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Afroz Shah

Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Physical and Geological Sciences, Faculty Member

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My research and outreach work mainly works on this challenge: “After ~250 years of scientific research and insights into the causes of earthquakes, challenges still remain today to fully comprehend the science of earthquakes, and how to use the existing knowledge to save lives and property.” Therefore, my motivation to work as an earthquake scientist primarily involves two lenses: improvement of earthquake geology, and to translate the scientific knowledge into action on ground. I am working in portions of South and Southeast Asia to map and improve the existing datasets on the earthquake-causing faults in these regions (e.g. India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Island of New Guinea etc.).While working on the existing structural and geological maps of these regions I have realized that there is a need to revamp most of these maps for our better understanding of the tectonic topography, geomorphology, structures, tectonics etc. Therefore, I use a variety of satellite derived data, previous works and fieldwork to improve the existing maps, and to identify the unknown structures (faults and folds etc). I am also actively involved in Earth science education through the use of documentary movies, newspapers articles, and public interactions.The knowledge, understanding, planning, management, and action on ground is highly needed to improve our relationship with the planet Earth, and this requires a solid geological background the wisdom of which has been available to us from decades, however, we have to improve it and make it better.

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Papers by Afroz Shah

Earthquake Scenario Mapping Reveals Future Earthquake Hazards on a Portion of the Himalayan Megathrust Fault, NW Himalaya

Springer eBooks, 2024

Out-of-Sequence Faulting Is Not an Exception but a Rule: Evidence from India-Eurasia Collisional Orogen

Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation/Advances in science, technology & innovation, 2024

Active Faults in the Kashmir Valley

YES Newsletter , 2011

Active faults in the Kashmir Valley

EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, Apr 1, 2012

Abstract The risk of earthquake is ever increasing in mountains along with rapid growth of popula... more Abstract The risk of earthquake is ever increasing in mountains along with rapid growth of population and urbanization. Over half a million people died in the last decade due to earthquakes. The devastations of Sumatra and Thai coasts in 2004, of Kashmir and New Orleans in 2005, of SW Java in 2006, of Sumatra again in 2007, W Sichuan and Myanmar in 2008, of Haiti in 2010, Japan, New Zealand and Turkey in 2011, brought enormous damage. The primary step in this regard could be to establish an earthquake risk model. The ...

Assessing the influence of watershed characteristics on the flood vulnerability of Jhelum Basin in Kashmir Himalaya by Gowhar et al., 2015

Natural Hazards, May 2, 2015

In Himalayan region, it is very important to generate detailed terrain information for identifyin... more In Himalayan region, it is very important to generate detailed terrain information for identifying the causes of natural hazards such as debris flows, debris floods, and flash floods, so that appropriate corrective measures are initiated for reducing the risk of the people and property to these disasters. Basic watershed morphometrics coupled with the land-cover and slope information are useful for assessing the hazard vulnerability. The terrain characteristics govern the surface hydrology and have profound influence on the incidence and magnitude of natural hazards, particularly floods. The present work is a comparative study of two watersheds of Jhelum basin (upper Indus basin in Kashmir). In this research, we make an integrated use of the Linear Imaging Self-Scanner satellite data and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer digital elevation model, supported with extensive field information, in a GIS environment for assessing the surface hydrological behavior of Lidder and Rembiara watersheds of the Jhelum basin. Knowledge-driven modelling approach has been used to evaluate the runoff potential of the watersheds to assess the flood vulnerability downstream. The results revealed that Lidder watershed exhibits lesser basin lag time compared to Rembiara watershed for a storm event. Further, due to higher population density in the Lidder downstream, this watershed is also socially more vulnerable to flooding than Rembiara. The methodology and results of this study shall help in formulating better flood mitigation strategies in this part of the Himalayan region, where the observation network of hydrometeorological and other land surface parameters is either missing or very scanty.

