Morphotectonic analysis of Kosi River basin in Kumaun Lesser Himalaya: an evidence of neotectonics

Abstract

The Himalayan arc is one of the prominent sites on Earth, for ongoing research on active tectonics because of the frequent occurrence of earthquakes of low-moderate intensity that occur in various sectors of the region. The present study is an attempt to decipher the active uplift and relative tectonic activity in Kosi River basin, a part of the southern Kumaun Himalayas. Several morphotectonic parameters such as asymmetry factor (AF), hypsometric integral (HI), mountain front sinuosity (Smf), channel sinuosity (S), and basin elongation ratio (Re) have been calculated with an objective to compare different sub-basins in the Kosi watershed that may prove useful in deciphering of relative tectonic activity. The watershed delineation of the Kosi River basin as well as its sub-basins, and detailed drainage network has been accomplished by using the CARTOSAT-1 DEM with the help of ArcGIS 10.3 software, using TauDEM tool and Global Mapper 18. Analysis of these morphotectonic parameters reveals that although the whole of the Kosi River basin lies in the seismically active zone, but the northern part along North Almora Thrust (NAT), central part around South Almora Thrust (SAT), Ramgarh Thrust (RT), and southern part along Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) are tectonically more active and undergoing neotectonic rejuvenation. The information derived would prove beneficial in identification of hazard prone areas and in planning of socio-economic development in mountainous terrain.