Gravity anomaly, lithospheric structure and seismicity of Western Himalayan Syntaxis |
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| Authors: | V M Tiwari R P Rajasekhar D C Mishra |
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| Institution: | (1) National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, 500 007, India |
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| Abstract: | A compiled gravity anomaly map of the Western Himalayan Syntaxis is analysed to understand the tectonics of the region around
the epicentre of Kashmir earthquake of October 8, 2005 (Mw = 7.6). Isostatic gravity anomalies and effective elastic thickness
(EET) of lithosphere are assessed from coherence analysis between Bouguer anomaly and topography. The isostatic residual gravity
high and gravity low correspond to the two main seismic zones in this region, viz. Indus–Kohistan Seismic Zone (IKSZ) and
Hindu Kush Seismic Zones (HKSZ), respectively, suggesting a connection between siesmicity and gravity anomalies. The gravity
high originates from the high-density thrusted rocks along the syntaxial bend of the Main Boundary Thrust and coincides with
the region of the crustal thrust earthquakes, including the Kashmir earthquake of 2005. The gravity low of HKSZ coincides
with the region of intermediate–deep-focus earthquakes, where crustal rocks are underthrusting with a higher speed to create
low density cold mantle. Comparable EET (∼55 km) to the focal depth of crustal earthquakes suggests that whole crust is seismogenic
and brittle. An integrated lithospheric model along a profile provides the crustal structure of the boundary zones with crustal
thickness of about 60 km under the Karakoram–Pamir regions and suggests continental subduction from either sides (Indian and
Eurasian) leading to a complex compressional environment for large earthquakes. |
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| Keywords: | Syntaxis Effective elastic thickness Gravity anomalies Indus– Kohistan and Hindu Kush Seismic Zones |
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