Surficial geomorphic expressions along the Zanskar shear zone (ZSZ), NW Himalaya, India

There is substantial evidence of the dynamic interplay between surficial geomorphic processes and active tectonics in the Zanskar Shear Zone (ZSZ), northwest Himalaya, India. The ZSZ is a result of tectonic conversion with a SW–NE orientation that began in the Late Cretaceous and became stronger in...

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Main Authors: Omar Jaan Paul, Khalid Omar Murtaza, Malik Zubair Ahmad, Irfan Maqbool Bhat, Feroz Ahmad, Jehangeer Ahmad Mir, Waseem Qader, Suhail Hussain Sheikh, Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Reyaz Ahmad Dar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Quaternary Science Advances
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666033424000960
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author Omar Jaan Paul
Khalid Omar Murtaza
Malik Zubair Ahmad
Irfan Maqbool Bhat
Feroz Ahmad
Jehangeer Ahmad Mir
Waseem Qader
Suhail Hussain Sheikh
Shakil Ahmad Romshoo
Reyaz Ahmad Dar
author_facet Omar Jaan Paul
Khalid Omar Murtaza
Malik Zubair Ahmad
Irfan Maqbool Bhat
Feroz Ahmad
Jehangeer Ahmad Mir
Waseem Qader
Suhail Hussain Sheikh
Shakil Ahmad Romshoo
Reyaz Ahmad Dar
author_sort Omar Jaan Paul
collection DOAJ
description There is substantial evidence of the dynamic interplay between surficial geomorphic processes and active tectonics in the Zanskar Shear Zone (ZSZ), northwest Himalaya, India. The ZSZ is a result of tectonic conversion with a SW–NE orientation that began in the Late Cretaceous and became stronger in the Early Miocene as a result of the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. Earlier studies have addressed its tectonic activity and metamorphic activation. However, the contribution of active tectonics to the geomorphic evolution of the region is less understood. Using the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) and Google Earth Imagery, various geomorphic features viz., alluvial fans, triangular facets, wineglass valleys, mountain fronts, knickpoints, and river terraces were identified and delineated. The study area was divided into three river sections viz., Suru, Doda, and Tsarap, running along or occasionally cutting across the strike of the ZSZ. The longitudinal river profiles suggest a relatively higher degree of tectonic activity along the Doda River, followed by the Tsarap and Suru Rivers. This spatial variation in the tectonic activity is also evident from the mountain front sinuosity index, wineglass valley index, triangular facets, and the morphometry of alluvial fans. Both the geomorphic features and morphometric parameters provide evidence of relative variation in the ZSZ activity along the Suru, Doda, and Tsarap River sections. Therefore, the present geomorphic evaluation suggests that the surficial (Quaternary) geomorphology documents the tectonic activity and its spatial variations along the ZSZ.
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spelling doaj-art-310b2bfb59204c97a26a31fee4a3eacb2025-08-20T02:57:33ZengElsevierQuaternary Science Advances2666-03342025-01-011710025810.1016/j.qsa.2024.100258Surficial geomorphic expressions along the Zanskar shear zone (ZSZ), NW Himalaya, IndiaOmar Jaan Paul0Khalid Omar Murtaza1Malik Zubair Ahmad2Irfan Maqbool Bhat3Feroz Ahmad4Jehangeer Ahmad Mir5Waseem Qader6Suhail Hussain Sheikh7Shakil Ahmad Romshoo8Reyaz Ahmad Dar9Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India; Centre of excellence for glacier studies in the Western Himalaya, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, IndiaDepartment of Geoinformatics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India; Centre of excellence for glacier studies in the Western Himalaya, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, IndiaDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, IndiaCentre for Disaster Risk Reduction, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, 192122, Kashmir, IndiaDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, IndiaDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, IndiaCentre for Disaster Risk Reduction, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, 192122, Kashmir, IndiaDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, IndiaDepartment of Geoinformatics, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India; Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, 192122, Kashmir, India; Centre of excellence for glacier studies in the Western Himalaya, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, IndiaDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India; Centre of excellence for glacier studies in the Western Himalaya, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India; Corresponding author.There is substantial evidence of the dynamic interplay between surficial geomorphic processes and active tectonics in the Zanskar Shear Zone (ZSZ), northwest Himalaya, India. The ZSZ is a result of tectonic conversion with a SW–NE orientation that began in the Late Cretaceous and became stronger in the Early Miocene as a result of the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. Earlier studies have addressed its tectonic activity and metamorphic activation. However, the contribution of active tectonics to the geomorphic evolution of the region is less understood. Using the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) and Google Earth Imagery, various geomorphic features viz., alluvial fans, triangular facets, wineglass valleys, mountain fronts, knickpoints, and river terraces were identified and delineated. The study area was divided into three river sections viz., Suru, Doda, and Tsarap, running along or occasionally cutting across the strike of the ZSZ. The longitudinal river profiles suggest a relatively higher degree of tectonic activity along the Doda River, followed by the Tsarap and Suru Rivers. This spatial variation in the tectonic activity is also evident from the mountain front sinuosity index, wineglass valley index, triangular facets, and the morphometry of alluvial fans. Both the geomorphic features and morphometric parameters provide evidence of relative variation in the ZSZ activity along the Suru, Doda, and Tsarap River sections. Therefore, the present geomorphic evaluation suggests that the surficial (Quaternary) geomorphology documents the tectonic activity and its spatial variations along the ZSZ.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666033424000960Zanskar shear zoneAlluvial fansWineglass valleysDigital elevation modelGoogle earth
spellingShingle Omar Jaan Paul
Khalid Omar Murtaza
Malik Zubair Ahmad
Irfan Maqbool Bhat
Feroz Ahmad
Jehangeer Ahmad Mir
Waseem Qader
Suhail Hussain Sheikh
Shakil Ahmad Romshoo
Reyaz Ahmad Dar
Surficial geomorphic expressions along the Zanskar shear zone (ZSZ), NW Himalaya, India
Quaternary Science Advances
Zanskar shear zone
Alluvial fans
Wineglass valleys
Digital elevation model
Google earth
title Surficial geomorphic expressions along the Zanskar shear zone (ZSZ), NW Himalaya, India
title_full Surficial geomorphic expressions along the Zanskar shear zone (ZSZ), NW Himalaya, India
title_fullStr Surficial geomorphic expressions along the Zanskar shear zone (ZSZ), NW Himalaya, India
title_full_unstemmed Surficial geomorphic expressions along the Zanskar shear zone (ZSZ), NW Himalaya, India
title_short Surficial geomorphic expressions along the Zanskar shear zone (ZSZ), NW Himalaya, India
title_sort surficial geomorphic expressions along the zanskar shear zone zsz nw himalaya india
topic Zanskar shear zone
Alluvial fans
Wineglass valleys
Digital elevation model
Google earth
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666033424000960
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