This document discusses using high precision GPS observations to analyze the present-day deformation scenario of the Indian plate. It analyzes data from GPS stations like KIT and POL to determine observed velocities in mm/yr. The techniques used include Kalman filtering of data from sources like the IGS and CDDIS. The objectives are to determine long-term crustal deformation through land- and space-based geodetic measurements to obtain the velocity result for the entire Indo-Australian plate. The analysis finds southward motions of 4-7 mm/yr at sites on the Shillong plateau, indicating rapid shortening and high earthquake rates in northeast India.

1. PRESENT DAY DEFORMATION
SCENARIO OF INDIAN PLATE
USING HIGH PRECISION GPS
OBSERVATIONS
By:-
Soumik Chakraborty
M.Tech GIS
NIIT UNIVERSITY, Neemrana

2. CONTENTS:-
■ 1. Executive Summary
■ 2. Technical Background
■ 2.1. Identification of problem
 2.2. Justification of proposed work
 2.2.1 Theory
 2.2.2 Previous experimental results
 2.2.3 Identification of critical needs
■ 3. Technical Approaches
 3.1 Objectives
 4. Statement of Work
 4.1. Project Tasks

3. ■ 5. Capabilities
 5.1. Project Team & Key Personnel
 5.2. Equipment & Facilities
■ 6. Anticipated Benefits of Proposed Work
■ 7. Anticipated Environmental Impacts Of
Proposed Work
■ 8. REFERENCES
■ 9. APPENDICES

4. 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
■ Brief and Crisp description of the entire project executed stating:-
■ Introduction about the Indian Plate
■ Mention of the data products used and data portals like CDDIS , IGS stations
■ Mention about techniques being used like Kalman Filtering
■ Data collection stations being mentioned like KIT, POL etc.
■ Final stating of the observed velocities for each stations in the form of mm/yr.

5. 2. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
■ Composite discussion about the technicalities of the project background. In this
case being about earthquake causes and predictions being mad and how exactly it
is done.
■ Mainly sub divided into two parts:-
■ 2.1. Identification of the problem.
■ 2.2. Justification of the proposed work.
■ Further “Justification of the proposed work is done into:-
■ 2.2.1 Theory
■ 2.2.2 Previous experimental results
■ 2.2.3 Identification of critical needs
TECHNICAL
BACKGROUND

6. 2.1. Identification of Problem
■ This study is very much in rise because of the precarious nature and
unpredictability of earthquakes occurring across the Northern frontier and North-
Eastern boundaries of the Indian subcontinent.
■ Several recent past occurrences of seismo-tectonic disturbances have been
observed throughout the subcontinent notably Bhuj Earthquake of 2001 of 7.7
■ Magnitude due to rift fault generation at a low- angle thrust. Another most
disturbing occurrence is of Nepal Earthquake of 2015 having magnitude of due to
subduction of Indian plate against Eurassian plate.
■ Lastly the study of Sumatra-Andaman earthquake of 2004 with devastating
magnitude of 9.3 due to under thrusting of Indo-Australian Plate under the
Burmese Plate.

7. 2.2. Justification for proposed work
■ P.Bnaerjee et al. analysis carried out for 29 continuous GPS stations and 41 survey
mode GPS stations in India between 1995 and 2007 found a resulting north-south
shortening rate in nanostrain /yr.
■ Pierre Bettinelli-Jean et al. Deformation across the Nepal Himalaya indicates
geodetic rate of shortening between Southern Tibet and India. The pole of rotation
determined of the Indian tectonic plate to be located in ITRF2000 with an angular
velocity M/yr. Elastic dislocation model of interseismic strain presents the mean
convergence rate across Central and Eastern Nepal estimated.
■ V.K.Gahalaut et.al curved rupture is observed at the subduction zone based on
earthquakes greater than magnitude 7 direction of similar coseismic
displacements. Predicted uplift of the North Sentinel Island and the West Coast.

8. 2.2.1 THEORY
■ Description about the premier technology and principles around which the project
is based.
■ In this case it is about GNSS ( Global Navigation Satellite System).
■ Specifications about this system like accuracy, technique, GPS stations and data
collection.

