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The landform development and valley floor morphology of active regions is significantly controlled by tectonic processes. In the present study the upper catchments of Kosi and Gagas river valleys have been investigated with special emphasis on aggradational landforms to explain the spatial and temporal variability of aggradation/incision in response to tectonic activity during the late Quaternary and Holocene in Central Kumaun Himalaya. Major tectonic elements such as the North Almora thrust (NAT), Rasiyari fault (RF), and Gagas fault (GF) are considered to be controlling the development of landforms in the region. The valleys have preserved debris flow terraces, bedrock strath terraces, and fluviolacustrine terraces that provide signatures of tectonic activity. Morphostratigraphy of the terraces reveals that the oldest landforms are preserved in the hanging wall block of the NAT, RF, and along the GF. Reconstructions based on morphostratigraphy through the application of optical chronology suggests multiple phases of fluvial aggradation in the upper catchment of the Kosi and Gagas rivers that were initiated around 34 ka. The youngest phase of aggradation is dated to be around early to mid-Holocene (7–1 ka). Based on terrace morphology, four major phases of enhanced uplift have been estimated during 34, 15.8, 7, and 3 ka. The older uplift event dated to be around 34 ka is represented uplift along GF, which accommodated onset of valley-fill aggradation in Gagas valley. The 15.8 ka event represents uplift along RF, which led to the generation of debris flow from adjacent hillslopes. The 7 ka event represents uplift of a hanging wall block of the NAT and deposition of debris flow terraces. However, the youngest 3 ka event represents enhanced uplift, which is responsible for the incision of the older valley fill sediments and bedrock. Following this, a phase of accelerated incision/erosion owing to an increase in uplift rate occurred, as evident from the strath terraces between 7 and 1 ka. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study has been carried out with special emphasis on the aggradational landforms to explain the spatial and temporal variability in phases of aggradation/incision in response to tectonic activity during the late Quaternary in the Saryu River valley in central Kumaun Himalaya. The valley has preserved cut-and-fill terraces with thick alluvial cover, debris flow terraces, and bedrock strath terraces that provide signatures of tectonic activity and climate. Morphostratigraphy of the terraces reveals that the oldest landforms preserved south of the Main Central Thrust, the fluvial modified debris flow terraces, were developed between 30 and 45 ka. The major phase of valley fill is dated between 14 and 22 ka. The youngest phase of aggradation is dated at early and mid-Holocene (9–3 ka). Following this, several phases of accelerated incision/erosion owing to an increase in uplift rate occurred, as evident from the strath terraces. Seven major phases of bedrock incision/uplift have been estimated during 44 ka (3.34 mm/year), 35 ka (1.84 mm/year), 15 ka (0.91 mm/year), 14 ka (0.83 mm/year), 9 ka (1.75 mm/year), 7 ka (5.38 mm/year), and around 3 ka (4.4 mm/year) from the strath terraces near major thrusts. We postulate that between 9 and 3 ka the terrain witnessed relatively enhanced surface uplift (2–5 mm/year). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of integrated studies of geomorphic indices of drainage networks and landforms developed across the mountain front along the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) between the Dabka and Baur rivers, Kumaun Himalaya. The HFT is a morphogenic structure in nature, creating a 100-m-high E–W trending escarpment that extends ~ 21 km. Geomorphological evidence indicates ~ 10.5 km westward migration of the Dabka River and ~ 5.2 km eastward migration of the Baur River. These migrations are a result of uplift of the hanging wall along the HFT. The HFT is offset by a transverse fault, which suggests that the latter postdates the reactivation of the HFT between 500 and 100 ka. Presence of different levels of strath terraces along the mountain front suggests the active nature of the HFT. To assess the relative tectonic activity, morphometric indices such as stream-gradient ( SL ) index, mountain front sinuosity ( S mf ) index, and ratio of valley floor width to valley height ( Vf ) have been analyzed. Results of the former two are consistent with the tectonic landforms developed in thrust zones. Paleochannels of the Dabka and Baur rivers are characterized by high Vf values while other valleys show low Vf values. Quaternary alluvial sediments have been deformed along the Pawalgarth Thrust, a splay of the HFT. Deformation has resulted in the formation of the Pawalgarh Anticline, a thrust-related asymmetric fold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]