Remote Sensing and Shallow Geophysical Investigations on
paleo-rivers in Sahara
The main objective of our research in Sahara Desert is to assess the role of climate
impact versus tectonic influence on the dynamics of fluvial systems. Our preliminary
work in Eastern and Western deserts of Egypt identified several buried fluvial systems.
These channels were identified using radar remote sensing and GPR. Further work is
underway that involves, GPR and potential field surveys.
Publications:
Funding; NSF
Gold Exploration in Northern Pakistan
The occurrence of placer gold in the northern Pakistan has been well known for many
decades, but the source bedrock's and the processes involved in the formation of gold
in these areas is still uncertain. Gold washing has been a practice for a long period
along the Indus and Gilgit Rivers in northern areas of Pakistan. These gold washers use
primitive tools for extraction of gold from the Indus sands. They use panning and
mercury for the extraction of gold causing pollution. We are using the remote sensing
and geochemistry data to pinpoint source rocks for gold mineralization. University of
Houston and National Center for Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar are
collaborating on this project.
Publications:
Biber, K., 2012. Investigation of the source, fate, and transport of mercury in Hunza
River, Northern Areas, Pakistan. MS thesis, University of Houston, 97 p.
Funding: US Academies
Surface Deformation in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Surface deformation has been an ongoing problem in the Houston Metropolitan area
because of the city’s location in a passive margin where faulting, subsidence, salt
diaphirism and flooding are common. We are studying this complex problem using
InSAR, GPS, Lidar\Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) data, radar altimetry, tide gauge,
gravity GPR and 2D seismic data. Our integrated approach will yield a more complete
picture for role of various processes in Gulf of Mexico.
Publications:
Khan, S. D., Stewart, R., R., Otoum, M., Chang, L., 2013. A geophysical investigation
of the active Hockley Fault system near Houston, Texas. Geophysics, in press.
Engelkemeir, R., Khan, S. D., Burke, K., 2010. Surface Deformation in Houston, Texas
using GPS. Tectonophysics, 490(1-2), 47-54.
Engelkemeir R., and Khan S. D., 2008. LiDAR Mapping of Faults in Houston, Texas,
USA. Geosphere, 4(1), 170-182 .
Engelkemeir R., and Khan S. D., 2007. Near Surface Geophysical Studies of Houston
Faults. The Leading Edge, 26 (8), 1004-1008.
Funding: NSF
Neotectonics of the Western Himalayas
Himalayan region is home to several megacities that hosts major portion of the world’s
population. Collision-related seismicity across this region has caused hundreds of
thousands of deaths and catastrophic economic losses in this area. One such
earthquake (7.9 magnitude) occurred in the northwestern Himalayas in 2005 killing
around 80,000 people. Neotectonic studies on active processes of the Himalayan
orogeny will help earthquake prediction and mitigation. We are studying the role of salt
in the formation of the foreland fold-and-thrust belt in western Himalayas using InSAR
and 2D seismic data. and essentially defines the western margin of the Indian-Asian
convergence zone, yet this is one of the least studied faults in Himalayan-Tibetan
orogen. We are also engaged in tectonic geomorphic, geochronological and geodetic
investigations along the Chaman fault, which is one of the greatest strike-slip fault
systems in Central Asia.
Publications:
Khan, S. D., Chen, L., Ahmad, S., Ahmad, I., Ali, F. Lateral Structural Variation along
the Kalabagh Fault Zone, NW Himalayan Foreland Fold-and-Thrust Belt, Pakistan.
Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 50, 79-87.
Ul-Hadi, S., Khan, S. D., Owen, L., Khan, A. S., 2013. Geomorphic response to an
active transpressive regime: a case study along the Chaman strike-slip fault, western
Pakistan. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, DOI: 10.1002/esp.3272.
Chen, L., Khan, S. D., 2010. InSAR Observations of the Strike Slip Faults in the NW
Himalayan Frontal Thrust System. Geosphere, 6, 731-158.
Chen, L., Khan, S. D., Geomorphometric Features and Tectonic Activities in Western
Himalayan Fold and Thrust Belt. Computers in Geosciences, 35, 2011-2019.
Funding: NSF