Active Fault Mapping Reveals Four Major Fault Zones Interact and Cause Compartmentalization of Eocene Reservoirs in Eastern Borneo

Predicting the Unpredictable: The Tumultuous Science of Earthquake Prediction

Geosciences Journal, Feb 28, 2014

Comment on: Coexistent pre-existing extensional and subsequent compressional tectonic deformation in the Kashmir basin, NW Himalaya by Akhtar et al., 2017 (article in press)

Quaternary International, Feb 1, 2018

Alam et al. (2017) have argued that Kashmir basin is a pull-part basin of the major active dextra... more Alam et al. (2017) have argued that Kashmir basin is a pull-part basin of the major active dextral-strike slip fault, the Central Kashmir fault (CKF), which is one of the largest strike-slip fault system in Kashmir Himalaya (Fig. 1), and has largely shaped the architecture of the basin. They further argue that the basin is formed as a major extension system, which is shown by the existence of pre-existing extensional structures. This is followed by compression, which is shown by the existence of the active Balapur fault (BF)/Kashmir basin fault (KBF) (Shah, 2013; Shabir and Bhat, 2012). However, the fundamental problem with their work is the fact that CKF is structurally unrealistic (Shah, 2016a,b; Shah et al., 2017). This is because if a major dextral fault forms a basin such a fault cannot pass through the basin (Fig. 2). Thus CKF is structurally not possible (see the video file in supplementary data for details). Pull-apart basin forms when strike-slip faults of a particular geometry slip, and with time the resulting basin widens and grows (Fig. 2). The basin growth and widening process is usually associated with normal faulting through which extension component of the regional stress vector is accommodated (Sylvester, 1988). In map view the trace of such a fault will normally follow the margins of a pull-apart basin (Figs. 1 and 2), and if the fault is mapped in the center of a basin, as is done in Alam et al. (2015, 2017), it simply means that such a fault cannot form the basin (Fig. 1). This is the major problem with the works of Alam et al. (2015, 2017) as it is unlikely for a trace of the fault to pass through the center of the basin which is a pull-apart product of that fault (Shah et al., 2017). Thus all structures that are associated with CKF are not possible, and cannot exist (Fig. 2b).

Flood Hazards in the Jhelum River Are Mainly Controlled by the Piggyback Thrusting of the Kashmir Basin and Less so by Factors like Climate Change and Urbanization

Springer eBooks, 2022

Miri Hill Structure Has Formed by Normal Faulting at the Releasing Bend Geometry of Strike-Slip Faulting

Segmentation of Main Boundary Thrust and Main Central Thrust in Western Himalaya for assessment of seismic hazard by Mridula et al., Nat Hazards (2016) 84: 383–403

Natural Hazards, Mar 6, 2017

During an earthquake, longer faults and lineaments may not rupture over their entire length, but ... more During an earthquake, longer faults and lineaments may not rupture over their entire length, but may do so in smaller segments depending on some physical boundary in the fault that controls and defines the location and extent of rupture, which may be governed by several factors such as presence of transverse tectonic features, change in seismicity pattern along the fault, difference in slip rates, occurrence of significant lithologic changes, strike of fault, etc. This paper is an attempt to identify segments of two megalineaments of Western Himalaya, viz. the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and Main Central Thrust (MCT). This was attempted by subjecting seismicity and tectonic data in a 7°9 7°study area to a pattern recognition technique. Six segments of the 997-km-long MBT and five segments of the 800-km-long MCT were obtained in the study area. These segments, along with other tectonic features and seismicity of the region, were included in assessment of seismic hazard and preparation of peak ground acceleration (PGA) maps.

Ninety million years of orogenesis, 250 million years of quiescence and further orogenesis with no change in PT: Significance for the role of deformation in porphyroblast growth

Journal of Earth System Science, Dec 1, 2012

In situ dating of monazite grains preserved as inclusions within foliations defining FIAs (foliat... more In situ dating of monazite grains preserved as inclusions within foliations defining FIAs (foliation inflection/intersection axes preserved within porphyroblasts) contained within garnet, staurolite, andalusite and cordierite porphyroblasts provides a chronology of ages that matches the FIA succession for the Big Thompson region of the northern Colorado Rocky Mountains. FIA sets 1, 2 and 3 trending NE-SW, E-W and SE-NW were formed at 1760.5 ± 9.7, 1719.7 ± 6.4 and 1674 ± 11 Ma, respectively. For three samples where garnet first grew during just one of each of these FIAs, the intersection of Ca, Mg, and Fe isopleths in their cores indicate that these rocks never got above 4 kbars throughout the Colorado Orogeny. Furthermore, they remained around approximately the same depth for ∼250 million years to the onset of the younger Berthoud Orogeny at 1415 ± 16 Ma when the pressure decreased slightly as porphyroblasts formed with inclusion trails preserving FIA set 4 trending NNE-SSW. No porphyroblast growth occurred during the intervening ∼250 million years of quiescence, even though the PT did not change over this period. This confirms microstructural evidence gathered over the past 25 years that crenulation deformation at the scale of a porphyroblast is required for reactions to re-initiate and enable further growth.

