On the active tectonics of Dehra Dun region from observations of ground elevation changes

Abstract

The data presented suggest that uplift of the outer Himllaya in this region is continuing even today through sudden co-seismic elevation changes during large thrust earthquakes and secular aseismic uplift during intervals between such earthquakes. The observed co-seismic ground elevation changes during the Kangra earthquake are interpreted so as to simulate the cross-sectional shape of the buried active thrust fault responsible for this continuing episodie as well as secular uplift of the Outer Himalaya. This fault is assumed to be the surface of detachment between the Himalayan rocks above and the Indian shield rocks below. It is concluded that over most of its extent in Dehra Dun region, the detachment surface has gentle dip to the northeast but a few interspersed, northeast dipping steeper ramps are not ruled out. The depth of the detachment is estimated to be between 0 and 3 km beneath the SW limit and about 10 km beneath the NE limit of the Outer Himalaya in the Dehra Dun region. The two main levelling observations regarding the current inactive status of the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) are, (1) the involvement of this thrust in the occurrence of the Kangra earthquake is definitely ruled out from the levelling data, and (2) the measured rate of secular uplift of the ground increases from NE to SW across the surface trace of the thrust suggesting that the Outer Himalaya is rising faster than the Lesser Himalaya to the NE across the MBT.