Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stress drop and its relation to tectonic and structural elements for the meizoseismal region of great 1905 Kangra earthquake of the NW Himalaya

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Investigations of micro- and low-magnitude earthquakes in the Kangra-Chamba region of the NW Himalaya were performed to evaluate the relationship between earthquake source, seismicity, stress drop, tectonics, and structure. The seismic events were recorded by a dense local network of 21 permanent/temporary stations during 2004–2005. The earthquake source parameters using spectral analysis were calculated for refined epicenters obtained by Local Earthquake Tomography method. We applied two approaches of spectral analysis for earthquake data and the box-counting fractal dimension for structural elements in order to understand the seismogenesis of the region properly. These two methods giving inter-dependable results were used for the study area that extends from latitude 31.5°N–33.5°N and longitude 75.5°E–77.5°E in the epicenter zone of devastating 1905 Kangra earthquake. The seismic moment of these earthquakes (1.5 ≤ Mw ≤ 4.8) is between 1.21E + 18 dyne-cm and 1.44E + 23 dyne-cm causing circular deformation of radius in the range 0.12–1.15 km based on Brune’s circular model. The study reveals that low value for the capacity fractal dimension (D 0 of 0.678) and seismically intense clustering of 135 earthquakes with low stress drops generally below 10 bar but up to 26 bar. Evaluated low stress drop of small size earthquakes and low D 0 of structural elements has led to the identification of nature of brittleness of the crust and proneness to high strain accumulation that indicates the presence of an asperity/barrier in the fault zones. The variation of b value and 3D seismic velocities supports the presence of asperity zone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aki K (1981) A probabilistic synthesis of precursor phenomena. In: Simpson DW, Richards PG (eds) Earthquake Prediction, Maurice Ewing Series 4, AGU 566–574

  • Aki K (1984) Asperities, barriers, characteristic earthquake and strong motion prediction. J Geophy Res 89:5867–5872

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen TI, Gibson G, Brown A, Cull JP (2004) Depth variation of seismic source scaling relations: implications for earthquake hazard in southeastern Australia. Tectonophysics 390:5–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angulo-Brown F, Ramirez-Guzman AH, Yepez E, Rudoif-Navarro A, Pavia- Miller CG (1998) Fractal geometry and seismicity in the Mexican subduction zone. Geofisica Inter 37:29–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Archuleta R, Cranswick E, Mueller C, Spudich P (1982) Source parameters of the 1980 mammoth lakes, California, earthquake sequence. J Geophy Res 87:4595–4607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arora BR, Gahalaut VK, Kumar N (2012) Structural control on along-strike variation in the seismicity of the northwest Himalaya. J Asian Earth Sci 57:15–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baltay A, Ide S, Prieto G, Beroza G (2011) Variability in earthquake stress drop and apparent stress. Geophy Res Lett 38:L06303. doi:10.1029/2011GL046698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee P, Burgmann R (2002) Convergence across the northwest Himalaya from GPS measurement. Geophy Res Lett 29(13):301–304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharya SN, Kayal JR (2005) Seismicity of the Himachal Himalaya: constraint from local seismic network. Geo Survey Ind Special Publication 85:71–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilham R, Gaur VK, Molnar P (2001) Himalayan seismic hazard. Science 293:1442–1444

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brune JN (1970) Tectonic stress and the spectra of seismic shear waves from earthquakes. Geophy Res Lett 75:4997–5009

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson CA (1991) Spatial distribution of ore deposits. Geology 19:111–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubey AK (2004) Structural evolution of the Himalaya: field studies, experimental models, and implications for seismicity. Him Geol 25(1):33–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Gansser A (1964) Geology of the Himalayas Interscience. New York, p 289

  • Gitis V, Yurkov E, Arora BR (2008) Analysis of seismicity in North India. Russian J Earth Sci 10:ES5002. doi:10.2205/2008ES000303

