American Journal of Scientific Research
ISSN 1450-223X Issue July (2011), pp.155-156
© EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2011
http://www.eurojournals.com/ajsr.htm
A Study on Enhancing Earthquake Frequency in the Glacial
and Planar of Areas of Pakistan with Emphasis on Magnitude
Muhammad Usman
BS Geophysics Student, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan
E-mail: usman727@yahoo.com
Zain-ul-Sajjad Asghar
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan
E-mail: zain.ul.sajjad@hotmail.com
Arslan Saeed
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Bahria University, Islamabad, Pakistan
E-mail: as.khan007@yahoo.com
Zahid Rafi
Director Seismic Section, Pakistan Meteorological Department
Islamabad, Pakistan
E-mail: dihazrafi@gmail.com
Abstract
In this paper the seismic activity of glacial area (northern Pakistan) is compared
with planar area (upper Punjab) by focusing on earthquake magnitude. The seismic data is
of duration 1961-2004 and is provided by Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD).
Both glacial and planar areas show remarkably similar behavior in earthquake frequency.
In the latest studies conducted over northern Pakistan, it is thought that the temperature can
be the cause of increasing earthquake frequency. As rising temperature is causing the
glaciers of northern Pakistan to melt and the Earth is possibly rebounding, in response to
this decreased load, to cause earthquakes. Due to this expected loss in mass of glaciers the
discharge of various water tributaries, which pass through upper Punjab, should also
escalate with time. As a result of this possibly growing discharge, the potential of rivers for
erosion, transportation and deposition of sediments may also increase. So, it means that the
balance of load across faults is being disturbed due to this expected relocation of sediments.
As a result of this balance shift, the faults are responding in form of earthquakes in the
upper Punjab that have magnitude 3-4.9.
Keywords: Global Warming; Glacier Melting; Increasing Discharge and Erosive Potential
of Rivers; Isostatic Rebound, Rise in Seismic Activity with Temperature.