Better understanding of marine geomorphology plays a vital role in the development of humankind. Therefore, satellite altimetry data serves as a comprehensive and cohesive method. The present study attempts to explore the delineation of submarine structural features and a correlation of tectonic features both on land and offshore of the west coast off Kerala, using Global bathymetric model (GBM) and satellite-derived gravity data. The study observes the south-west coast of Indian peninsula, which has a unique geological and structural features. It is a passive margin, which has undergone drift-rift mechanism associated with the separation of Madagascar--Seychelles--India. The hinterland of the area is an assortment from the Meso-Archean to Neo-Proterozoic crustal blocks sandwiched with shear zones. The study area has been divided into three zones (Zone~I, II and III) based on major shear zones in continental part to decipher the tectonic control. Satellite altimetry data has been used to derive drainages with different threshold to study submarine drainage system, channel shift, fault, impact crater etc. Conversely, all these observations deduced by satellite altimetry data have been validated with available published data. This study implies that geodesy data is an important and economical tool for preliminary studies, for understanding regional geological niche and its structural/tectonic control.
Satellite altimetry, neotectonism, passive margin, oblique rift valley
1. Ajayakumar, P., Rajendran, S., Mahadevan, T. M. Geophysical lineaments of Western Ghats and adjoining coastal areas of central Kerala, southern India and their temporal development, // Geoscience Frontiers, 2017. - v. 8 - no. 5 - p. 1089.
2. Allen, P. A. From landscapes into geological history, // Nature, 2008. - v. 451 - p. 274.
3. Bastia, R., et al. Structural and tectonic interpretation of geophysical data along the eastern continental margin of India with special reference to the deep water petroliferous basins, // J. Asian Earth Sci., 2010. - v. 39 - p. 608.
4. Belknap, W., Naiman, R. J. A GIS and TIR Procedure to Detect and Map Wall-Base Channels in Western Washington, // J. Envi. Manag., 1998. - v. 52 - no. 2 - p. 147.
5. Bhattacharya, G. C., Yatheesh, V. Plate-tectonic evolution of the deep ocean basins adjoining the western continental margin of India e a proposed model for the early opening scenario // Mukherjee, S. (Ed.), Petrol. Geosci.: Indian Contexts, Springer Geology - Germany: Springer., 2015.
6. Biswas, S. K. Regional tectonic framework, structure and evolution of the western marginal basins of India, // Tectonophysics, 1987. - v. 135 - p. 307.
7. Chatterjee, S., Goswami, A., Scotese, C. R. The longest voyage: Tectonic, magmatic, and paleoclimatic evolution of the Indian plate during its northward flight from Gondwana to Asia, // Gond. Res., 2013. - v. 23 - p. 238.
8. Chetty, T. R. K., Yellappa, T., Santosh, M. Crustal architecture and tectonic evolution of the Cauvery Suture Zone, southern India, // Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2016. - v. 130 - p. 166.
9. Collins, A. S., Clark, C., Plavsa, D. Peninsular India in Gondwana: the tectonothermal evolution of the Southern Granulite Terrane and its Gondwanan counterparts, // Gond. Res., 2014. - v. 25 - p. 190.
10. Das, K. C. Mesozoic Enigma in Kerala-Konkan Basin: An alternate explanation for deep water sub-basalt reflections // Proceeding of 10th Biennial International Conference [ampersand] Exposition, 23-25 November 2013, Kochi, India - India: Society of Petrol. Geoph.., 2013. - p. 352.
11. Dhanya, V., Renoy, G. Drainage development in Achankovil Shear Zone, South India, // Curr. Sci., 2015. - v. 108 - no. 6 - p. 1151.
12. Duncan, R. A., Storey, M. The life cycle of Indian Ocean hot spots // Duncan, R. A. (Ed.), Synthesis of Results from Scientific Drilling in the Indian Ocean. American Geophys. Union Geophysical Monograph., 70 - USA: AGU., 1992. - p. 91.
13. Faruque, B. M., Ramachandran, K. V. The Continental Shelf of Western India - London: Geological Society., 2014. - 213-220 pp.
14. Ferraris, F., Firpo, M., Pazzaglia, F. J. DEM Analyses and Morphotectonic Interpretation: The Plio-Quaternary Evolution of the Eastern Ligurian Alps, Italy, // Geomorphology, 2012. - v. 149-150 - p. 27.
15. Gahagan, L. M., et al. Tectonic fabric map of the ocean basins from satellite altimetry data, // Tectonophysics, 1988. - v. 155 - p. 1.
16. Girishbai, Drishya, Saju, Varghese, Dinesh, A. C., Arun, Bhadran, Joshi, R. K. Provenances of possible turbidites and volcanoclastic sediments in the northern part of Narcondam-Barren Basin, Andaman Sea, // Arab. J. Geosci., 2017. - v. 10 - p. 10.
17. Girish, G., Ambili, G. K., Jesiya, N. P., Kuriachan, L. Hydro-hypsometric analysis of tropical river basins south west coast of India using geospatial technology, // J. Mount. Science, 2016. - v. 15 - no. 3 - p. 939.
