Mantle deformation and seismic anisotropy beneath Northeast India inferred from SKKS birefringence

Abstract

The present study produces very new SKKS splitting measurements from the Northeast India, suggesting the region as tectonically more heterogeneous and complex in nature. It fills the gap of anisotropic parameters from an epicentral range of 140°–180° in order to understand the lithospheric deformation patterns of the terrain in a better way. The splitting parameters namely polarisation direction of fast waves (?) and delay time are the manifestation of anisotropic effects of a medium. The present SKKS splitting measurements from nine broadband seismic stations in Northeast India incorporate new understandings of deformation patterns for this region. At the Himalayan collision zone and sub-Himalayan region, the deformation pattern showing a perfect alignment of the ? parallel to the collisional arc (Main Boundary Thrust, Main Central Thrust), suggests that a localized strain derived from N-S Indo-Eurasian collision is the major source behind its complex tectonics. The SKKS splitting measurements at Assam foredeep region streamline the effect of Kopili fault in controlling the deformation patterns in a NW-SE direction. There is a significant difference in anisotropic behaviour of stations at the northern Shillong plateau compared to the stations at its southern proximity. The absolute plate motion (APM) parallel to ? in northern fringe of the plateau strictly indicates the influence of asthenospheric flow, which in turn is driven by APM of Indian plate in a no net rotation reference frame. On the other hand, major regional structures like the Dauki and Dapsi faults control the anisotropic pattern at the southern extremity of this plateau.