Landscapes in tectonically active Hindu Kush (NW Pakistan and NE Alghanistanl result from a complex integration of the effects of vertical and horizontal crustal block motions as well as erosion and deposition proces...Landscapes in tectonically active Hindu Kush (NW Pakistan and NE Alghanistanl result from a complex integration of the effects of vertical and horizontal crustal block motions as well as erosion and deposition processes. Active tectonics in this region have greatly influenced the drainage system and geomorphic expressions. The study area is a junction of three important mt^unlain ranges (Hindu Kush-Karakorunl-Himalayas) and is thus an ideal natural laboratory to investigate the relative tectonic activity resulting from the India-Eurasia collision. We evaluate active tectonics using DEM derived drainage network and geomorphic indices hypsometric integral (Hl). stream-length gradient (SL), fractal dimension (FD), basin asymmetry factor (AF), basin shape index (B,), valley floor width to wllley height ratio (Vf) and motmtain front sinuosity (Star). The results obtained from these indices were combined to yield an index of relative active tectonics (IRAT) using GIS. The average of the seven measured geomorphic indices was used to ewfluate the distri- bution of relative tectonic activity in the study area. We defined tour classes to define the degree of rela- tive tectonic activity: class 1 very high (1.0 ≤ IRAT 〈 1.3); class 2 high (1.3 ≥ IRAT 〈 1.5): class 3--moderate (1.5 〉 IRAT 〈 1.8); and class 4--low (1.8 〉 IRAT). In view of the results, we conclude that this combined approach allows the identification of the highly deformed areas related to active tectonics. Landsat imagery and field observations also evidence the presence of active tectonics based on the deflected streams, deformed landforms, active mountain fronts and triangular facets. The indicative values of IRAT are consistent with the areas of known relative uplift rates, landforms and geology.展开更多
基金Financial support to Syed Amer Mahmood from University of the Punjab,Lahore Government of Pakistan Remote Sensing GroupTU Freiberg,Germanypartial support from German Academic Exchange Association(DAAD)International Association of Mathematical Geosciences(IAMG)
文摘Landscapes in tectonically active Hindu Kush (NW Pakistan and NE Alghanistanl result from a complex integration of the effects of vertical and horizontal crustal block motions as well as erosion and deposition processes. Active tectonics in this region have greatly influenced the drainage system and geomorphic expressions. The study area is a junction of three important mt^unlain ranges (Hindu Kush-Karakorunl-Himalayas) and is thus an ideal natural laboratory to investigate the relative tectonic activity resulting from the India-Eurasia collision. We evaluate active tectonics using DEM derived drainage network and geomorphic indices hypsometric integral (Hl). stream-length gradient (SL), fractal dimension (FD), basin asymmetry factor (AF), basin shape index (B,), valley floor width to wllley height ratio (Vf) and motmtain front sinuosity (Star). The results obtained from these indices were combined to yield an index of relative active tectonics (IRAT) using GIS. The average of the seven measured geomorphic indices was used to ewfluate the distri- bution of relative tectonic activity in the study area. We defined tour classes to define the degree of rela- tive tectonic activity: class 1 very high (1.0 ≤ IRAT 〈 1.3); class 2 high (1.3 ≥ IRAT 〈 1.5): class 3--moderate (1.5 〉 IRAT 〈 1.8); and class 4--low (1.8 〉 IRAT). In view of the results, we conclude that this combined approach allows the identification of the highly deformed areas related to active tectonics. Landsat imagery and field observations also evidence the presence of active tectonics based on the deflected streams, deformed landforms, active mountain fronts and triangular facets. The indicative values of IRAT are consistent with the areas of known relative uplift rates, landforms and geology.