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzato G (1998) A practical implementation of the box-counting algorithm. Comp Geosci 24:95–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzato G, Mulargia F, Marzocchi W (1998) Practical application of fractal analysis: problems and solutions. Geophy J Int 132:275–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirata T (1989) Fractal dimension of fault systems in Japan: fractal structure in rock fracture geometry at various scales. Pure App Geophy 131:157–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Idziak A, Teper L (1996) Fractal dimension of faults network in the upper silesin coal basin (Poland): preliminary studies. Pure App Geophy 147:239–247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joshi M, Rai JK (2003a) An appraisal of models for inverted himalayan metamorphism. Memoir vol J Geol Soc Ind 52:359–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Joshi M, Rai JK (2003b) Fractal dimension as a new measure of Neotectonic activity in Kakrighat area, Kumaun Himalaya. J Geol Soc Ind 61:664–672

    Google Scholar 

  • Kayal JR (2001) Microearthquake activity in some parts of the Himalaya and the tectonic model. Tectonophysics 339:331–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khattri KN (1987) Great earthquakes, seismicity gaps and potential for earthquake disaster along Himalaya plate boundary. In: Mogi K and Khattri KN (Ed). Earthquake Prediction. Tectonophysics 138:79–92

  • Kissling E (1995) Program VELEST User’S guide-short introduction (second draft). Institute of Geophysics and Swiss Seismological Service, ETH-Hoenggerberg, Zurich, Switzerland, pp 1–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Korvin G (1992) Fractal models in the earth sciences. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 369

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar N (2010) Quantification of seismic regimes of Kangra-Chamba region of NW Himalaya. Ph. D. Thesis, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India pp. 300

  • Kumar N, Parvez IA, Virk HS (2005) Estimation of coda wave attenuation for the NW Himalaya region using local earthquakes. Phy Earth Sci Int 151:243–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar N, Sharma J, Arora BR, Mukhopadhyay S (2009) Seismotectonic-model of the Kangra-Chamba sector of northwest Himalaya: constraints from joint hypocenter determination and focal mechanism. Bull Seismol Soc Am 99(1):95–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar N, Paul A, Mahajan AK et al (2012) The Mw 5.0 Kharsali Garhwal Himalaya earthquake of 23 July, 2007 source characterization and tectonic implications. Curr Sci 102(12):1674–1682

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar N, Arora BR, Mukhopadhyay S, Yadav DK (2013) Seismogenesis of Clustered Seismicity beneath the Kangra-Chamba sector of northwest Himalaya: constraints from 3D local earthquake tomography. J Asian Earth Sci 62:638–646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyubushin AA, Arora BR, Kumar N (2010) Investigation of seismicity in western Himalaya. Geophy Res 11(1):27–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahajan AK, Kumar N, Arora BR (2006) Quick look isoseismal map of 8 October 2005 Kashmir earthquake. Curr Sci 91(3):356–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahmood H, Ingham JM (2011) Seismic vulnerability assessment of Pakistan unreinforced masonry buildings at a national scale. Seismol Res Lett 82(5):676–685

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mandelbrot BB (1983) The fractal geometry of nature. Freeman, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandelbrot BB (1985) Self-affine fractals and fractal dimension. Phy Scripta 32:257–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Middlemiss CS (1910) The Kangra earthquake of 4 April 1905. Mem Geol Soc Ind 38:409

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogata Y (1999) Seismicity analysis through point-process modeling: a review. Pure App Geophy 155:471–507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okubo PG, Aki K (1987) Fractal geometry in the San Andreas fault system. J Geophy Res 92:345–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powers PM, Lillie RJ, Yeats RS (1998) Structure and shortening of the Kangra and Dehra Dun reentrants, Sub-Himalaya. India. Geol Soc Am Bull. 110(8):1010–1027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad BJ, Klemperer SL, Rao VV (2011) Crustal structure beneath the Sub-Himalayan fold-thrust belt, Kangra recess, northwest India, from seismic reflection profiling: implications for Late Paleoproterozoic orogenesis and modern earthquake hazard. Earth Planet Sci Lett 308:218–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raines GL (2008) Are fractal dimensions of the spatial distribution of mineral deposits meaningful? Nat Resources Res 17:87–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raiverman V (2002) Foreland sedimentation in himalayan tectonic regime: a relook at the orogenic process. Bishen Singh Mahendrapal Singh, Dehra Dun 378p