Comment on: Isotopic and micromorphological studies of Late Quaternary loess–paleosol sequences of the Karewa Group: Inferences for palaeoclimate of Kashmir Valley by Dar et al., 2014 (article in press)

Quaternary International, Jul 1, 2015

Dar and his research team have studied the young sedimentary deposits of the Kashmir Basin (KB) t... more Dar and his research team have studied the young sedimentary deposits of the Kashmir Basin (KB) to understand its paleo-geography, paleoecology and paleoclimatic conditions; however, there are some scientific concerns, which if addressed will make this contribution much useful. These are highlighted in this comment. For example, one of the important parts of the study is about the presentation of lithologs through detailed field investigations; however all the studied sections shown in the paper are not backed by field evidence and the data shown is not clearly expressed in some sections. Similarly, authors can produce records on the dominance of specific micromorphological features, which are indicative of a particular pedogenic process. This reveals information specific to climatic and geomorphic conditions besides providing information on tectonic conditions.

Tectonic Geomorphology and Site Response Analysis of Taxila city, Pakistan Himalaya: An Essential Step towards Mitigation of Potential Earthquake Disaster

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, Dec 1, 2020

Megathrust earthquakes and the associated volcanic subsidence

Current Science, 2013

Double-blind review process

Current Science, 2013

Lessons from the Italian court verdict on earthquake risk assessment

Poverty and unpreparedness make monsters out of ordinary hazards

TheScienceBreaker, Jul 17, 2023

Flood disasters are expected to increase because of the climate change-related sea level rise. Wh... more Flood disasters are expected to increase because of the climate change-related sea level rise. While impacts on regional and local scales may vary, mapping that variation is critical for understanding the risks our preparedness to tackle them. The historical and contemporary data show that ordinary hazards often turn into monsters because of poverty and unpreparedness.

Pressure-Temperature-time-Deformation paths derived from FIAs, pseudosections and zoned garnets: significance and potential for ~1700 Ma deformation and metamorphism in the Big Thompson region of Colorado Rockies, USA

A progression of FIAs (foliation intersection/inflection axes preserved within porphyroblasts) in... more A progression of FIAs (foliation intersection/inflection axes preserved within porphyroblasts) in the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains reveals three periods of garnet and staurolite growth and one growth phases each of cordierite and andalusite. These minerals grew in an overall prograde path, where the growth of garnet was always followed by the formation of staurolite for each FIA. For the last 1 period of FIA development the growth of staurolite was also followed by the development of andalusite and cordierite. Inclusions of earlier minerals within the younger phases have supported the porphroblastic mineral sequence obtained through FIAs. Thermodynamic modelling in the MnNCKFMASH system reveals that this episodic growth occurred over a similar bulk compositional range and PT path for each FIA in the succession. Multiple phases of growth by same series of reactions in these rocks strongly suggests that PT and X are not the only factors controlling the commencement and cessation of metamorphic reactions. The FIAs preserved by these porphyroblasts reveal that each stage of growth occurred during deformation and that the local partitioning of deformation at the scale of a porphyroblast was the controlling factor on whether or not the reaction took place. In-situ dating of monazite grains preserved within porphyroblasts from each FIA set has revealed that the first period of tectonism occurred around 1758.8±9 Ma, recorded within the porphyroblasts of FIA set 1, where garnet nucleated at 540-550°C and 3.8-4.0 kbars. The intersection of Ca, Mn, and Fe isopleths in garnet cores for 3 samples, containing FIA set 1, set 2 (1758.8±9, 1720.5±6.1 Ma) and set 3 (1674±7.6 Ma), trending NE-SW, E-W and SE-NW respectively, indicate that these rocks never got above 4kbars throughout the Colorado Orogeny. A slightly clockwise P-T path occurred for this orogeny.

Reply to comments by Ahmad et al. on: Shah, A. A., 2013. Earthquake geology of Kashmir Basin and its implications for future large earthquakes International Journal of Earth Sciences DOI:10.1007/s00531-013-0874-8 and on Shah, A. A., 2015. Kashmir Basin Fault and its tectonic significance in NW Hi...

