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A study of Guptkashi, Uttarakhand earthquake of 6 February 2017 (M w 5.3) in the Himalayan arc and implications for ground motion estimation

Journal of Seismology volume 22, pages 789–803 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

The 2017 Guptkashi earthquake occurred in a segment of the Himalayan arc with high potential for a strong earthquake in the near future. In this context, a careful analysis of the earthquake is important as it may shed light on source and ground motion characteristics during future earthquakes. Using the earthquake recording on a single broadband strong-motion seismograph installed at the epicenter, we estimate the earthquake’s location (30.546° N, 79.063° E), depth (H = 19 km), the seismic moment (M0 = 1.12×1017 Nm, M w 5.3), the focal mechanism (φ = 280°, δ = 14°, λ = 84°), the source radius (a = 1.3 km), and the static stress drop (Δσ s ~22 MPa). The event occurred just above the Main Himalayan Thrust. S-wave spectra of the earthquake at hard sites in the arc are well approximated (assuming ω−2 source model) by attenuation parameters Q(f) = 500f0.9, κ = 0.04 s, and fmax = infinite, and a stress drop of Δσ = 70 MPa. Observed and computed peak ground motions, using stochastic method along with parameters inferred from spectral analysis, agree well with each other. These attenuation parameters are also reasonable for the observed spectra and/or peak ground motion parameters in the arc at distances ≤ 200 km during five other earthquakes in the region (4.6 ≤ M w  ≤ 6.9). The estimated stress drop of the six events ranges from 20 to 120 MPa. Our analysis suggests that attenuation parameters given above may be used for ground motion estimation at hard sites in the Himalayan arc via the stochastic method.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the reviewers for their helpful critical remarks. Stations RPG, TKT, ALM, HDR, and TDR form part of the Central Indo-Gangetic Plains Network (CIGN) of the National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad. All other stations belong to National Centre for Seismology. CIGN instrumentation was acquired under the SATREPS-DISANET Indo-Japanese Collaborative Project.

Funding

The study was partly supported by the CSIR-NGRI Fast Track Translationary Project and UNAM, PAPIIT project IN107216 (S.K.S.)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500007, India

    Davuluri Srinagesh, Dakuri Srinivas & Gudapati Suresh

  2. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Geofísica, Circuito de la Investigación s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico

    Shri Krishna Singh & Xyoli Pérez-Campos

  3. National Centre for Seismology, Noida, India

    Gaddale Suresh

Authors
  1. Davuluri Srinagesh
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  2. Shri Krishna Singh
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  3. Gaddale Suresh
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  4. Dakuri Srinivas
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  5. Xyoli Pérez-Campos
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  6. Gudapati Suresh
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Correspondence to Shri Krishna Singh.

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Srinagesh, D., Singh, S.K., Suresh, G. et al. A study of Guptkashi, Uttarakhand earthquake of 6 February 2017 (M w 5.3) in the Himalayan arc and implications for ground motion estimation. J Seismol 22, 789–803 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-018-9732-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-018-9732-2

Keywords

  • Guptkashi 2017 earthquake
  • Uttarkhand 2017 earthquake
  • Himalayan arc
  • Ground motion