Quantification of geomorphic signatures of neotectonic activity within the Khoh River Basin: a geospatial approach

The present paper has integrated geomorphic and tectonic features with remote sensing, landslide, and earthquake data to explore the influence of tectonics on the evolutionary trajectory of the Khoh River Basin, Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand. The basin offers a favorable geological setting for exploring landforms shaped by ongoing tectonics. Various morphotectonic indices were computed to unravel the influence and extent of tectonics within the basin. A total of 12 longitudinal profiles were obtained for each sub-basin to capture the geological variations and influence of structural discontinuities on the river migration and tilting of the basin. Furthermore, the presence of unpaired terraces, paleo-channels, ox-bow lakes, alluvial fan, and knick points provided insights into the impact of neotectonic activities in shaping the landscape of the basin. These features are located in proximity with five major tectonic structures, viz., the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT), Khoh River Fault (KRF), Sukh Rao Fault (SRF), and Najibabad Fault (NF) that have influenced fluvial dynamics of the Khoh River to great extent. Additionally, ongoing tectonic processes, fault reactivation, and intense precipitation have resulted in numerous landslides and earthquakes in the region, rendering it vulnerable to surface deformation and potential disasters in the future.