Tectonic constraints on watershed development on frontal ridges: Mohand Ridge, NW Himalaya, India

Abstract

Uplifting frontal ridges are one of the most conspicuous geomorphic features that mark the frontal parts of actively converging mountain belts. Growth of these ridges can lead to the simultaneous development of a drainage system that is defined by watersheds, stream network and long profiles of channels. In the present study, shape parameters of watersheds, stream network characteristics and pattern of network growth, shape of long profiles, and the SL index have been investigated in a part of NW Himalaya to understand the relationship between endogenic tectonic processes and exogenic fluvial processes. This explains the tectonic control on drainage systems in the uplifting frontal ridge. This watershed analysis was carried out using a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and a number of anomalies have been identified and analysed. The most striking is the asymmetric development of watersheds on either side of an almost straight ridge crest. Watershed asymmetry along the ridge crest is characterized by larger area and less elongated watersheds in the southern flank (forelimb) in comparison to the northern flank (backlimb). Drainage network and long profile analysis establishes that the larger watershed area in the forelimb is due to dominance of headward erosion and its impact on drainage network growth. Dominance of headward erosion is due to slope variation in response to forelimb development along a fault-related fold. Even through, headward erosion has shifted the ridge crest; it is parallel with the trace of the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT). The parallel ridge crest with reference to the HFT is indicative of the tectonic control of the HFT on the development of the watersheds. Hence, a well developed linkage between tectonic processes (fold development) and surface processes (headward erosion) is responsible for variation in watershed and drainage network pattern across the ridge crest. The study also investigates the role of planform ridge curvature on watershed development. The effect is more pronounced on an asymmetric ridge, such as the Mohand ridge, than on a symmetric ridge.