Determination of Crustal Strain Field in Kumaun Himalaya

To understand the present day geodynamics of Kumaun Himalaya, falls in the seismically gap area, a study has been carried out with the help of Global Positioning System (GPS) Geodesy. GPS sites in different lithitectonic units of Kumaun Himalaya were selected and three years of GPS data in campaign mode were generated from each site. The Kumaun Himalaya is showing a range of 10-18 ± 2.3 mm/yr of deformation during the study period and mainly concentrated towards the base of MCT. The crustal strain, evidenced by the presence of microseismic activity of the area, is from Lesser Himalaya to the hanging wall of MCT is showing compressional in nature and changing into extensional towards the Tethys Himalayan segment. The average convergence rate of Kumaun Himalaya during the study period is estimated around 18.66 ± 3.2 mm/yr. Interpretation of results reveal that at present the HFF and MBT are locked with the Indian plate which is evident by only 6.69 mm/yr of horizontal shortening between the IISC and GBPK.