Application of drainage basin morphotectonic analysis for assessment of tectonic activities over two regional structures of the northeast India

The analysis of drainage basin morphotectonic indices is applied in assessment of the influence of tectonic activity on thirteen selected drainage basins of the streams having linear courses and flowing over two very prominent regional structures of northeast India, viz. the Belt of Schuppen and the Dauki fault. Such analysis has been made in order to assess the influence of tectonic activity of these structures on the morphology of the drainage basins of those streams.The different morphotectonic indices considered are: Basin elongation ratio, hypsometric integral, steepness index and profile concavity, drainage basin asymmetry, valley floor width to valley height ratio, longitudinal profiles, stream length gradient index and mountain front sinuosity. Results of the analysis of the morphotectonic indices of the drainage basins infer that morphology of both the streams and drainage basins have been influenced by the regional structures and the present tectonic status of these two structures varies from active to slightly active phase. No significant influence of lithology is seen in the distribution pattern of the anomalous knick points along the longitudinal profiles. The study also reveals that presently the state of tectonic activity is not uniform within the same regional structure and the Belt of Schuppen is relatively more active as compared to the Dauki fault.     

藏南仲巴裂谷带地貌和断裂活动特征研究

仲巴裂谷位于藏南裂谷系的西侧,其断层发育、断错地貌清晰. 但目前,该断裂活动性研究尚属空白,制约了对整个藏南裂谷系变形机制的探索.基于GIS空间分析技术,利用数字高程模型数据系统提取该区的河流地貌参数,包括地形坡度、地形起伏度、河流陡峭指数和裂点等. 对该裂谷两侧36个流域盆地的地形参数结果进行统计和分析后发现:地形坡度与k_sn之间具有一致性,仲巴裂谷西侧北、中段坡度陡峭,k_sn值较高,南段支流中间部分陡峭,两端较缓,对应k_sn值中间高两端低;东侧坡度和k_sn分布呈现中段陡峭,两端变缓的特征. 河流纵剖面上表现出裂点上下陡峭系数的差异,东西两侧河流均在出水口处河段有最高河道陡峭系数,向上游段减小,总体上西侧河道陡峭系数大于东侧. 综合地形坡度、河流纵剖面及裂点分析结果,认为仲巴裂谷西侧断裂的构造活动性可能强于东侧.      

Knickpoints along the upper Indus River,Pakistan: an exploratory survey of geomorphic processes

This article summarizes an exploratory study carried out to investigate the significance of various geomorphic features on the formation of observed knickpoints along the upper Indus River in northern Pakistan. These features include bedrock lithology, active faults, sediment flux from tributary channels, and landslide dams which have blocked the main channel. The knickpoints and their related geomorphic parameters (channel profile, concavity, drainage area and normalized steepness index, etc.) were extracted from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection (ASTER) Global Digital Elevation Models (GDEMs) with 30 m resolution using ArcGIS, River Tools, and Matlab software. A total of 251 major and minor knickpoints were extracted from the longitudinal profile along a ~ 750 km reach upstream of Tarbela Reservoir. The identified knickpoints and their respective normalized steepness index (k_sn values) were compared with bedrock lithology, mapped faults, regional landslide/rockslide inventory, and the locations of historic landslide dams. The analyses revealed that the knickpoints do not correlate with the bedrock lithology except where major unit boundaries coexist with mapped faults, especially in reaches criss-crossed by active thrust faults in the Nanga Parbat Haramosh (NPHM) region. Neither did the river’s major confluences exhibit any notable knickpoints, but the correlations between knickpoints, mapped landslides, and historic rockslide avalanche dams accounted for approximately 75% of the observed knickpoints, a surprising finding. These observations suggest that more detailed studies aided by high resolution data should be undertaken to further explore the characteristics of knickpoints triggered by tectonic uplift, local fault offset, bedrock erodibility, and landslide/rockslide dams.     

