Stream Profile and Neotectonic Analysis in Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis using Shuttle Radar Digital Elevation Data

Abstract

Digital elevation models are replacing traditional topographic maps in geosciences with the advent of space technology. We used digital elevation models from SRTM data for neotectonic and stream profile analysis in Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis. Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis is a NNW-SSE complex tectonic zone and makes a hair pin like structure located in North Western Himalayan Fold and Thrust Belt. There is no distinct pattern of Hazara Kashmir Syntaxis and surrounding faults i.e. Main Boundary thrust, Main Central Thrust, etc. which marks loop around it. NW-SE trending Himalayan Frontal thrust starts from the core of the Syntaxis while other faults like Kotil thrust, Riasi thrust and Tanda fault runs along NS directed Jehlum Strike Slip Fault. Seismicity is distributed along all the parts of the Syntaxis i.e. in the core and along the outer loop but decreases southward. Major earthquakes like Kangra (1905) and Muzaffarabad Earthquake (2005) caused surface deformation in the area and gave motivation for this study. Streams network has been extracted from DEM; Choice of stream delineation algorithms can influence the stream parameters like contributing area, slope, elevation, downstream distance and Strahler order. This study focuses Kunhar River, Kishanganga Rivers and their tributaries. Both rivers and their tributaries come across many faults in this area at different locations which help us in understanding the tectonic activity in this region. We use stream power law to calculate steepness and concavity indices by making area slop plots. Tectonic and seismicity map also supports that the area is tectonically active showing thrust faulting. The results show high uplift eastern and western flanks of the Syntaxis and also along the loop while in the core it is comparatively less uplifted.