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Mechanisms of seismic attenuation beneath Bhutan Himalaya.

This study focuses on the comprehensive understanding of the attenuation properties and associated mechanisms in the crust of Bhutan Himalaya. Frequency dependency and high attenuation characterises the crust of Bhutan Himalaya. Strong scattering attenuation and less dominant intrinsic attenuation separate this region from most of the Himalayan regions, suggesting lateral variability across Himalayan orogenic front.

The structural changes of the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) and subsequent change in the differential stress regime across the region might play a major role in the intra-crustal deformational scenario which resulted in the predominance of scattering attenuation in the crust of Bhutan Himalaya.

(a) Tectonic map of Bhutan Himalaya along with the location of seismic stations (inverted triangle) and earthquakes (circles) used in this study. (b) Variation of different attenuation quality factors with frequency. (c) Comparison plot of total, scattering and intrinsic attenuation quality factors with other parts of Himalaya.

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