Recurrent events on a Quaternary fault recorded in the mineralogy and micromorphology of a weathering profile, Yangsan Fault System, Korea

Recurrence characteristics of a Quaternary fault are generally investigated on the basis of field properties that are rapidly degraded by chemical weathering and erosion in warm humid climates. Here we show that in intense weathering environments, mineralogical and micromorphological investigations are valuable in paleoseismological reconstruction. A weathering profile developed in Late Quaternary marine terrace deposits along the southeastern coast of the Korean Peninsula was disturbed by tectonic movement that appears to be a simple one-time reverse faulting event based on field observations. A comparative analysis of the mineralogy, micromorphology, and chemistry of the weathering profile and fault gouge, however, reveals that both the microfissures in the deformed weathering profile and larger void spaces along the fault plane were filled with multi-stage accumulations of illuvial clay and silt minerals of detrital origin, suggesting a repetition of fissuring and subsequent sealing in the weathering profile as it underwent continuous mineralogical transformation and particle translocation. We reconstruct a sequence of multiple faulting events unrecognized in previous field surveys, which requires revision of the view that the Korean Peninsula was tectonically stable, during the Late Quaternary.     

Characteristics of the stream network composition of drainage basins in the Japanese Islands

This research is to analyze the composition of stream networks of drainage basins in Japan and to discuss the characteristics of drainage basins in the Japanese Islands. Study areas were selected for 180 drainage basins in the entire country. In this study, a topographic map with a scale of 1:50,000 was used and inserted into the valley line by V-shaped-contour methods in each drainage basin. The streams are ordered according to Strahler's system and measured by the stream number, stream length, stream slope, drainage area, and stream fall in each drainage basin. Horton's law of drainage network composition holds good in most drainage basins in Japan. The average values of the bifurcation ratio, stream length ratio, stream slope ratio, drainage area ratio, and stream fall ratio are 4.24, 1.91, 1.98, 4.52, and 1.04, respectively. The mean bifurcation ratio of drainage basins in Japan is 4.24, and this ratio is slightly greater than in other countries. It is also greater than the theoretical value of 4.0. This implies that the slope of drainage basins in Japan is so steep and the relief energy so large that excess streams have developed to a rather marked degree. The average stream fall ratio is 1.04 for drainage basins in Japan. It suggests that drainage basins are generally considered to be in a stage of maturity in stream channel development for the Japanese Islands. The stream fall ratio, however, is slightly greater than 1.0. Although, the stream beds are nearly in dynamic equilibrium in most cases, it tends to be in a slightly aggrading state.     

吉林—延吉—朝鲜咸北地区晚古生代沉积特征及其构造演化意义

中国吉林东部与朝鲜半岛北部地区对比研究,无疑对揭示朝鲜半岛的地质属性、中朝板块北缘东延及演化有着重要的贡献。针对中国吉林东部延边地区和朝鲜咸北地区的晚古生代地层进行化石组合、沉积特征、基底性质以及岩浆序列等方面的对比研究认为:朝鲜二叠纪鸡笼山腕足动物群与中国北方二叠纪哲斯腕足动物群有明显差异,与吉林地区范家屯组,尤其是延边地区庙岭组有较强的可对比性;中国吉林—延吉褶皱带和朝鲜咸北地块均以元古宇为基底,没有太古宙岩石出露;在晚古生代期间,中国吉林东部—延边地区和朝鲜咸北地区沉积环境、岩浆活动相似;朝鲜咸北地块和狼林地块的边界断裂——输城川断裂带应与华北地块和吉黑造山带之间缝合线的东端—古洞河断裂相连接,吉黑造山带东部地块和朝鲜咸北地块在晚古生代时期应处于同一个大地构造单元。     

思茅盆地河流地貌特征及其对构造活动的响应

河流地貌对构造活动具有极高的相关性、敏感性,是研究新构造活动最切实有效的地摘貌标要志之一。本文以30 m分辨率数字高程模型（DEM）为基础,利用ArcMap与Matlab软件提取的河流地貌因子（Horton定律比值和S-A双对数曲线）,先后分析了思茅盆地内部的李仙江、藤条江、勐戛河、威远江、南班河和南腊河等的河流地貌特征,揭示新生代晚期强烈构造活动对河流发育的影响。结果表明：1）思茅盆地的河流多沿或平行于走滑断裂发育,低级别河网较好的符合Horton定律中一般河网的发育规律,而沿活动断裂带发育的高级别河网则表现出了明显的偏差;2）各集水盆地 S-A双对数曲线均呈凹凸相间排列;3）各集水盆地河道的裂点分布特征与岩性变化不一致,这表明思茅盆地内部高级别河网的发育受岩性变化的影响较小,而主要受走滑断裂活动的影响。     

