Our present focus is to study the structure and tectonics of the coupled Himalaya and the foreland Ganga Basin system. For this purpose, we are mapping the lithospheric structure of the Ganga Basin and the NW Himalaya by magnetotellurics (MT), carrying out tectonic geomorphology of the Himalayan belt, and linking the Himalayan tectonics and the Ganga Basin lithospheric structure through flexural modeling and integration of available multi-geophysical datasets. Some significant recent results obtained by these studies are:
A MT study in the western Ganga Basin across the inferred northward extension of the Aravalli – Delhi Fold Belt (ADFB) reveals that the concealed ADFB consists of a collage of nearly vertical conductive and resistive blocks buried beneath about 1 to 1.3 km thick alluvial sediments. These results, in conjunction with the MT models available for the Garhwal Himalaya, support continuation of these blocks beneath the Kumaun-Garhwal Himalaya implying a spatially highly heterogeneous crust for this region of the Himalaya.
In addition, we have also carried out MT studies across the Western Ghats and the Deccan Volcanic Province around Palghar area, and the Cambay basin. Our present endeavour is to study the crustal structure of eastern Ladakh and southern Bundelkhand craton and develop algorithms for modeling of EM datasets.
Chief Scientist
Senior Scientist
Senior Technical Officer(2)
Senior Technical Officer(1)