Remote Sensing and Morphotectonic Analysis in Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis Using River Longitudinal Profiles

Abstract

The disastrous tremor of Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis (HKS) in Pakistani Himalayas on October 8, 2005 was a result of neotectonic movement through the advanced propagation of the NW- end of Indo-Pak subducting plate below Eurasia. The purpose is to observe neo-tectonics and allied active deformation through SRTM DEM 90 m based automated drainage network and geomorphometry. The geomorphic indices such as Hack-SL gradient, steepness, concavity and relative uplift rate maps are quite significant for the analysis of active tectonics. A comprehensive river longitudinal profile analysis discovered that the outcomes achieved for the topographic relative uplift rates (TRUR), steepness, Hack SL and concavity indices are reliable with the active tectonics of HKS. The TRUR are higher in the central, north-northeast, north-northwest and south-southwest (i.e., 2. 5 mm/yr.) in comparison with the lower (0.1 mm/yr.) in the eastern part of HKS. This scenario proposes neotectonic control over the local drainage network and the topography in the study area. The TRUR map confirms that the central, NNE, NNW and SSW parts of the study area tectonically more deformed and uplifted than region in the east towards Sri Nagar basin. The spatial distribution of variable relative uplift rates is a clear indication of unique and complex active deformation along and in the HKS.