International Journal of Earth Sciences, Nov 19, 2015

Earthquake Scenario Mapping Reveals Future Earthquake Hazards on a Portion of the Himalayan Megathrust Fault, NW Himalaya

Springer eBooks, 2024

Out-of-Sequence Faulting Is Not an Exception but a Rule: Evidence from India-Eurasia Collisional Orogen

Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation/Advances in science, technology & innovation, 2024

Active Faults in the Kashmir Valley

YES Newsletter , 2011

Active faults in the Kashmir Valley

EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, Apr 1, 2012

Abstract The risk of earthquake is ever increasing in mountains along with rapid growth of popula... more Abstract The risk of earthquake is ever increasing in mountains along with rapid growth of population and urbanization. Over half a million people died in the last decade due to earthquakes. The devastations of Sumatra and Thai coasts in 2004, of Kashmir and New Orleans in 2005, of SW Java in 2006, of Sumatra again in 2007, W Sichuan and Myanmar in 2008, of Haiti in 2010, Japan, New Zealand and Turkey in 2011, brought enormous damage. The primary step in this regard could be to establish an earthquake risk model. The ...

Assessing the influence of watershed characteristics on the flood vulnerability of Jhelum Basin in Kashmir Himalaya by Gowhar et al., 2015

Natural Hazards, May 2, 2015

In Himalayan region, it is very important to generate detailed terrain information for identifyin... more In Himalayan region, it is very important to generate detailed terrain information for identifying the causes of natural hazards such as debris flows, debris floods, and flash floods, so that appropriate corrective measures are initiated for reducing the risk of the people and property to these disasters. Basic watershed morphometrics coupled with the land-cover and slope information are useful for assessing the hazard vulnerability. The terrain characteristics govern the surface hydrology and have profound influence on the incidence and magnitude of natural hazards, particularly floods. The present work is a comparative study of two watersheds of Jhelum basin (upper Indus basin in Kashmir). In this research, we make an integrated use of the Linear Imaging Self-Scanner satellite data and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer digital elevation model, supported with extensive field information, in a GIS environment for assessing the surface hydrological behavior of Lidder and Rembiara watersheds of the Jhelum basin. Knowledge-driven modelling approach has been used to evaluate the runoff potential of the watersheds to assess the flood vulnerability downstream. The results revealed that Lidder watershed exhibits lesser basin lag time compared to Rembiara watershed for a storm event. Further, due to higher population density in the Lidder downstream, this watershed is also socially more vulnerable to flooding than Rembiara. The methodology and results of this study shall help in formulating better flood mitigation strategies in this part of the Himalayan region, where the observation network of hydrometeorological and other land surface parameters is either missing or very scanty.

Active Fault Mapping Reveals Four Major Fault Zones Interact and Cause Compartmentalization of Eocene Reservoirs in Eastern Borneo

Predicting the Unpredictable: The Tumultuous Science of Earthquake Prediction

Geosciences Journal, Feb 28, 2014

Comment on: Coexistent pre-existing extensional and subsequent compressional tectonic deformation in the Kashmir basin, NW Himalaya by Akhtar et al., 2017 (article in press)

Quaternary International, Feb 1, 2018

Alam et al. (2017) have argued that Kashmir basin is a pull-part basin of the major active dextra... more Alam et al. (2017) have argued that Kashmir basin is a pull-part basin of the major active dextral-strike slip fault, the Central Kashmir fault (CKF), which is one of the largest strike-slip fault system in Kashmir Himalaya (Fig. 1), and has largely shaped the architecture of the basin. They further argue that the basin is formed as a major extension system, which is shown by the existence of pre-existing extensional structures. This is followed by compression, which is shown by the existence of the active Balapur fault (BF)/Kashmir basin fault (KBF) (Shah, 2013; Shabir and Bhat, 2012). However, the fundamental problem with their work is the fact that CKF is structurally unrealistic (Shah, 2016a,b; Shah et al., 2017). This is because if a major dextral fault forms a basin such a fault cannot pass through the basin (Fig. 2). Thus CKF is structurally not possible (see the video file in supplementary data for details). Pull-apart basin forms when strike-slip faults of a particular geometry slip, and with time the resulting basin widens and grows (Fig. 2). The basin growth and widening process is usually associated with normal faulting through which extension component of the regional stress vector is accommodated (Sylvester, 1988). In map view the trace of such a fault will normally follow the margins of a pull-apart basin (Figs. 1 and 2), and if the fault is mapped in the center of a basin, as is done in Alam et al. (2015, 2017), it simply means that such a fault cannot form the basin (Fig. 1). This is the major problem with the works of Alam et al. (2015, 2017) as it is unlikely for a trace of the fault to pass through the center of the basin which is a pull-apart product of that fault (Shah et al., 2017). Thus all structures that are associated with CKF are not possible, and cannot exist (Fig. 2b).

Flood Hazards in the Jhelum River Are Mainly Controlled by the Piggyback Thrusting of the Kashmir Basin and Less so by Factors like Climate Change and Urbanization

Springer eBooks, 2022

Miri Hill Structure Has Formed by Normal Faulting at the Releasing Bend Geometry of Strike-Slip Faulting

Segmentation of Main Boundary Thrust and Main Central Thrust in Western Himalaya for assessment of seismic hazard by Mridula et al., Nat Hazards (2016) 84: 383–403

Natural Hazards, Mar 6, 2017

During an earthquake, longer faults and lineaments may not rupture over their entire length, but ... more During an earthquake, longer faults and lineaments may not rupture over their entire length, but may do so in smaller segments depending on some physical boundary in the fault that controls and defines the location and extent of rupture, which may be governed by several factors such as presence of transverse tectonic features, change in seismicity pattern along the fault, difference in slip rates, occurrence of significant lithologic changes, strike of fault, etc. This paper is an attempt to identify segments of two megalineaments of Western Himalaya, viz. the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and Main Central Thrust (MCT). This was attempted by subjecting seismicity and tectonic data in a 7°9 7°study area to a pattern recognition technique. Six segments of the 997-km-long MBT and five segments of the 800-km-long MCT were obtained in the study area. These segments, along with other tectonic features and seismicity of the region, were included in assessment of seismic hazard and preparation of peak ground acceleration (PGA) maps.

Ninety million years of orogenesis, 250 million years of quiescence and further orogenesis with no change in PT: Significance for the role of deformation in porphyroblast growth

Journal of Earth System Science, Dec 1, 2012

In situ dating of monazite grains preserved as inclusions within foliations defining FIAs (foliat... more In situ dating of monazite grains preserved as inclusions within foliations defining FIAs (foliation inflection/intersection axes preserved within porphyroblasts) contained within garnet, staurolite, andalusite and cordierite porphyroblasts provides a chronology of ages that matches the FIA succession for the Big Thompson region of the northern Colorado Rocky Mountains. FIA sets 1, 2 and 3 trending NE-SW, E-W and SE-NW were formed at 1760.5 ± 9.7, 1719.7 ± 6.4 and 1674 ± 11 Ma, respectively. For three samples where garnet first grew during just one of each of these FIAs, the intersection of Ca, Mg, and Fe isopleths in their cores indicate that these rocks never got above 4 kbars throughout the Colorado Orogeny. Furthermore, they remained around approximately the same depth for ∼250 million years to the onset of the younger Berthoud Orogeny at 1415 ± 16 Ma when the pressure decreased slightly as porphyroblasts formed with inclusion trails preserving FIA set 4 trending NNE-SSW. No porphyroblast growth occurred during the intervening ∼250 million years of quiescence, even though the PT did not change over this period. This confirms microstructural evidence gathered over the past 25 years that crenulation deformation at the scale of a porphyroblast is required for reactions to re-initiate and enable further growth.

Comment on: Isotopic and micromorphological studies of Late Quaternary loess–paleosol sequences of the Karewa Group: Inferences for palaeoclimate of Kashmir Valley by Dar et al., 2014 (article in press)

Quaternary International, Jul 1, 2015

Dar and his research team have studied the young sedimentary deposits of the Kashmir Basin (KB) t... more Dar and his research team have studied the young sedimentary deposits of the Kashmir Basin (KB) to understand its paleo-geography, paleoecology and paleoclimatic conditions; however, there are some scientific concerns, which if addressed will make this contribution much useful. These are highlighted in this comment. For example, one of the important parts of the study is about the presentation of lithologs through detailed field investigations; however all the studied sections shown in the paper are not backed by field evidence and the data shown is not clearly expressed in some sections. Similarly, authors can produce records on the dominance of specific micromorphological features, which are indicative of a particular pedogenic process. This reveals information specific to climatic and geomorphic conditions besides providing information on tectonic conditions.

Tectonic Geomorphology and Site Response Analysis of Taxila city, Pakistan Himalaya: An Essential Step towards Mitigation of Potential Earthquake Disaster

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, Dec 1, 2020

Megathrust earthquakes and the associated volcanic subsidence

Current Science, 2013

Double-blind review process

Current Science, 2013

Lessons from the Italian court verdict on earthquake risk assessment

Poverty and unpreparedness make monsters out of ordinary hazards

TheScienceBreaker, Jul 17, 2023

Flood disasters are expected to increase because of the climate change-related sea level rise. Wh... more Flood disasters are expected to increase because of the climate change-related sea level rise. While impacts on regional and local scales may vary, mapping that variation is critical for understanding the risks our preparedness to tackle them. The historical and contemporary data show that ordinary hazards often turn into monsters because of poverty and unpreparedness.

Pressure-Temperature-time-Deformation paths derived from FIAs, pseudosections and zoned garnets: significance and potential for ~1700 Ma deformation and metamorphism in the Big Thompson region of Colorado Rockies, USA

A progression of FIAs (foliation intersection/inflection axes preserved within porphyroblasts) in... more A progression of FIAs (foliation intersection/inflection axes preserved within porphyroblasts) in the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains reveals three periods of garnet and staurolite growth and one growth phases each of cordierite and andalusite. These minerals grew in an overall prograde path, where the growth of garnet was always followed by the formation of staurolite for each FIA. For the last 1 period of FIA development the growth of staurolite was also followed by the development of andalusite and cordierite. Inclusions of earlier minerals within the younger phases have supported the porphroblastic mineral sequence obtained through FIAs. Thermodynamic modelling in the MnNCKFMASH system reveals that this episodic growth occurred over a similar bulk compositional range and PT path for each FIA in the succession. Multiple phases of growth by same series of reactions in these rocks strongly suggests that PT and X are not the only factors controlling the commencement and cessation of metamorphic reactions. The FIAs preserved by these porphyroblasts reveal that each stage of growth occurred during deformation and that the local partitioning of deformation at the scale of a porphyroblast was the controlling factor on whether or not the reaction took place. In-situ dating of monazite grains preserved within porphyroblasts from each FIA set has revealed that the first period of tectonism occurred around 1758.8±9 Ma, recorded within the porphyroblasts of FIA set 1, where garnet nucleated at 540-550°C and 3.8-4.0 kbars. The intersection of Ca, Mn, and Fe isopleths in garnet cores for 3 samples, containing FIA set 1, set 2 (1758.8±9, 1720.5±6.1 Ma) and set 3 (1674±7.6 Ma), trending NE-SW, E-W and SE-NW respectively, indicate that these rocks never got above 4kbars throughout the Colorado Orogeny. A slightly clockwise P-T path occurred for this orogeny.

Reply to comments by Ahmad et al. on: Shah, A. A., 2013. Earthquake geology of Kashmir Basin and its implications for future large earthquakes International Journal of Earth Sciences DOI:10.1007/s00531-013-0874-8 and on Shah, A. A., 2015. Kashmir Basin Fault and its tectonic significance in NW Hi...

International Journal of Earth Sciences, Nov 19, 2015

The Kashmir Basin fault and its influence on fluvial flooding in the Kashmir Basin, NW Himalaya

Out-of-sequence thrust faulting in the Himalaya poses a great challenge to our understanding of t... more Out-of-sequence thrust faulting in the Himalaya poses a great challenge to our understanding of the slip distribution on faults, in particular those that are active. The Kashmir Basin in the NW Himalaya is a classic example of out-of-sequence faulting where the geomorphic analysis of tectonic landforms was possible because of a variety of readily available satellite data, including Shuttle Radar Topography, Google Maps, Global Earth, and Global Multi-Resolution Topography. This was augmented with geologic, seismologic, geodetic, and historical earthquake and flood data. The results show the NW extension of the previously mapped NE-dipping Kashmir Basin fault, where newly mapped discontinuous fault traces are freshly broken and back-tilted, and they preserve warped fluvial surfaces in the Quaternary to Holocene succession. The morphology of the basin suggests that it is rising along an active NE-dipping thrust fault. Importantly, two traces of this fault system cut through the course of the Jhelum River, the only river that drains the Kashmir Basin, and movement on the fault has modified its path. Recent movement on the fault potentially caused damming of this river that resulted in flooding of the Kashmir valley during major earthquakes around A.D. 1505 and/or 1886. Such movement likely caused historical drainage reversals, impoundments, and SE tilting, which were previously attributed to some unknown structures under the Pir Panjal Ranges.