Physics
Scientific paper
Oct 1986
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1986pepi...44...99f&link_type=abstract
Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Volume 44, Issue 2, p. 99-106.
Physics
Scientific paper
Sri Lanka has been considered an aseismic region. After 2.5 years of continuous microearthquake recording in the Kotmale area, earthquakes with a magnitude <= 2.25 have been recorded clearly indicating a measurable seismic risk. The data come from an array established in February 1982, surrounding the proposed Kotmale Reservoir in a geologically adverse area, where nine major lineaments have been identified. These major lineaments are either 70-90° dipping normal faults with a fraction of a metre displacement, fracture zones with little or no displacements or master joints with no or unknown displacements. Forty-eight microearthquakes have been recorded from various parts of the country from February 1983 to August 1984 with magnitude varying from 0.2 to 2.25 on the Richter scale. These results are an outcome of the Kotmale Microseismic Network where a 87 m high rock-filled dam has been constructed across the Kotmale Valley. Reservoir gross storage is 174-106 m3 when the water level reaches 84.5 m from the valley bottom. This network is part of the Kotmale Hydro Power Project which comes under the Accelerated Mahaweli Programme. So far no microearthquakes have been recorded from the nine major lineaments at Kotmale and therefore no correlation can be made between said lineaments and seismicity. Microearthquake epicentres appear to be closely associated with major lineaments and escarpments of the central highlands of Sri Lanka. The north-south trending Mahaweli lineament and Haputale escarpment at Haputale are two examples where earthquakes with a magnitude <= 1.7 on the Richter scale have been located. This study supports an idea of the slow movement of the central highlands as suggested by several authors in the past from geomorphological evidence.
Fernando M. J.
Kulasinghe N. S. A.
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