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Morphotectonic and Geomorphic Study of the Sub-Himalaya in the Haridwar-Kotdwar Region, India: Implications for the Tectonic Evolution and Segment Variability

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Morphotectonic and geomorphic analyses are used to understand the tectonic evolution of Sub-Himalaya of the Haridwar-Kotdwar region. The Sub-Himalaya in this region is divided into three segments. The western segment is stacked between the Ganga Tear Fault and the Haridwar Fault, the central segment is stacked between the Haridwar Fault and Khoh River Fault, and the eastern segment is east of the Khoh River Fault. Various geomorphic indices like, Valley floor width to height ratio (Vf), Gradient Length Anomalies (GLA), Normalized Steepness Index (Ksn), Chi analysis and Hypsometric Index (HI) are used to infer the spatial variability in the tectonic evolution of Sub-Himalaya of the Haridwar-Kotdwar region. The Vf shows very low Vf values in the western and the eastern segments and relatively higher Vf values in the central segment. The Ksn gives anomalously high values in the central segment where the rivers cross the thrusts, compared to the western and eastern segments, which show lower values. The results of Chi analysis predict an increased tectonic activity in the sub-Himalayan section of the central segment, which is shown as high values of linear regression Chi-Ksn. The GLA shows negative anomalies along the thrusts (Main Boundary Thrust, Boksar Thurst and Haldu Paro Thrust). The results of all indices indicate that the thrusts (Boksar Thurst and Haldu Paro Thrust) in the central segment are neotectonically active as there is an increased value of Ksn and Chi-Ksn, and negative GLA whereas the frontal part of the western and the eastern segments are more active as there are low Vf values compared to the central segment. Thus, the results of morphometric analysis help to understand the tectonic evolution of the sub-Himalaya in this region.

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Acknowledgements

This study is a part of the PhD work of Abhishek Kralia. AK acknowledges the financial help provided by University Grants Commission (UGC) as Senior Research Fellowship (Ref. No. F. No. 16–9(June 2018)/2019(NET/CSIR)). This study is also funded by Active Fault Mapping (AFM) by MoES in NWHimalaya (MoES/P.O. (Seismo)/1 (271)/AFM/2015(Component-II)). We also thank the Chairman, Department of Geology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, for providing facilities for this research work.

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  1. Department of Geology, Panjab University, Sector 14, Chandigarh, 160 014, India

    Abhishek Kralia & Mahesh Thakur

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Kanpur, Kanpur, 208 016, India

    Javed N. Malik

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  1. Abhishek Kralia
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  2. Mahesh Thakur
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Correspondence to Mahesh Thakur.

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Abhishek Kralia is a Research Scholar in the Department of Geology, Panjab University, Chandigarh in the field of Tectonic Geomorphology. His contribution is towards the conceptualisation, morphometric analysis, and interpretation.

Javed N Malik is the foremost researcher in the fields of Active Fault Mapping, Paleoseismology, and Paleo-tsunami studies in India. He is working as a Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, IIT Kanpur, Kanpur. He interpreted and reviewed the manuscript.

Mahesh Thakur is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geology, at Panjab University Chandigarh. He was involved in conceptualisation, reviewing the manuscript and data interpretation. His field of expertise is Active Tectonics, Landslides, Geophysics, and Heat flow.

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Kralia, A., Thakur, M. & Malik, J.N. Morphotectonic and Geomorphic Study of the Sub-Himalaya in the Haridwar-Kotdwar Region, India: Implications for the Tectonic Evolution and Segment Variability. J Geol Soc India 99, 1521–1531 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-023-2504-9

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