Abstract
Two contemporary earthquakes originating in the central Himalayan arc and its foredeep (Sikkim earthquake of 18.09.2011, Mw 6.9, h: 10–60 (?) km and Bihar-Nepal earthquake of 20.08.1988, Mw 6.8, h: 57 km) are commonly associated with transverse lineaments/faults traversing the region. Such lineaments/faults form active seismic blocks defining promontories for the advancing Indian Craton. These actually produce conjugate shear faulting pattern suggestive of pervasive crustal interplay deep inside the mountains. Focal mechanism solutions allow inferring that large part of the current convergence across the central Himalayan arc is accommodated by lateral slip. Similar slip also continues unabated in the densely populated foredeep for distances up to several tens of kilometers south of the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dpasgupta, S., Mpukhopadhyay, M. and Npandy, D.R. (1987) Active tectonic feature in the Central part of Himalaya. Tectonophysics, v.136, pp.255–264.
Dpasgupta, S. (1993) In Bihar-Nepal Earthquake August 20 1988. Geol. Surv. India Spec. Publ., no.31, pp.60–81.
De La Tporre, T. L., Mponsalve, G., Spheehan, A. F., Spapkota, S. and Wpu, F. (2007) Earthquake processes of the Himalayan collision zone in eastern Nepal and the southern Tibetan Plateau. Geophys. Jour. Internat., v.171, pp.718–738.
GSI (1993) Bihar-Nepal earthquake, 20 August 1988. Geol. Surv. India Spec. Publ., no.31, 104p.
Hpazarika, P., Rpavi Kpumar, M., Sprijayanthi, G., Rpaju, P.S., Rpao, N.P. and Sprinagesh, D. (2010) Transverse Tectonics in the Sikkim Himalaya: Evidence from Seismicity and Focal-Mechanism Data. Bull. Seismological Soc. Amer., v.100(4), pp.1816–1822, DOI:10.1785/0120090339.
Hponegger, K., Dpietrich, V., Fprank, W., Gpansser, A., Tphoni, M. and Tprousmsdorff, V. (1982) Magmatism and metamortphisnm in the Ladakh Himalaya (the Indus-Tsangpo suture zone). Earth Planet Science Letter, v.60, pp.253–292.
Kpayal, J.R. (2001) Microearthquake activity in some parts of the Himalaya and the tectonic model. Tectonophysics, v.339, pp.331–351.
Kpayal, J.R. (2010) Himalayan tectonic model and the great earthquakes: an appraisal. Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, v.1, pp.51–57.
Lpavé, J. and Apvouac, J.P. (2000) Active folding of fluvial terraces across the Siwalik Hills (Himalaya of central Nepal). Jour. Geophys. Res., v.105, pp.5735–5770.
Le Fport, P. (1986) Metamorphism and magmatism during the Himalayan collision. In: M.P. Coward and A.C. Ries (Eds.), Collision Tectonics. Geol. Soc. Spec. Publ., v.19, pp.159–172.
Lpyon-Caen, H. and Mpolnar, P. (1983) Gravity anomalies and the structure of Western Tibet and southern Tarim basin. Geophys. Res. Lett., v.11, pp.1251–1254.
Mponsalve, G., Spheehan, A.F., Ppandey, M.R., Rpajaure, S. and Wpu, F. (2006) Seismicity and 1-D velocity structure of the Himalayan collision zone: result from the Himalayan Nepal Tibet seismic Experiment (HIMNT). Jour. Geophys. Res., v.111, B10301.
Mpukhopadhyay B., Apcharyya, A. and Dpasgupta, S. (2011a) Potential Source Zones for Himalayan Earthquake: Constraints from Spatial-Temporal Clusters. Natural Hazards, v.57, pp.369–383, DOI 10.1007/s11069-010-9618-2.
Mpukhopadhyay, B., Apcharyya, A., Bphattacharyya, D., Dpasgupta, S. and Ppande, P. (2011b) Seismotectonics at the terminal ends of the Himalayan Arc. Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, v.2(2), pp.159–181.
Mpukul, M. (2010) Himalayan Deformation: Insights from Darjiling-Sikkim-Tibet (DaSiT) Wedge. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.39, pp.645–657.
Npelson, K. D., Zphao, W. J., Bprown, L.D., Kpuo, J., Cphe, J.K., Lpiu, X.W., Kplemperer, S.L., Mpakovsky, Y., Mpeissner, R., Mpechie, J., Kpind, R., Wpenzel, F., Npi, J., Npabelek, J., Cphen, L. S., Tpan, H. D., Wpei, W. B., Jpones, A. G., Bpooker, J., Upnsworth, M., Kpidd, W. S. F., Hpauck, M., Aplsdorf, D., Rposs, A., Cpogan, M., Wpu, C. D., Spandvol, E. and Epdwards, M. (1996) Partially molten middle crust beneath southern Tibet: Synthesis of Project INDEPTH Results. Science, v.174, pp.1684–1688.
Npi, J.F. and Bparazangi, M. (1984) Seismotectonics of the Himalayan collision zone: geometry of the underthrusting Indian plate beneath the Himalaya. Jour. Geophys. Res., v.89, pp.1147–1163.
Rpaju, P.S., Rpao, N.P., Spingh, A. and Ravi Kpumar, M. (2007) The 14 February 2006 Sikkim earthquake of magnitude 5.3. Curr. Sci., v.93(6), pp.848–850.
Spchelling, D. and Aprita, K. (1991) Thrust tectonics, crustal shortening and the structure of the Far-Eastern Nepal Himalaya. Tectonics, v.10, pp.851–862.
Speeber, L., Aprmbruster, J.G. and Qpuittmeyer, R. (1981) Seismicity and continental subduction in the Himalayan Arc. In: H.K. Gupta and F.M. Delany (Eds.), Zagros, Hindu Kush, Himalaya Geodynamic Evolution, v.4, American Geographical Union, Washington, DC — Geodynamics Series, pp.215–242.
Vpaldiya, K. S. (1976) Himalayan transverse faults and their parallelism with subsurface structures of north Indian plains. Tectonophysics, v.32, pp.352–386.
Zphao, W., Npelson, K.D. and Pproject Ipndepth Tpeam (1993) Deep seismic-refection evidence continental underthrusting beneath southern Tibet. Nature, v.366, pp.557–559.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dasgupta, S., Mukhopadhyay, B., Mukhopadhyay, M. et al. Role of transverse tectonics in the Himalayan collision: Further evidences from two contemporary earthquakes. J Geol Soc India 81, 241–247 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-013-0027-5
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-013-0027-5