Crustal structure variation beneath the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalaya

The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is characterized by thick sediments, predominantly comprising alluvial deposits, which can amplify seismic waves generated by earthquakes in the Himalayan region located to the north of the plain. The presence of loose sediments can indeed pose significant seismic hazards, mainly due to phenomena like soil liquefaction. These sediments pose a threat to densely populated Delhi and NCR regions, which are 200 km away from the plate boundary of India and the Eurasian plate. Scientists are concerned about people’s safety in mitigating damage caused by high-rise buildings and loose sediments in the IGP region. Reliable knowledge of the sedimentary layer’s thickness and velocity structure is crucial for investigating buried active faults, understanding significant destruction, and risk assessment. Sedimentary basins are also crucial for geo-resources such as hydrocarbon and geothermal energy. This research estimated the structure of the sedimentary layer beneath four stations in the Chandigarh–Ambala region in IGP using the high-frequency receiver function (PRF) technique. The study found that the sedimentary layer thickness varies significantly, with values from 2.0 to 3.0 km beneath the IGP and increasing northward. Shallow shear velocity (Sv) in the column of sediments below the Siwalik Himalaya ranges from 2.8 to 2.9 km/s, which can be utilized for assessing earthquake ground-motion sites. The study provides new perceptions of the geodynamic processes and seismotectonic structure of the Himalayan region, allowing for better identification of the earthquake hypocenter and assessment of seismic hazards. The shear wave velocity models estimated from this research can also be beneficial for assessing seismic hazards and earthquake-resistant construction. Estimates of the crustal thickness values from waveform inversion of the PRF at individual stations reveal that the Moho depth varies between 44 and 50 km in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. From Siwalik Himalaya to the higher Himalaya, it ranges from 44 to 65 km. The depth of Moho increases from the Indo-Gangetic plain towards the lesser Himalaya.