川西岷江松潘段第四纪与新构造运动特征分析

在已有调查研究的基础上,通过野外地质调查和剖面测量,重点分析了岷江松潘段的漳腊盆地、斗鸡台盆地地貌特征、第四纪沉积物类型、物质成分、空间分布等特征,并系统测量和研究了松潘段岷江干流及其支流的河流阶地特征。研究表明,新构造运动控制了松潘段第四纪盆地的形态和地貌演化过程,漳腊盆地和斗鸡台盆地形成于中新世末至上新世初,西侧控盆断裂为东倾正断层,东侧为西倾逆断层,盆地为断块发生西降东升的翘板式断块运动过程中形成的,称之为"翘板式箕状盆地"。松潘段岷江河谷地貌呈现出宽谷和窄谷交替出现的特点,岷江干流及其支流中发育多处湖相地层,沉积特征表现为堰塞湖。岷江上游松潘段最多发育6级阶地,以侵蚀阶地和堆积阶地为主,主要形成于中更新世晚期—全新世时期。阶地级数具有分段性特点,不同区段阶地阶面宽窄不一,受区内新构造活动控制明显。岷江上游新构造运动表现为南北条带性和东西向差异掀斜抬升的特点,红桥关以上整体为构造隆升区,至少具有3次构造隆升,岷江上游斗鸡台盆地构造隆升强度整体上大于漳腊盆地。在尕米寺地区可能发生了6次构造抬升,红桥关一带构造抬升明显要强于漳腊盆地。     

Statistical evaluation of stream sediment geochemistry in interpreting the river catchment of high-grade metamorphic terrains

Stream sediment geochemistry is extensively used in mineral exploration and environmental studies. However, quantitative assessments of the effectiveness of stream sediment geochemistry for describing upstream lithologies are rare, especially in high-grade metamorphic terrains. This study statistically evaluates whether stream sediment geochemistry can aid in recognizing variations in upstream geology in several high-grade metamorphic lithotectonic units having different metamorphic and tectonic histories, including the Highland Complex, Vijayan Complex, Wanni Complex, and Kadugannawa Complex of Sri Lanka. For this study, concentrations of 21 elements were measured in 2080 stream sediment samples collected from the Walawe River, Maha Oya, Gala Oya basins located on above lithotectonic units and Uma Oya, Belihul Oya, Badulu Oya basins situated adjacent to each other on the Highland Complex. These rivers flow across dry, intermediate and wet zones of Sri Lanka, with river courses having both slope (> 20°) and flat (< 20°) areas. Elemental concentrations, averaged over each river basin, show patterns of enrichment and depletion which may relate to localized mineralization conditions, local lithological changes, anthropogenic activities and environmental factors such as local variations in climate and morphology among river basins. Comparison of element concentrations in sediments from the four different lithotectonic units shows that enrichment – depletion patterns can be partly related to rock geochemistry of the associated lithotectonic unit. However, climate and basin morphology also seem to play an important role. Results of Kruskal–Wallis H tests show that both major and trace element levels in sediments from the four different lithotectonic units, as well as from adjacent Uma Oya, Badulu Oya and Belihul Oya basins, are significantly different. Discriminant function analysis appropriately classifies sediments into the four different lithotectonic units with an accuracy of 91.9%. This method also classifies sediments into river basins which share common lithology being situated adjacent to each other in the same lithotectonic unit with an accuracy of 89.5%. This strongly suggests that stream sediment geochemistry is capable of describing the upstream regional scale as well as local scale lithological changes at a great accuracy in complex high-grade metamorphic terrains. In both cases use of channel slope and basin climatic zone as additional variables does not significantly increase overall or individual accuracy in classification.     

