Modelling the spatial distribution of present-day deformation in Nepal: how cylindrical is the Main Himalayan Thrust in Nepal?

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

5

Scientific paper

The structure of the Himalayas in Nepal is characterized by underthrusting of the Indian lithosphere beneath the chain along the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT). The MHT is affected by major earthquakes of M > 8 that have ruptured segments several hundred kilometres in length. The study of historical seismicity underlines the existence of a significant seismic gap between the 1905 Kangra and the 1934 Bihar-Nepal earthquake areas in Western Nepal. This contribution presents a numerical model of the interseismic deformation using the ADELI 2-D finite-element code. A parametric study has been performed to estimate the influence of the topography, the geometry of the flat-ramp-flat transition of the MHT and its rheology. The results of these runs are compared along three cross-sections of Eastern, Central and Western Nepal using various recordings of the active deformation of Nepal (neotectonics, microseismicity, GPS velocities, vertical displacement rates deduced from comparative levellings). The results of this study suggest: (1) a small amount of aseismic slip along the southern part of the MHT and (2) an abrupt change in geometry of the MHT between Central and Western Nepal. The stress build-up in Eastern and Central Nepal is produced by coupling of a bend (flat-ramp transition) of the MHT and a brittle-ductile transition at the foot of the ramp. In Western Nepal, on the other hand, stress build-up is only induced by a brittle-ductile transition located along the low-angle part of the MHT. This difference suggests the presence of a lateral ramp on the MHT to allow transition between the Central and Western Nepal geometries of the MHT. This change in MHT geometries between Central and Western Nepal is also clearly marked in the Himalayan relief: an abrupt decrease in altitude and incision between Central and Western Nepal.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Modelling the spatial distribution of present-day deformation in Nepal: how cylindrical is the Main Himalayan Thrust in Nepal? does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Modelling the spatial distribution of present-day deformation in Nepal: how cylindrical is the Main Himalayan Thrust in Nepal?, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modelling the spatial distribution of present-day deformation in Nepal: how cylindrical is the Main Himalayan Thrust in Nepal? will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1550596

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.