, 243 Amurian Plate, 389, 399 Age of Enlightenment, 239 Anatolia Plate, 263, 268, 292, 293 Agua Blanca fault, Baja California, 107 Ancash, Peru, earthquake of 1946 M 6.3 to 6.9, 201 Aguilera, J., vii, 79, 138, 189 Ancón fault, Venezuela, 166 Airy, G.
    [Show full text]
  • JOURNAL Or GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 90, NO. B5, PAGES 3589-3615, APRIL 10, 1985 and SOUTHERN PERUVIAN MARGINS of SOUTH AMERICA
    JOURNAL or GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 90, NO. B5, PAGES 3589-3615, APRIL 10, 1985 SEISMIC POTENTIAL FOR LARGE AND GREAT 1NTERPLATE EARTHQUAKES ALONG THE CHILEAN AND SOUTHERN PERUVIAN MARGINS OF SOUTH AMERICA: A QUAITITATIVE REAPPRAISAL l Stuart P. Nishenko Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University Palisades, New York Abstract. The seismic potential of the al., 1978, 1979; Nishenko and McCann, 1981]. Chilean and southern Peruvian margins of South Seismic gaps have been defined as those segments America is reevaluated to delineate those areas along active convergent or transform plate bound­ or segments of the margin that may be expected to aries that have not experienced a repeat of a experience large or great interplaZe earthquakes large or great interplate earthquake for more within the next 20 years (1984-2034). Long-term than a few decades and thus are considered likely estimates of seismic potential (or the condi- sites for future large or great events. While tional probability of recurrence within a speci- these observations provide estimates as to the fied period of time) are based on (1) statistical location and maximum likely size of future earth­ analysis of historic repeat time data using quakes, they do not provide estimates to better Weibull distributions and (2) deterministic esti- than a few tens of years as to the time of occur­ mates of recurrence times based on the time- rence of future large shocks. The lack of more predictable model of earthquake recurrence. Both precise temporal estimates primarily reflects the methods emphasize the periodic nature of large absence of local recurrence time, source size and and great earthquake recurrence, and are compared plate velocity data in the definition of the with estimates of probability based on the categories of seismic potential.
    [Show full text]
  • Characterizing the Main Himalayan Thrust in the Garhwal Himalaya, India with Receiver Function CCP Stacking
    Earth and Planetary Science Letters 367 (2013) 15–27 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Earth and Planetary Science Letters journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/epsl Characterizing the Main Himalayan Thrust in the Garhwal Himalaya, India with receiver function CCP stacking Warren B. Caldwell a,n, Simon L. Klemperer a, Jesse F. Lawrence a, Shyam S. Rai b, Ashish c a Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States b National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, India c CSIR Centre for Mathematical Modeling and Computer Simulation, NAL Belur, Bangalore, India article info abstract Article history: We use common conversion point (CCP) stacking of Ps receiver functions to image the crustal structure Received 20 November 2012 and Moho of the Garhwal Himalaya of India. Our seismic array of 21 broadband seismometers spanned Received in revised form the Himalayan thrust wedge at 79–801E, between the Main Frontal Thrust and the South Tibet 10 February 2013 Detachment, in 2005–2006. Our CCP image shows the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT), the detachment Accepted 11 February 2013 at the base of the Himalayan thrust wedge, with a flat-ramp-flat geometry. Seismic impedance Editor: T.M. Harrison contrasts inferred from geologic cross-sections in Garhwal imply a negative impedance contrast (velocity decreasing downward) for the upper flat, located beneath the Lower Himalaya, and a positive Keywords: impedance contrast (velocity increasing downward) for the ramp, located beneath the surface trace of Himalaya the Munsiari Thrust (or MCT-I). At the lower flat, located beneath the Higher Himalaya, spatially India coincident measurements of very high electrical conductivities require the presence of free fluids, and Garhwal receiver functions we infer a negative impedance contrast on the MHT caused by ponding of these fluids beneath the CCP stacking detachment.
    [Show full text]
  • Geological Background
    Chapter 3 Geological Background The Andes belong to an active continental margin comprising the western margin of South America. The name is attributed to the mountain chain, which stretches over 5000 km from the Caribbean to Tierra del Fuego. Their relief rises east of the 8000 m deep sea trench reach- ing heights up to 7000 m above sea level, ones of the highest peaks on earth. The oceanic Nazca plate moves to the east subsiding beneath South America, with a relative velocity with respect to each other of 8.5 cm/yr (fig.3.1). The convergence between the two plates has a slight ENE obliqueness. The Andes are divided into three distinct active volcanic zones of different subduction ge- ometries: Northern, Central and Southern Andes (fig.3.1). The Central Andes stretch in between latitudes 16◦Sand28◦S. In this thesis, the study area is located in the southern part of Southern Central Andes (20-21◦S). Overview of the Central Andes As in all subduction zones, the Andes is segmented in forearc, magmatic (or volcanic) arc and backarc regions. The volcanic arc has shifted eastwards since Jurasic times (280 Ma). The recent volcanic arc from the last 25 Ma is the Western Cordillera (fig.3.2). Thus the actual forearc is located west of it, consisting from the coast line to the east of the following geomorphological units: Coastal Cordillera, Longitudinal Valley, Precordillera and Preandean Depression (fig.3.2; inset). In the backarc region the Subandean ranges mark the eastern limit of the Andean tectonic deformation, rising up to 6000 m high to the west, at the Eastern Cordillera.
    [Show full text]
  • Messinian Or Pleistocene Valley Incision Within the Southern Alps Sascha Winterberg*, Vincenzo Picotti and Sean D
    Winterberg et al. Swiss J Geosci (2020) 113:7 https://doi.org/10.1186/s00015-020-00361-7 Swiss Journal of Geosciences ORIGINAL PAPER Open Access Messinian or Pleistocene valley incision within the Southern Alps Sascha Winterberg*, Vincenzo Picotti and Sean D. Willett Abstract Many of the valleys on the southern slope of the Alps are over-deepened, having bedrock valley foors well below sea level. This has typically been attributed to incision that occurred during the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) when sea level dropped by hundreds of meters, leading to incision of many of the margins of the Mediterranean. We reassess this interpretation by documenting the correct elevation of the valley foor of the Adige river, one of the major val- leys draining the Southern Alps, and by estimating the vertical motion of that valley foor since the end of Messinian incision. We re-evaluated the bedrock incision in the Adige valley using existing borehole data and seismic profles. We estimate the vertical post-Messinian uplift using thermochronometric data that reveal the removed rock mass and then infer the expected isostatic uplift. These data are combined to reconstruct paleo-river gradients and to test viability of incision profles. We fnd that the erosive surfaces in the drill holes restore to a paleo-elevation well below estimates of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) sea level. Restored valley gradients are often reversed compared to todays river gradients, as the uplift correction is higher upstream. A Messinian age of the erosional unconformities within the Alps can therefore be excluded based on the current best estimates of Messinian Mediterranean sea level and post-Messinian rock uplift.
    [Show full text]
  • EGU2010-5951-1, 2010 EGU General Assembly 2010 © Author(S) 2010
    Geophysical Research Abstracts Vol. 12, EGU2010-5951-1, 2010 EGU General Assembly 2010 © Author(s) 2010 Marine Isotope Stage 3 recorded in palaeolake sediments in the Eastern Alps Reinhard Starnberger (1), Helena Rodnight (1), Jürgen M. Reitner (2), Paula J. Reimer (3), and Christoph Spötl (1) (1) Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Innsbruck, Austria, (2) Geological Survey of Austria, Vienna, Austria, (3) School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen’s University Belfasts, Ireland Greenland ice core data indicate that the last glaciation in the Northern Hemisphere was characterized by relatively short and rapid warmings followed by gradual coolings (Greenland Interstadials or Dansgaard-Oeschger (D/O) cycles). While the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the following Late Glacial are well documented in the Eastern Alps, continuous records of the time period preceding the LGM are only known from stalagmites. Although most of sediment which filled the Alpine valleys before the LGM was eroded and redeposited during the LGM, thick successions have been locally preserved along the sides of margins of longitudinal valley-forming distinct terraces. The Inn valley in Tyrol (Austria) offers the most striking examples of such river terraces which are known to be mostly composed of Upper Pleistocene sediments in the Eastern Alps. During the past 15 years a large number of continuously-cored drill cores was obtained during a tunnelling project in the lower Inn valley, offering the unique possibility to study these sediments in great detail. This study focuses on the Unterangerberg terrace near Wörgl, where drill cores penetrated lacustrine sediments underlying LGM gravel and till.