Late-Cenozoic pull-apart basins, Boconó fault zone, Venezuelan Andes

Several areas along the Boconó fault zone are characterized by elongate, almond-shaped basins containing thick alluvial sequences, mainly of Quaternary age, and bounded by faults with normal Quaternary displacements. These areas are separated by segments characterized by narrow fault traces and right-lateral displacements. The fault-bounded basins are interpreted as pull-apart basins that originated at releasing bends along the fault zone. The size of the La González pull-apart basin suggests that Pliocene (?)-Quaternary right-lateral slip on the Boconó fault zone was of the order of 7–9 km.     

Paleohydraulic interpretation of Quaternary alluvium near Golden,Colorado

Quaternary terraces and pediments along Ralston Creek and Clear Creek, near Golden, Colorado, are associated with Verdos, Slocum, Louviers, and Broadway Alluviums. Terrace deposits can be locally correlated on the basis of elevation and relict paleosols. The terrace sediments probably represent aggradation by braided streams flowing from glaciated drainage basins. Engineering hydraulic calculation procedures suggest that flood flows were 2–3 m deep on steep gradients (0.008–0.01). Discharges were as great as 1400 m³/sec, nearly an order of magnitude greater than modern flood discharges. The most useful paleohydraulic calculation techniques were found to be the dimensionless shear approach applied to stream competence and bedload function theory applied to stream capacity.     

雅砻江流域河道高程剖面上的堰塞坝印记

堰塞坝会对山区河流的纵剖面产生强烈扰动,在某些情况下,堰塞坝造成的河流纵剖面变陡很容易与构造作用下基准面下降的迁移裂点混淆。然而,在何种程度下堰塞坝会影响基于地貌测量的构造分析还没有系统的研究。因此本文选取青藏高原东缘的雅砻江流域为研究对象,利用遥感影像解译,结合数字高程模型(DEM),来研究堰塞坝对河流纵剖面的影响。通过遥感影像解译和部分野外判识,在雅砻江流域共发现了34个堰塞坝;同时利用TopoToolbox工具包,选用30 m SRTM DEM提取了雅砻江流域河流纵剖面、河流裂点、河流陡峭指数等地貌参数。分析结果表明,有18个堰塞坝与河流裂点在空间上重叠,其中有8个堰塞坝形成高差>100 m的裂点,对河流纵剖面有显著的影响,并发现滑坡坝比泥石流坝对河流纵剖面的影响更大。进一步分析雅砻江主干流及其支流力丘河,发现堰塞坝所在的河段河流陡峭指数相对较大;在排除岩性和断层活动的影响后,发现堰塞作用也能够解释河流裂点的成因。本研究结果指示,在利用DEMs来提取和分析区域构造信息时,必须考虑由堰塞坝引起的河流裂点的影响。     

Active strike-slip faulting history inferred from offsets of topographic features and basement rocks: a case study of the Arima–Takatsuki Tectonic Line,southwest Japan

Geological, geomorphological and geophysical data have been used to determine the total displacement, slip rates and age of formation of the Arima–Takatsuki Tectonic Line (ATTL) in southwest Japan. The ATTL is an ENE–WSW-trending dextral strike-slip fault zone that extends for about 60 km from northwest of the Rokko Mountains to southwest of the Kyoto Basin. The ATTL marks a distinct topographic boundary between mountainous regions and basin regions. Tectonic landforms typically associated with active strike-slip faults, such as systematically-deflected stream channels, offset ridges and fault scarps, are recognized along the ATTL. The Quaternary drainage system shows progressive displacement along the fault traces: the greater the magnitude of stream channel, the larger the amount of offset. The maximum dextral deflection of stream channels is 600–700 m. The field data and detailed topographic analyses, however, show that pre-Neogene basement rocks on both sides of the ATTL are displaced by about 16–18 km dextrally and pre-Mio–Pliocene elevated peneplains are also offset 16–17 km in dextral along the ATTL. This suggests that the ATTL formed in the period between the development of the pre-Mio–Pliocene peneplains and deflection of the Quaternary stream channels.The geological, geomorphological and geophysical evidence presented in this study indicates that (1) the ATTL formed after the mid-Miocene, (2) the ATTL has moved as a dextral strike-slip fault with minor vertical component since its formation to late Holocene and (3) the ATTL is presently active with dextral slip rates of 1–3 mm/year and a vertical component of >0.3 mm/year. The formation of the ATTL was probably related to the opening of the Japan Sea, which is the dominant tectonic event around Japan since mid-Miocene. The case study of the ATTL provides insight into understanding the tectonic history and relationship between tectonic landforms and structures in active strike-slip faults.     

