The March 1999 Chamoli Earthquake in the Garhwal Himalaya: Aftershock Characteristics and Tectonic Structure

The aftershock sequence of the Chamoli earthquake (m_b 6.3) of March 28, 1999 provides an opportunity to study the aftershock characteristics and the seisrnotectonic structure in the Garhwal Himalaya. Detailed analysis of the spatial variation, the frequency-magnitude distribution (b-value), the activity decay-rate (p-value) and fault-plane solutions of the aftershocks throw new light on the aftershock characteristics and seismotectonics of the region. The observations suggest that the aftershock generating process and the b- and p- values changed with time, space and magnitude-ranges. The main shock occurred on the Basement Thrust by a thrust-fault mechanism. The aftershocks, on the other hand, are triggered by the seismogenic faults to the south of the Main Central Thrust (MCT) by thrust as well as by strike-slip faulting, and all the events occurred above the plane of detachment.