Seismotectonics and seismogenesis of Kashmir Valley, NW Himalaya, India from a local seismic network

Abstract

The analysis of earthquake data related to low-magnitude events provides vital information on seismotectonics and the seismic processes that generate seismic sequences with strong events. Kashmir Valley in the northwest Himalaya experiences seismic shaking due to near-field and far-field earthquakes. A seismic network consisting of 12 broadband seismic stations was installed in the Kashmir Valley in 2019 to monitor the local seismic activity. Data recorded by this network is analysed continuously 24×7 at 10-sec intervals to monitor earthquake activity in and adjoining regions of the Kashmir Valley. The determined fault plane solutions using local seismic data and centroid moment tensor (CMT) data reveal thrust faulting in and around the Kashmir Valley. The waveform analysis of the acquired data shows the occurrence of seismic events both from local (432 events between 2019 and 2022) and distant/teleseismic sources. The study area is devoid of major earthquakes because most of the crustal motion is accommodated by the basal detachment or Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) beneath the surface. This results in the accumulation of significant stress within the Earth's crust in the southern region of the valley. However, a local tectonic element (Balapora Thrust) in association with Magam Fault has produced some seismic events of low magnitude. This suggests that Balapora Thrust and other minor fault (Magam Fault) are active in the Kashmir Valley.