18. Gopala Rao, D., Paropkari, A. L., Krishna, K. S., Chaubey, A. K., Ajay, K. K., Kodagali, V. N. Bathymetric highs in the mid-slope region of the Western Continental Margin of India - structure and mode of origin, // Marine Geology, 2010. - v. 276 - p. 58.
19. Hashimi, N. H., et al. Holocene sea level curve and related climatic fluctuations for western Indian continental margin. An update, // Jour. Geol. Soc. India, 1995. - v. 46 - p. 157.
20. Horton, R. E. Erosional development of streams and their drainage basins: hydrophysical approach to quantitative morphology, // Bull. Geo. Soc. Am., 1945. - v. 56 - p. 275.
21. Imaki, H., Beechie, T. GIS Approaches for Channel Typing in the Columbia River Basin: Carrying Fine Resolution Data to a Large Geographic Extent American Geophys. Union, Abstract no H51A-0789 - USA: AGU., 2008.
22. Jensen, S. K., Dominique, J. O. Extracting topographic structure from digital elevation data geographical information system analysis, // Photogrammetric Eng. [ampersand] Remote Sensing, 1988. - v. 54 - no. 11 - p. 1593.
23. Karunakaran, C., Mahadevan, T. M. Some aspects of the seismicity of peninsular shield, // Indian Jour. Power and River Valley Development, Sp. number Proc. Symp. Koyna Earthquake and Related Problems, 1971. - v. 1 - p. 15.
24. Kundu, S. N., Pattanaik, D. S. Mapping on Land River channels up to the seafloor along the west coast of India, // Curr. Sci., 2011. - v. 101 - p. 958.
25. Lin, W. T., Choub, W. C., Lin, C. Y., Huang, P. H., Tsai, J. S. Win Basin: Using Improved Algorithms and the GIS Technique for Automated Watershed Modelling Analysis from Digital Elevation Models, // Int. J. Geograph. Infor. Sci., 2008. - v. 22 - no. 1 - p. 47.
26. Nathaniel, D. M. Hydrocarbon potential of sub-basalt Mesozoics of deepwater Kerala Basin, India // Proceeding of 10th Biennial International Conference [ampersand] Exposition, 23-25 November 2013, Kochi, India - India: Society of Petrol. Geoph.., 2013. - p. 1.
27. Norton, I. O., Sclater, J. G. A model for the evolution of the Indian Ocean and the break-up of Gondwanaland, // J. Geophys. Res., 1979. - v. 84 - p. 6803.
28. O'Callaghan, J. F., Mark, D. M. The extraction of drainage networks from digital elevation data, // Computer Vision, Graphics, and Image Processing, 1984. - v. 28 - no. 3 - p. 323.
29. Paull, C. K., Ussler, W. I., Greene, H. G., Keaten, A. Caught in the act: The December 21 gravity flow event in Monterey Canyon, // Geo-Marine Letters, 2003. - v. 22 - p. 227.
30. Pillay, K. R., et al. A possible impact crater from Outer Continental shelf off Cochin, Arabian Sea, India, // Curr. Sci., 2016. - v. 111 - p. 1149.
31. Prerna, Ramesh, et al. Approximation of Flow Patterns for Submarine Channel Systems in the Arabian Sea using a GIS Approach, Cloud Publications, // Int. J. Adv. Remote Sensing and GIS, 2015. - v. 4 - p. 1142.
32. Radhakrishna, T., et al. 40Ar/39Ar and K/Ar geochronology of the dykes from the south Indian granulite terrain, // Tectonophysics, 1999. - v. 304 - p. 109.
33. Rahman, M. M., Arya, D. S., Goel, N. K. Limitation of 90 m SRTM DEM in drainage network delineation using D8 method - a case study in flat terrain of Bangladesh, // Appl. Geomatics, 2010. - v. 2 - p. 49.
34. Rajendran, C. P., Rajendran, K. Low moderate seismicity in the vicinity of Palaghat Gap, South India and its implications, // Curr. Sci., 1996. - v. 70 - p. 304.
35. Ramana, M. V., Maria, Ana Desa, Ramprasad, T. Re-examination of geophysical data off Northwest India: Implications to the Late Cretaceous plate tectonics between India and Africa, // Mar. Geol., 2015. - v. 365 - p. 36.
36. Rao, V. P., Wagle, B. G. Geomorphology and surficial geology of the western continental slope of India: a review, // Curr. Sci., 1997. - v. 73 - p. 330.
37. Rao, V. P., Rajagopalan, G., Vora, K. H., Almeida, F. Late Quaternary sea level and environmental changes from relic carbonate deposits of the western margin of India, // Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Earth Planet. Sci.), 2003. - v. 112 - no. 1 - p. 1.
38. Rao, B. P., Kumar, M. R. Seismic evidence for slab graveyards atop the core-mantle boundary beneath the Indian Ocean geoid low, // Phys. Earth Planet. Inter., 2014. - v. 236 - p. 52.
