Estimation of crustal deformation parameters and strain build-up in Northwest Himalaya using GNSS data measurements

Abstract

GPS measurements have proved extremely useful in quantifying strain accumulation rate and assessing seismic hazard in a region. Continuous GPS measurements provide estimates of secular motion used to understand the earthquake and other geodynamic processes. GNSS stations extending from the South of India to the Higher Himalayan region have been used to quantify the strain build-up rate in Central India and the Himalayan region to assess the seismic hazard potential in this realm. Velocity solution has been determined after the application of Markov noise estimated from GPS time series data. The recorded GPS data are processed along with the closest International GNSS stations data for estimation of daily basis precise positioning. The baseline method has been used for the estimation of the linear strain rate between the two stations. Whereas the principal strain axes, maximum shear strain, rotation rate, and crustal shortening rate has been calculated through the site velocity using an independent approach; least-square inversion approach-based triangulation method. The strain rate analysis estimated by the triangulation approach exhibits a mean value of extension rate of 26.08 nano-strain/yr towards N131°, the compression rate of –25.38 nano-strain/yr towards N41°, maximum shear strain rate of 51.47 nano-strain/yr, dilation of –37.57 nano-strain/yr and rotation rate of 0.7°/Ma towards anti-clockwise. The computed strain rate from the Baseline method and the Triangulation method reports an extensive compression rate that gradually increases from the Indo-Gangetic Plain in South to Higher Himalaya in North. The slip deficit rate between India and Eurasia Plate in Kumaun Garhwal Himalaya has been computed as 18±1.5 mm/yr based on elastic dislocation theory. Thus, in this study, present-day surface deformation rate and interseismic strain accumulation rate in the Himalayan region and the Central Indian region have been estimated for seismic hazard analysis using continuous GPS measurements.