Active Faults of the Kumaun and Garhwal Himalaya

Abstract

A fault scarp (or active fault) is defined as tectonic landforms corresponding, or roughly coincident, with a fault plane that has displaced the ground surface due to earthquake. Short- and long-term deformation rates of these active faults are essential because surface rupture only accompanies earthquakes larger than a given size. By characterizing slip per event for active faults at the Himalayan front and within the wedge, we can explore moment release across the Himalaya. These data allow the addressing of key questions such as what is the recurrence of mega-thrust, subduction like events on the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) and how and at what rate is strain release distributed across the Himalaya? The value of these data will provide accurate input for seismic hazard as the region has one of the highest slip deficits along the Himalaya. This chapter provides window wise identified active fault elements with attributes, anaglyphs of active faults, fault scarp profiles, field photos together with tectonic geomorphic map incorporating new data.