9. 2.2.2 Previous Experimental results
■ P.Bnaerjee et al. Southward motions observed of 4–7 mm/yr of sites on the
Shillong plateau in northeast India reflect rapid shortening and high earthquake
rates.
■ Pierre Bettinelli-Jean et al. The pole of rotation determined of the Indian tectonic
plate to be located in ITRF2000 at 51.409±1.560◦ N and -10.915±5.556◦E, with
an angular velocity of 0.483±0.015◦. M/yr. Elastic dislocation model of
interseismic strain presents the mean convergence rate across Central and
Eastern Nepal estimated to be 19 ± 2.5 mm/yr.
■ V.K.Gahalaut et.al Horizontal ground displacement of 1.5–6.5 m towards the
southwest and co-seismic vertical displacement & subsidence of 0.5–2.8 m
occurred along the Andaman–Nicobar Islands with maximum displacements.
Estimates show coseismic slip under the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as 3.8–7.9
m and 11–15m respectively

10. 2.2.3. Identification of critical needs
■ Discussion about importance and credibility of the project as of how it is will cater to
the requirements of the problem.
■ The paradigm of plate tectonics is based on the premise of rigid, undeforming plates
that interact along plate boundaries where deformation and earthquake faulting are
localized; however, significant historic earthquakes have occurred deep in the interior
of some plates.
■ The data being stored from IGS-Real rime Server (RTS) received using BKG NTRIPP
client. This client software designed in such a way that it handles communication via
CDDIS known as Crustal Dynamics Data Information System is one of the most
reliable EOSDIS (Earth Observing System Data and Information System) managed by
NASA ESDIS project. So availability of dataset is the most important critical need for
the project.

11. 3. Technical Approach
■ 3.1. Objectives:-
■ The main objective of this study signifies long term crustal deformation by both
Land and Space based geodetic measurement systems yielding velocity resultant
of the entire Indo-Australian Plate.

12. 4. Statement of Work
■ 4.1. Project Tasks:
■ Description of all the tasks in
chronological sequence.

13. 5. CAPABLITIES:
■ 5.1. Project Team & Key Personnel :
■ Soumik Chakraborty, M.Tech GIS (Project Lead)
■ Gopal Sharma, SC NESAC (Project Supervisor/Director)
■ 5.2. Equipment & Facilities :
■ Personal Laptop DELL i3 core 64 bit, 4 GB RAM
■ UBUNTU version 10.6
■ FTP server provisioned by NESAC, DOS(Department of Space), Govt. of India
■ GAMIT/GLOBK software license provisioned by Dr. King, Senior Prof., MIT.

14. 6. Anticipated Benefits of Proposed
Work
■ Crustal shortening in the Himalaya is known to absorb a large fraction of the plate
convergence between India and Eurasia [Larson et al. 1999]. This process has
been responsible for building the highest mountain range on Earth today and for
recurrent large destructive earthquakes.
■ GPS ellipsoid models captured using the satellite network of densely populated
stations within the Eastern Tibetian & China Landscape indicate movement of the
crustal mass towards the South China Sea at a 95% confidence level making this
one of the most fastest rigid block movement in the history of plate movements.
■ Strain rates are significant at the 95% confidence in the Himalayas, Tibet, Pamir-
Tien Shan, Altay and Gobi Altay, with principal compressional axis consistent with
shortening perpendicular to these structures.

15. 7. Anticipated Environmental Impacts
Of Proposed Work
■ The movement of Crustal dynamics is very much critical for understanding the
asthenospheric current flow direction and prediction of future events in the
Geological millennia time scale.
■ Interplate tectonic stress accumulation within the thick crustal block and sudden
release of the strain energy is a function of monitoring and accurate earthquake
prediction.
■ There have been a number of studies conducted on Nepal and other North Indian
states for measuring the Indian plate shortening and rate of convergence. But due
to lack of consistent data field they always do not provide the exact requisite result

16. 8. REFERENCES
■ Layout for References followed:
■ Author names, Year of Journal Published, Research Title, Publishing Journal’s
Name, Volume and Page number informations.
■ Example:- J. Paul, R.Biirgrnann, V.K.Gaur, R.Bilharn, K.M.Larson, M.B. Ananda,
S.Jade, M.Mukal, T. S. Anuparna, G.Satyal and D.Kumar, 2001. The motion and
active deformation of India Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 28, NO. 4, Pages
647-650

17. 9. APPENDICES
■ GNSS- Global Navigation Satellite System
■ IGS- International Gravity Stations
■ MCT- Main Continental Thrust
■ RTS- Real Time Server
■ CDDIS- Crustal Dynamics Data Information System
■ GAMIT/GLOBK- Global Kalman Filter
■ EOSDIS- Earth Observing System Data and Information System
■ SOPAC- Scripps Orbit & Permanent Array Centre
■ MIT- Michigan Institute of Technology

18. THANK YOU!