Fractal Dimension as a New Measure of Neotectonic Activity in Kakrighat Area, Kumaun Himalaya

Neotectonic rejuvenation is conventionally inferred from field observations of various geomorphic features. All such observations essentially aim at distinguishing geomorphic features characterizing marked increase in ruggedness ofthe topography. We use fractal dimensionality on an example from Kakrighat area, Kumaun Himalaya, to characterize the degree of ruggedness of the terrain for its geomorphologically homogeneous sectors and demonstrate that fractal dimensionality increases with increasing roughness of the terrain and can be used to identify neotectonic activity.