    Google Scholar 

  • Ram A, Roy PNS (2005) Fractal dimensions of blocks using a box-counting technique for the 2001 Bhuj earthquake, Gujarat, India. Pure App Geophy 162:531–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roy PNS, Mondal SK (2009) Fractal nature of earthquake occurrence in northwest himalayan region. J Ind Geophy Union 13(2):63–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Roy PNS, Mondal SK, Joshi M (2012) Seismic hazards assessment of Kumaun Himalaya and adjacent region. Nat Hazards. doi:10.1007/s11069-012-0235-0

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudnicki J, Kanamori H (1981) Erects of fault interaction on moment, stress drop, and strain energy release. J Geophy Res 86:1785–1793

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Satyabala SP, Yang Z, Bilham R (2012) Stick-slip advance of the Kohat Plateau in Pakistan. Nature geosci. doi:10.1038/NGE01373

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma ML, Wason HR (1994) Occurrence of low stress drop in the Garhwal Himalayan region. Phy Earth Planet Inter 85:265–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stork AL, Ito H (2004) Source parameter scaling for small earthquakes at the Western Nagano 800-m-Deep Borehole. Central Japan. Bull Seismol Soc Am. 94(5):1781–1794

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sukmono S, Zen MT, Hendrajjya L, Kadir WGA et al (1997) Fractal pattern of the Sumatra fault seismicity and its application to earthquake prediction. Bull Seismol Soc Am 87:1685–1690

    Google Scholar 

  • Sunmonu LA, Dimri VP (2000) Fractal geometry and seismicity of Koyna-Warna, India. Pure App Geophy 157:1393–1405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thakur VC (1998) Structure of the Chamba nappe and position of the main central thrust in Kashmir Himalaya. J Asian Earth Sci 16:269–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thurber CH (1993) Local earthquake tomography velocities and Vp/Vs—theory. In: H.M Iyer and K. Hirahara, Editors: Seismic tomography, Champan and Hall, London 563–580

  • Turcotte DL (1997) Fractals and Chaos in Geology and Geophysics: Cambridge University Press (2nd Ed). New York, 398p

  • Yadav DK, Kumar N, Paul A (2009) Recent seismicity and stress pattern in NW Himalaya. Himalayan Geol 30(2):139–145

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Director, WIHG, Dehradun, for his kind permission to publish this work. Partly the work is based on the thesis of NK and he thanks his supervisors Profs V.N. Singh, B.R. Arora and S. Mukhopadhyay. The authors also thank Dr. A. K. Dubey for valuable suggestions for improving the manuscript. The MoES, New Delhi, India, is thankworthy for sponsored projects (MoES/P.O.(Seismo)/NPEP(15)/2009 and MoES/P.O.(Seismo)/GPS/60/2006). NK thanks ICTP Trieste, Italy, for providing Junior Associateship. Two anonymous reviewers are thanked for constructive evaluation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33 G.M.S Road, Dehradun, 248001, India

    Naresh Kumar & Dilip K. Yadav

  2. Department of Applied Geophysics, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, 826004, Jharkhand, India

    S. K. Mondal & P. N. S. Roy

Authors
  1. Naresh Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dilip K. Yadav
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. K. Mondal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. N. S. Roy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Naresh Kumar.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 29 kb)

Supplementary material 2 (DOC 48 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumar, N., Yadav, D.K., Mondal, S.K. et al. Stress drop and its relation to tectonic and structural elements for the meizoseismal region of great 1905 Kangra earthquake of the NW Himalaya. Nat Hazards 69, 2021–2038 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0793-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-013-0793-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation