Active-Fault Controlled Fluvial Geomorphology Along the Coastal Plain of Odisha: East Coast of India

In response to the sub-surface basement fault reactivation, few coast-parallel shallow-depth normal faults have been nucleated in the Quaternary cover sediments along the coastal plain of Odisha. Lack of exposure, extreme flatness of the plain, intense fluvio- aeolian and anthropogenic activities makes mapping of these faults difficult. Therefore, fluvial response to faulting like stream convergence, channel offset, variation in sinuosity, initiation of new streams recognized by remote sensing have been used for marking the position of these faults. The Jajpur fault offsets the Baitarani and Kharsuan rivers similar to 1.4 km to NE and similar to 4 km to SW, respectively. The Gop fault offsets the Kushabhadra River similar to 4 km to SW. Channel sinuosity varies from 1.3 to 1.5 on the up-thrown and down-thrown blocks across the Jajpur fault and that of the Gop fault is 1.8 and 2.1, respectively. Exaggerated DEM around these faults shows significant relief break. GPR imaging across these faults confirms their subsurface continuity with wide zones of displacement consisting of several synthetic normal faults.