39. Rao, P. N., Kumar, R. M., Arora, K. Discovery of a massive ancient tectonic slab in the southeastern Indian Ocean: implications for the Indian Ocean geoid low, // Curr. Sci., 2017. - v. 112 - p. 449.
40. Reinfelds, I., Cohen, T., Batten, P., Brierley, G. Assessment of Downstream Trends in Channel Gradient, Total and Specific Stream Power: A GIS Approach, // Geomorphology, 2004. - v. 60 - p. 403.
41. Sandwell, D. T., Smith, W. H. F. Bathymetric prediction from dense satellite altimetry and sparse shipboard bathymetry, // J. Geophys. Res., 1994. - v. 99 - p. 803.
42. Sandwell, D. T., Smith, W. H. F. Global Sea Floor Topography from Satellite Altimetry and Ship Depth Soundings, // Science, 1997. - v. 277 - p. 1957.
43. Sandwell, D. T., Smith, W. H. F. Global marine gravity from retracked Geosat and ERS-1 altimetry: Ridge segmentation versus spreading rate, // J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth, 2009. - v. 114 - no. 1 - p. 1.
44. Santosh, M., Maruyama, S., Sato, K. Anatomy of a Cambrian suture in Gondwana: Pacific-type orogeny in southern India?, // Gond. Res., 2009. - v. 16 - p. 321.
45. Santosh, M., Yang, Q. Y., Shaji, E., Tsunogae, M., RamMohan, M., Satyanarayanan, M. An exotic Mesoarchean microcontinent: the Coorg, Block, southern India, // Gond. Res., 2015. - v. 29 - p. 105.
46. Santosh, M., Hu, C. N. , He, X. F. , Li, S. S. , Tsunogae, M., Shaji, E., Indu, G. Neoproterozoic arc magmatism in the southern Madurai block, India: Subduction, relamination, continental outbuilding, and the growth of Gondwana, // Gond. Res., 2017. - v. 45 - p. 1.
47. Shareef, N. M., Mukhopadyay, R. , Sivasamy, A. , et al. Delineation of buried channels of Bharathappuzha by single-channel shallow seismic survey, // Curr. Sci., 2015. - v. 110 - no. 2 - p. 153.
48. Shreve, R. L. Statistical Law of Stream Numbers, // J. Geol., 1966. - v. 74 - no. 1 - p. 17.
49. Singh, Y., John, B., Ganapathy, G. P., George, A., Harisanth, S., Divyalakshmi, K. S., Kesavan, S. Geomorphic observations from southwestern terminus of palghat Gap, south India and their tectonic implications, // Journal of Earth System Science, 2016. - v. 125 - no. 4 - p. 821.
50. Strahler, A. N. Hypsometric (Area-Altitude) Analysis of Erosional Topology, // Geolog. Soc. of America Bulletin, 1952. - v. 63 - no. 11 - p. 1117.
51. Subrahmanyam, C., Chand, S. Evolution of the passive continental margins of India-A geophysical appraisal, // Gond. Res., 2006. - v. 10 - p. 167.
52. Subrahmanyam, V., Ramana, M. V., Gopala Rao, D. Reactivation of Precambrian faults on the southwestern continental margin of India, evidence from gravity anomalies, // Tectonophysics, 1993. - v. 219 - p. 327.
53. Sukumaran, P. V., et al. Marine sand in the south-west continental shelf of India, // Indian J. GeoMarine Sciences, 2010. - v. 39 - no. 4 - p. 572.
54. Unnikrishnan, P., Radhakrishna, M., Prasad, G. K. Crustal structure and sedimentation history over the Alleppey platform, southwest continental margin of India: Constraints from multichannel seismic and gravity data, // Geoscience Frontiers, 2017. - v. 9 - p. 549.
55. Vieux, B. E. Distributed Hydrologic Modeling Using GIS, Water Sci. and Tech. Library // Distributed Hydrologic Modeling Using GIS. Water Science and Technology Library - Dordrecht: Springer., 2001. - p. 1.
56. Vijith, H., Prasannakumar, V., Ninu Krishna, M. V., Pratheesh, P. Morphotectonics of a small river basin in the South Indian granulite terrain: An assessment through spatially derived geomorphic indices, // Georisk, Taylor [ampersand] Francis, 2015. - v. 9 - p. 187.
57. Xu, J. P. Normalized velocity profiles of field-measured turbidity currents, // Geology, 2010. - v. 38 - p. 563.
58. Yatheesh, V., Bhattacharya, G. C., Mahender, K. The terrace like features in the mid continental slope region off Trivandrum and a plausible model for India-Madagascar juxtaposition in immediate pre-drift scenario, // Gond. Res., 2006. - v. 10 - p. 179.
59. Yatheesh, V., John Kurian, P., Bhattacharya, G. C., Rajan, S. Morphotectonic architecture of an India-Madagascar breakup related anomalous submarine terrace complex on the southwest continental margin of India, // Mar. Pet. Geol., 2013. - v. 46 - p. 304.
