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Kinematics of crustal deformation along the central Himalaya

  • Research Article - Solid Earth Sciences
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Abstract

Utilizing an updated dataset of 145 GNSS surface velocities, this study examines the fault slip rate and fault geometry along the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) in the central Himalaya. Employing a Bayesian inversion model, the present analysis reveals that the upper portion of the MHT ramp exhibits full locking, while the lower flat displays creeping motion. The estimated locking depth and fault depth of MFT range from 4.3 ± 2.6 km to 9.7 ± 2.2 km and 13.5 ± 3.1 km to 15.8 ± 1.9 km, respectively, along the central Himalaya. Further, the slip rate along the transition zone lies in the range of 1.4 ± 0.8 mm/yr to 2.7 ± 0.5 mm/yr. Considering the amount of uncertainties as ~1–2 mm/yr in GNSS velocities, the study suggests that the transition zone along the middle flat of the MHT also exhibits locking behavior. Thus, the estimated locking depth extends to ~15.0 km down-dip and covers a horizontal distance of ~90 km (locking line) on the surface, reaching the foothills of the Higher Himalaya. Furthermore, along the deeper flat of the MHT, the slip rate ranges from 19.4 ± 2.5 mm/yr in the west to 12.8 ± 1.6 mm/yr in the east along Nepal Himalaya. The analysis also calculates the slip deficit rate along the MHT fault plane, revealing values of ~15.1 mm/yr in western Nepal, ~12.7 mm/yr in central Nepal, and ~10.6 mm/yr in eastern Nepal. These slip deficit rates across different segments of central Nepal indicate the potential for large earthquakes in the region. The results are further supported by a resolution test using a checkerboard synthetic model, demonstrating the capability of the GNSS network to capture the slip rate along the MHT. These findings inevitably contribute to a comprehensive assessment of the seismic hazard potential in the central Himalayan region.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to Integrated Research on Disaster Risk, International Center of Excellence (IRDR ICoE-Taipei), Taipei and International Science Council Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (ISC ROAP) for the financial support through a seed grant for 2018 TC-EHRA. We also acknowledge the financial support from DST-SERB through a project under MATRICS scheme (File No: MTR/2021/000458). GMT software was used to prepare some of the figures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Yogendra Sharma & Kuo-En Ching

  2. Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, India

    Sumanta Pasari, Himanshu Verma & Neha Choudhary

  3. Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

    Neha Choudhary

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  1. Yogendra Sharma
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Correspondence to Sumanta Pasari.

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Edited by Dr. Salvatore Gambino (ASSOCIATE EDITOR) / Prof. Ramón Zuñiga (CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF).

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Sharma, Y., Pasari, S., Ching, KE. et al. Kinematics of crustal deformation along the central Himalaya. Acta Geophys. 72, 553–564 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-023-01175-5

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