    [Show full text]
  • Changing Scenario of Traditional Beekeeping in Garhwal Himalaya: a Case Study from Gairsain Block of District Chamoli, Uttarakhand
    International Journal of Life Sciences Singh et. al., Vol. 2 No. 1 ISSN: 2277-193X International Journal of Life Sciences Vol.2. No.1. 2013. Pp. 16-20 ©Copyright by CRDEEP. All Rights Reserved Full Length Research Paper Changing Scenario of Traditional Beekeeping in Garhwal Himalaya: A Case Study from Gairsain Block of district Chamoli, Uttarakhand P. Tiwari, J. K. Tiwari and Dinesh Singh* Department of Botany & Microbiology, Post Box -22, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal-246174, Uttarakhand *Corresponding Author: Dinesh Singh Abstract Present study was carried out in Gairsain block of district Chamoli of Uttarakhand state. The data was collected through the direct interview of local inhabitants by administrating a set of structured questionnaires during the year 2011-2012. The present study revealed that the number of traditional wall hives and colonies were decreasing with parallel to increasing modern cemented houses. As such the total average number of wall hives/ house decreased from 11.23 in 1980 to 8.44 in 2010. This average will reach below as the traditional houses will complete their life span in near future. If the trend is not checked, then there will be no wall hives in the region in coming future. Thus, there is urgent need to conserve the traditional beekeeping to sustain the bee habitat and to provide nesting site for honey bees. Key words: Wall hive, Traditional house, Honey bee, Nesting site. Introduction Beekeeping is an environment friendly, agro-forestry based, traditionally adopted occupation among the mountain communities and is the part of natural and cultural heritage (Verma 1989, Mishra1995, Singh 1995, Pohkrel et al.
    [Show full text]
  • The Tectonics of the Garhwal— Kumaun Lesser Himalaya
    ZOBODAT - www.zobodat.at Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature Zeitschrift/Journal: Jahrbuch der Geologischen Bundesanstalt Jahr/Year: 1978 Band/Volume: 121 Autor(en)/Author(s): Fuchs Gerhard, Sinha A.K. Artikel/Article: The Tectonics of the Garhwal-Kumaun Lesser Himalaya 219-241 ©Geol. Bundesanstalt, Wien; download unter www.geologie.ac.at Jahrb. Geol. B.-A. Band 121, Heft 2 S. 219—241 Wien, Dezember 1978 The Tectonics of the Garhwal— Kumaun Lesser Himalaya By GERHARD FUCHS *) and ANSHU K. SINHA **) With 3 plates (= Beilagen 5—7) :o _§ Tectonics 5 Garhwal -2 Kumaun <>5 Lesser Himalaya CONTENTS Abstract 219 Zusammenfassung 219 1. Introduction 220 2. Some remarks to Stratigraphy 220 3. The Parautochthonous Unit 221 4. The Chail Nappes 228 5. The Crystalline Nappes 235 6. Conclusions 236 Acknowledgement 237 References 237 Abstract The paper is an attemt to give an uniform picture of the structure of Garhwal — Kumaun Lesser Himalaya. In combining data from literature with own observations the experiences from Western Nepal were invaluable aid. The lowest structural unit north of the Main Boundary Thrust is the Parautochtho­ nous Unit comprising the Krol Belt. The existence of a "Krol Nappe" derived from afar is denied. The above unit is succeeded by the Chail Nappes. The lower two subsidiary units consist of Chail-Deoban sequence, the uppermost nappe is built entirely by the Chail Formation and oversteps the lower units and the Parautochthonous Unit in unconformable way. The Crystalline Nappes are represented by a lower unit of medium grade metamor- phics and an upper unit composed by the high grade crystalline.