Morphologic expression of Quaternary deformation in the northwestern foothills of the Ysyk-Köl basin,Tien Shan

The Tien Shan is one of the most active intracontinental mountain belts exhibiting numerous examples of Quaternary fault-related folding. To provide insight into the deformation of the Quaternary intermontane basins, the territory of the northwestern Ysyk-Köl region, where the growing Ak-Teke Anticline divided the piedmont apron of alluvial fans, is studied. It is shown that the Ak-Teke Hills are a sharply asymmetric anticline, which formed as a result of tectonic uplift and erosion related to motions along the South Ak-Teke Thrust Fault. The tectonic uplift gave rise to the local deviation of the drainage network in front of the northern limb of the fold. Optical (luminescent) dating suggests that the tectonic uplifting of the young anticline and the antecedent downcutting started 157 ka ago. The last upthrow of the high floodplain of the Toru-Aygyr River took place 1300 years ago. The structure of the South Ak-Teke Fault is examined by means of seismologic trenching and shallow seismic profiling across the fault. A laser tachymeter is applied to determine the vertical deformation of alluvial terraces in the Toru-Aygyr River valley at its intersection with the South Ak-Teke Fault. The rates of vertical deformation and an inferred number of strong earthquakes, which resulted in the upthrow of Quaternary river terraces of different ages, are calculated. The study territory is an example of changes in fluvial systems on growing folds in piedmont regions. As a result of shortening of the Earth’s crust in the mountainous belt owing to thrusting, new territories of previous sedimentation are involved in emergence. The tectonic activity migrates with time from the framing ridges toward the axial parts of intramontane basins.     

西北干旱区水资源与第四纪盆地系统

西北干旱区第四纪盆地主要是在中、新生代盆地基础上发展而成，一般可分为前山带山间断拗盆地和山前断拗盆地两大类，前者规模较小，后者规模较大，居主导地位。盆地构造形式大部分为单斜式不对称盆地，又可划分为单列型单斜式盆地和多列型单斜式盆地，包括部分地下隐伏盆地，形成盆地系统。盆地构造主要受区域深大断裂和新构造作用控制，具有明显的方向性和规律性。每条河流一般要流经２～３个盆地，形成由盆地系统构成的一个统一的水文系统。全流域的水循环系统和水资源系统，均受盆地系统的制约。因此，研究干旱区第四纪盆地系统，对合理开发利用水资源具有重要意义。     

Tectonic geomorphology of the easternmost extension of the Gulf of Corinth (Beotia, Central Greece)

The easternmost sector of the Gulf of Corinth, the Beotia area in Central Greece, is an area with active normal faults located between the two major rift structures of Central Greece, the Gulf of Corinth and the North Gulf of Evia. These active normal faults include WNW to E–W and NE to ENE-trending faults affect the landscape and generate basin and range topography within the Beotia. We study four normal fault zones and drainage basin geometry in the easternmost sector of the Gulf of Corinth to document the impact of active tectonics on the landscape evolution. Fault and drainage geometry are investigated based on detailed field mapping and high-resolution digital elevation models. Tectonic geomorphic analysis using several parameters of active tectonics provides information concerning the relative tectonic activity and fault growth. In order to detect areas of lateral stream migration that could indicate recent tectonic activity, the Transverse Topographic Symmetry Factor and the Asymmetry Factor are used to analyse drainage basin geometry in six large drainage basins and a drainage domain covering the study area. Our results show that vertical motions and tilting associated with normal faulting influence the drainage geometry and its development. Values of stream-gradient indices (S_L) are relatively high close to the fault traces of the studied fault zones suggesting high activity. Mountain-front sinuosity (S_mf) mean values along the fault zones ranges from 1.08 to 1.26. Valley floor width to valley height ratios (V_f) mean values along the studied fault zones range between 0.5 and 1.6. Drainage basin shape (B_S) mean values along the fault zones range from 1.08 to 3.54. All these geomorphic parameters and geomorphological data suggest that the analyzed normal faults are highly active. Lateral fault growth was likely produced by primarily eastward propagation, with the WNW to E–W trending faults being the relatively more active structures.     

