Use of digital elevation models and drainage patterns for locating active faults in the Upper Gangetic Plain, India

Abstract

Twelve normal, active faults transverse to the regional Ganga and Yamuna longitudinal faults have been identified in the western part of the gently sloping Upper Gangetic Plain from the interpretation of digital elevation models (DEMs), prepared by manual digitization of spot heights from 1 : 50 000 scale topographic maps. High vertical exaggeration of these DEMs reveals artefactual morphostructures such as 'cliffs' and 'significant breaks in slopes' that are indicative of faults. Convergent drainage on the upthrown blocks, initiation of new streams on the downthrown blocks, offsetting of drainage and anomalous sinuosity of streams close to faults have provided additional corroborating evidence of the faults. Detailed field investigations indicate relatively steeper slopes close to the inferred faults than the adjoining areas. Erosion of the upthrown blocks and deposition of sediments on the downthrown blocks in the form of terminal fans under a semi-arid climate formed features typical of many such faults.

Concealed thrusts in the Middle Gangetic plain, India – A ground penetrating radar study proves the truth against the geomorphic features supporting normal faulting

“…3) creating compression from southwest and south in the respective regions. The above work supports the finite element modeling study by Parkash et al (2000) and the origin of NE-SW and N-S trending extensional normal faults in the Upper and middle Gangetic plains studied by Singh et al (2006), Bhosle et al (2008, 2009) and Pati (2008. Singh et al (2006) and Bhosle et al (2008Bhosle et al ( , 2009) used the geomorphological signatures such as break in slope in topography, drainage pattern, formation of terminal fans in the down thrown side, along with digital elevation models and digital terrain models to find out the normal faults in the Indo-Gangetic plains.…”

“…The above work supports the finite element modeling study by Parkash et al (2000) and the origin of NE-SW and N-S trending extensional normal faults in the Upper and middle Gangetic plains studied by Singh et al (2006), Bhosle et al (2008, 2009) and Pati (2008. Singh et al (2006) and Bhosle et al (2008Bhosle et al ( , 2009) used the geomorphological signatures such as break in slope in topography, drainage pattern, formation of terminal fans in the down thrown side, along with digital elevation models and digital terrain models to find out the normal faults in the Indo-Gangetic plains. In the present study, an integrated approach such as remote sensing, digital terrain models (DTMs), digital elevation models (DEMs), topographic profiles, geomorphological elements like drainage patterns, channel sinuosity, convergent drainage, drainage density, generation of new drainage, water logging areas and formation of terminal fans were used to decipher the neotectonic faults in the area.…”

Holocene tectono-geomorphic evolution of parts of the Upper and Middle Gangetic plains, India

“…Offset drainage. Offsetting of drainage channels was found on the upthrown blocks of the normal faults as described by Singh et al (2006) and Bholse et al (2009). Notably, major river channels are offset for small distances as compared to the small streams across the same fault.…”

Terminal fans and the Ganga plain tectonism: A study of neotectonism and segmentation episodes of the Indo-Gangetic foreland basin, India

“…5), drainage patterns such as convergent, offset, generation of new streams, change of sinuosity, drainage density, and surface pondings, breaks in slope have been adopted by Singh et al (2006), Bhosle et al (2008Bhosle et al ( , 2009 Mukerji, 1976. this region. Geophysical technique such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used to study the subsurface nature of few faults by Pati et al (2011a) and Acharya et al (2012).…”

“…Bhosle et al (2008) studied the tectonic geomorphology and pedology of this region, and described the development of the transverse normal faults in this region due to extensional tectonics, resulted by compression between the Himalayas in the north and the Indian peninsula from the south. Some of these transverse normal faults were studied by Bhosle et al (2007) using GPR, and by using digital elevation model (DEM) and drainage pattern, surface impression of some of these faults were also studied (Bhosle et al, 2009). This block is occupied by thirteen terminal/inland fans associated with ten transverse normal faults (Fig.…”