Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: DTE
Context: A recent study conducted by researchers in Haryana, India, has identified an expanding area of active tectonic deformation in the northern plains of Haryana, south of the Himalayas.
What is tectonic deformation?
Tectonic deformation refers to the changes in the Earth’s crust caused by the movement and interaction of tectonic plates. It includes processes such as folding, faulting, and uplift, which shape the Earth’s surface and give rise to features like mountains, valleys, and earthquakes.
Findings:
- The study focused on the Piedmont zone (transition area between the mountains and the adjacent plains) between the Ghaggar and Yamuna river basins and found clear evidence of ongoing tectonic activity.
- This active deformation has the potential to turn the Piedmont zone into a future seismic hazard area.
- The research also suggests that this tectonic activity may have played a role in the extinction of the Vedic Saraswati River that once flowed through the region.
Significance of the finding: The findings highlight the need for further investigations, including paleoseismic studies and SAR interferometry, to better understand the region’s stress distribution and strain accumulation.
Fault lines in the Himalayas:
- HFF (Himalayan Frontal Fault): It is a major thrust fault at the front of the Himalayas, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Eurasian plate.
- MBT (Main Boundary Thrust): It is a significant fault in the Himalayas, marking the boundary between the Lesser Himalayas and the Sub-Himalayas.
- MCT (Main Central Thrust): This fault separates the Lesser Himalayas from the Greater Himalayas and is responsible for the uplift of the Greater Himalayas.
