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Implications of shearing on drainage network development in Achankovil Shear Zone, South India: insights from DEM-based geomorphic indices and longitudinal profile analysis

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Abstract

The Achankovil Shear Zone (AKSZ) in the Southern Granulite Terrain separates the Trivandrum block from the Madurai block. Various geomorphic indices and longitudinal profiles of the river systems in the AKSZ, viz., Achankovil river basin (ARB) and Kallada river basin (KRB), were derived from SRTM DEM to decipher the influence of shearing and deformation on the regional drainage evolution. Although hypsometric analysis of the basins implies old stage of geomorphic evolution, horizontal shifts in the channel plan form are restricted (except in the Tertiary sediments), suggesting the structural controls over the drainage organization, which are also supported by the high topographic sinuosity. The transverse topographic symmetry (T) vectors indicate a southwesterly migration for the upstream channel segments of both ARB and KRB, while the northwesterly migration of the downstream courses can be correlated with the dextral shearing of the AKSZ. Even though the shear zone is considered to be the block boundary between the charnockite of Madurai and khondalite of Trivandrum blocks, the moderate to low profile concavity (θ) values are probably the result of suppressing the effect of the block–boundary interactions by shearing and denudation. The study proposes a model for evolution of drainage network in the AKSZ, where the mainstream of the basins was initially developed along NE–SW direction, and later the upstream and midstream segments were reoriented to the NW–SE trend as a result of intense shearing. Overall, the present study emphasizes the significance of geomorphic indices and longitudinal profile analysis to understand the role of shearing and deformation on drainage evolution in transcrustal shear zones.

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Acknowledgements

Technical support and helps during data analysis from Faisal Shahzad (Remote Sensing Group, Institute of Geology, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, Germany), Aneesh S. (Former JRF, IUCGIST), Chinu Jose and Dr. Rajesh Reghunath (IIUCNRM) are greatly acknowledged. The authors are also thankful to the anonymous reviewers and the editor for their critical comments during revision to improve the quality of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EWRE, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600 036, India

    Jobin Thomas

  2. Centre for Geo-Information Science and Technology, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695 581, India

    Jobin Thomas & V. Prasannakumar

  3. Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695 581, India

    V. Prasannakumar

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Appendices

Appendix 1

See Table 1.

Table 1 Morphometric indices of basin geometry, shape and relief of ARB
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Appendix 2

See Table 2.

Table 2 Morphometric indices of basin geometry, shape and relief of KRB
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Appendix 3

See Table 3.

Table 3 Morpho-tectonic indicators estimated for ARB
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Appendix 4

See Table 4.

Table 4 Morpho-tectonic indicators estimated for KRB
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Appendix 5

See Table 5.

Table 5 Results of the global autocorrelation tests using the Moran’s I statistic
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Appendix 6

See Table 6.

Table 6 Profile characteristics of Achankovil and Kallada river basins and selected sub-basins
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Thomas, J., Prasannakumar, V. Implications of shearing on drainage network development in Achankovil Shear Zone, South India: insights from DEM-based geomorphic indices and longitudinal profile analysis. Environ Earth Sci 76, 716 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-7016-8

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