Application of Drainage Basin Morphotectonic Analysis for Assessment of Tectonic Activities over Two Regional Structures of the Northeast India
Authors
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Geoscience Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat - 785 006
Sangeeta Sharma -
Department of Applied Geology, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh - 786 004
Jogendra Nath Sarma
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-017-0599-6Abstract
The analysis of drainage basin morphotectonic indices is applied in assessment of the influence of tectonic activity on thirteen selected drainage basins of the streams having linear courses and flowing over two very prominent regional structures of northeast India, viz. the Belt of Schuppen and the Dauki fault. Such analysis has been made in order to assess the influence of tectonic activity of these structures on the morphology of the drainage basins of those streams. The different morphotectonic indices considered are: Basin elongation ratio, hypsometric integral, steepness index and profile concavity, drainage basin asymmetry, valley floor width to valley height ratio, longitudinal profiles, stream length gradient index and mountain front sinuosity. Results of the analysis of the morphotectonic indices of the drainage basins infer that morphology of both the streams and drainage basins have been influenced by the regional structures and the present tectonic status of these two structures varies from active to slightly active phase. No significant influence of lithology is seen in the distribution pattern of the anomalous knick points along the longitudinal profiles. The study also reveals that presently the state of tectonic activity is not uniform within the same regional structure and the Belt of Schuppen is relatively more active as compared to the Dauki fault.
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