Normalized Steepness Index along the Himalayan Arc as a proxy for Indian
plate segmentation
Abstract
The Indian plate underthrusting the Himalaya is considered to be
segmented along the collision belt arc and seismic images of the Indian
mantle lithosphere (IML) suggest along-arc variations in the angle of
underthrusting and its northern limit beneath Tibet. The pre-existing
transverse tectonic structures of the Indian plate mapped in the Ganga
foreland basin have been related to these segmentation boundaries. These
segmentations imply changes in mechanical properties of adjoining blocks
which should manifest in the form of spatial variations in topography
build-up. We have analysed a geomorphic index, normalized channel
steepness (ksn), along the Himalayan arc using the ALOS elevation
dataset to test whether there is any correlation between the and these
segmentation boundaries. Our results bring out spatial variability in
the along the arc. Based on these results, the arc can be segmented into
five blocks, similar to the ones delineated based on correlation between
the width of the Ganga foreland basin and the disposition of major
Himalayan thrusts from the foothills. Thus, the can be used as a proxy
to demarcate different tectonic blocks along the Himalayan arc. Further,
we have found a good correlation between the basin width and the
northern limit of the IML for all block except the Uttarakhand block. We
infer that transverse crustal heterogeneities in this block due to the
continuation of different litho-units of the Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt
could be a plausible cause for this anti-correlation.