    [Show full text]
  • Archeological and Historical Database on Earthquakes
    Archeological and Historical Database on earthquakes. We are not aware of any studies on the seismic the Medieval Earthquakes of the Central performance of the temples in the Garhwal Himalaya, but Himalaya: Ambiguities and Inferences models of the performance of similar multistoried structures in Nepal show a fundamental time period less than 0.6 s (Jaishi by C. P. Rajendran, Kusala Rajendran, Jaishri et al., 2003). Because this is within the range of natural period of a wide variety of soils, there is a high probability for such Sanwal, and Mike Sandiford structures to approach a state of partial resonance during large earthquakes. The spatial distribution of damage, response of specific structures, and models based on their structural elements INTRODUCTION could lead to the location and magnitude of pre-twentieth cen- tury earthquakes. The architectural style showed only minor variations be- Global Positioning System-based convergence rate between In- 20 3mm=yr tween different clans and their rulers, and the constructions dia and southern Tibet is estimated as (Larson generally consist of a common plan, which used large and heavy et al., 1999). Despite this fast convergence, the seismicity rate ∼50% rock units arranged on top of each other, without mortar of the Himalaya has been remarkably low, as only of (Fig. 2). As a society whose social milieu revolved around this plate boundary has ruptured during the last 200 years. the temples for ages (>1000 years), the temple archives carried This long-lived deficit in seismic productivity has led many through generations serve as an important and often the only to believe that the region holds potential for more than one magnitude ≥8:0 source of information on its history including the impact of earthquake (Ambraseys and Jackson, 2003).
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of Geodynamics Expected Temporal Absolute Gravity Change
    Journal of Geodynamics 48 (2009) 284–291 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Geodynamics journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jog Expected temporal absolute gravity change across the Taiwanese Orogen, a modeling approach M. Mouyen a,∗, F. Masson a, C. Hwang b, C.-C. Cheng b, R. Cattin c, C.W. Lee d, N. Le Moigne c, J. Hinderer a, J. Malavieille c, R. Bayer c, B. Luck a a Institut de Physique du Globe de Strasbourg, 5 rue René Descartes, F-67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France b Department of Civil Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, 300 Taiwan, ROC c Géosciences Montpellier, Université Montpellier 2, Place E. Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France d Center for Measurement Standards, Industrial Technology Research Institute, 195 Chung Hsing Rd., Sec.4 Chu Tung, HsinChu, 310 Taiwan, ROC article info abstract Keywords: The island of Taiwan is located on the convergent boundary between the Philippine Sea plate and the Taiwan Chinese continental margin. It offers very active mountain building and collapsing processes well illus- Gravity trated by the rugged topography, rapid uplift and denudation, young tectonic landforms, active faulting Modeling and numerous earthquakes. In this paper, using simple models, we have estimated vertical movements Surrection and associated absolute gravity variations which can be expected along a profile crossing the southern Mass transfers part of the island and probably suffering the highest rates of rising. The two different tectonic styles pro- posed for the island, thin-skinned and thick-skinned, were taken into account. Horizontal and vertical movements were modeled by an elastic deformation code.
    [Show full text]
  • Active Tectonics of Kumaun and Garhwal Himalaya
    Springer Natural Hazards The Springer Natural Hazards series seeks to publish a broad portfolio of scientific books, aiming at researchers, students, and everyone interested in Natural Hazard research. The series includes peer-reviewed monographs, edited volumes, text- books, and conference proceedings. It covers all categories of hazards such as atmospheric/climatological/oceanographic hazards, storms, tsunamis, floods, ava- lanches, landslides, erosion, earthquakes, volcanoes, and welcomes book proposals on topics like risk assessment, risk management, and mitigation of hazards, and related subjects. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/10179 R. Jayangondaperumal • V. C. Thakur V. Joevivek • Priyanka Singh Rao Anil Kumar Gupta Active Tectonics of Kumaun and Garhwal Himalaya 123 R. Jayangondaperumal Priyanka Singh Rao Structure and Tectonic Group Structure and Tectonic Group Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Dehradun, Uttarakhand Dehradun, Uttarakhand India India V. C. Thakur and Structure and Tectonic Group Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Geological Survey of India Dehradun, Uttarakhand Government of India India Hyderabad, Telangana India V. Joevivek Structure and Tectonic Group Anil Kumar Gupta Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology Structure and Tectonic Group Dehradun, Uttarakhand Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology India Dehradun, Uttarakhand India and and Akshaya College of Engineering and Technology Department of Geology and Geophysics Kinathukadavu, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur India Kharagpur, West Bengal India ISSN 2365-0656 ISSN 2365-0664 (electronic) Springer Natural Hazards ISBN 978-981-10-8242-9 ISBN 978-981-10-8243-6 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8243-6 Library of Congress Control Number: 2018931503 © Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
    [Show full text]