Evidences of neotectonic activity along Goriganga River, Higher Central Kumaun Himalaya, India

Abstract

This paper focuses on the analysis of geomorphic landform development, particularly between the Trans Himadri Fault and the Main Central Thrust including Berinag Thrust and other major NNE–SSW and NW–SE striking faults/thrusts in the Higher Central Kumaun Himalaya. Digital analysis of remote sensing data, field investigations including drainage analysis, and development of landforms have been carried out to understand the morphotectonic evolution and, thereby, the neotectonics in this region. A number of morphometric indices [(stream length‐gradient index (SL), steepness index (ks), Chi (χ)] were computed together with knick point analysis. Offsetting of the major river and tributaries was observed along a NNW–SSE direction. Other tectonic landforms, including truncated saddles and disturbed terrace patterns, show that the area is presently undergoing active deformation. The valley floor morphology in the vicinity of the major thrusts provides evidence for aggradation of recent fluvial activity. Developments of various neotectonic features, such as starth terraces, off‐streams, truncated saddles, disrupted terraces, and palaeolake deposits, are evidences for recent tectonic activities associated with the major thrusts/faults. Cut‐and‐fill terraces with thick alluvial cover, debris‐flow terraces, and alluvial fan terraces are significant aggradational landforms observed within the valley that provide signatures of past climatic records. Our study reveals that the fluvially modified debris‐flow terraces were formed between 5 and 20 ka. We infer that the major phase of valley‐fill happened between 5 and 12 ka, whereas the youngest phase of aggradation may have responded to the Holocene tectonic activity that took place around 5–6 ka. The study is significant to understand the recent geomorphic development and tectonic deformation in the study area and may be helpful for future infrastructural development in the region.

Tectonic imprints of landscape evolution in the Bhilangana and Mandakini basin, Garhwal Himalaya, India: A geospatial approach

“…Horton (1945) The details of each morphometric parameter evaluated is given in Table 1. Furthermore, for the estimation of Chiχ and Knickpoint analysis we adopted similar methodology as used by Kothyari et al (2020a).…”

“…Such a diverging nature of profile indicates that the river basins are not in the steady state of equilibrium and behave according to the lithology and tectonics. In steady state condition, the channels are forced to move toward the equilibrium condition (Kothyari et al, 2020a). The influence of climate, lithology and tectonics in the drainage pattern has been illustrated by equilibrium profile of a river (Kothyari et al, 2020a).…”

“…In steady state condition, the channels are forced to move toward the equilibrium condition (Kothyari et al, 2020a). The influence of climate, lithology and tectonics in the drainage pattern has been illustrated by equilibrium profile of a river (Kothyari et al, 2020a). The changes in χ plot are highlighted by the state of disequilibrium, where fractional increase or decrease of up-stream area can be observed with respect to steady-state trend line (Joshi et al, 2020;Kothyari et al, 2020a and references there in).…”

“…The influence of climate, lithology and tectonics in the drainage pattern has been illustrated by equilibrium profile of a river (Kothyari et al, 2020a). The changes in χ plot are highlighted by the state of disequilibrium, where fractional increase or decrease of up-stream area can be observed with respect to steady-state trend line (Joshi et al, 2020;Kothyari et al, 2020a and references there in). The drainage area and length of profile increase with increasing and decreasing χ values and simultaneously migrate above and below the steady-state line of χ plot (Fig.…”

Incorporating Landscape Dynamics in Small-Scale Hydropower Site Location Using a GIS and Spatial Analysis Tool: The Case of Bohol, Central Philippines

“…The topographic profile of a river system holds useful information of climatic and tectonic forcing across a landscape [43]. A river profile analysis demarcates locations of tectonic activity in tectonically active landscapes [44]. The study examined two geomorphometric indices: the knickpoints and the river steepness index.…”