西秦岭嘉陵江上游瞬时地貌发育特征

西秦岭位于青藏高原东北缘,是青藏高原晚新生代构造扩展的前缘部位。西秦岭地区发育的一系列河流水系作为高原物质向外扩展的载体,记录了高原扩展过程中的地貌演化信息。本文选取西秦岭嘉陵江上游的支流作为研究对象,以河流纵剖面的形态和陡峭指数的空间分布为基础数据,初步分析了嘉陵江上游的地貌特征及其影响因素。结果表明,嘉陵江上游地貌演化处于瞬时状态,裂点以上的低陡峭指数区域代表了残余地貌,裂点以下高陡峭指数区域是裂点响应基准面下降后形成的新地貌。通过对比区域岩性和降水条件发现,岩性和降水对河流裂点发育以及陡峭指数的影响是有限的,河流裂点的发育和陡峭指数的变化主要受控于区域构造抬升引起的基准面下降。陡峭指数的空间分布特征表明构造作用对地貌发育起了重要的塑造作用。西秦岭瞬时地貌的发育是对印度板块与欧亚板块碰撞汇聚以来的远程效应的响应。     

基于ZY3 DEM和SRTM DEM的北京平原区地貌特征探析

研究区主要包括北京东部的通州、平谷、顺义、燕郊、大厂和三河,位于华北沉降带北部、阴山东西向构造带南缘。该区地势总体上西北略高,东南略低,为大型缓倾斜平原,地形不仅受本区内北东向断裂的影响,还受北西向断裂的影响。资源三号卫星立体影像(ZY3)DEM和NASA航天飞机雷达地形任务(SRTM)DEM在北京地区地貌特征研究中显示出了许多优于其他DEM的优势。文章利用包括水系偏转、河长坡降指标(SL)、面积-高程积分值(HI)、等值线分级色彩显示和地形粗糙度等几种地形参数,分析了地形特征与断层构造活动性的关系。水系的右旋偏转证实了该区北东向断裂的右旋走滑活动,如夏垫断裂和其他相邻断裂。SL指数表明,河床纵剖面在横跨断层处均是陡坡;HI的高值主要集中在南口-孙河断裂与该区其他北东向断裂的交汇处,夏垫断裂的中段,以及香河县西北部,反映了该区强烈的构造活动,同时也反映出可能存在隐伏断层。另外,研究表明,面积、高程积分值的高值区与低值区相邻衔接处,往往是地震危险性较大的地方。此外,平原区相同值域的面积-高程积分所反映的构造活动强度应该与山区不同,因此地貌演化阶段划分标准也应与山区有所不同。等值线分级色彩显示对地形变化非常敏感,当与已识别的断层重叠时,大部分地形突变的地方都与断层活动有关。地形粗糙度分析显示不同断裂带的地形粗糙度与断裂活动强度呈正相关关系。     

Quaternary tectonics in a passive margin: Marajó Island,northern Brazil

Marajó Island is located in a passive continental margin that evolved from rifting associated with the opening of the Equatorial South Atlantic Ocean in the Late Jurassic/Early Cretaceous period. This study, based on remote sensing integrated with sedimentology, as well as subsurface and seismographic data available from the literature, allows discussion of the significance of tectonics during the Quaternary history of marginal basins. Results show that eastern Marajó Island contains channels with evidence of tectonic control. Mapping of straight channels defined four main groups of lineaments (i.e. NNE–SSW, NE–SW, NW–SE and E–W) that parallel main normal and strike‐slip fault zones recorded for the Amazon region. Additionally, sedimentological studies of late Quaternary and Holocene deposits indicate numerous ductile and brittle structures within stratigraphic horizons bounded by undeformed strata, related to seismogenic deformation during or shortly after sediment deposition. This conclusion is consistent with subsurface Bouguer mapping suggestive of eastern Marajó Island being still part of the Marajó graben system, where important fault reactivation is recorded up to the Quaternary. Together with the recognition of several phases of fault reactivation, these data suggest that faults developed in association with rift basins might remain active in passive margins, imposing important control on development of depositional systems. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.