GROUP DETAILS
GPS GROUP
Group Name: Global Positioning System (GPS) Group, Department of Physics; Tezpur University
Group details:
GPS with its sub-cm level accuracy has opened new avenues in understanding Earth's dynamic
tectonic processes. The GPS group of Tezpur University started its quest with the establishment of
three permanent stations at Ouguri Hills, Tezpur in 2003; Naagmandir, Bomdila in 2004 and
Nagaland University Campus, Lumami in 2003. The group also undertakes campaign field surveys
for GPS data collection in the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh & Meghalaya to understand its
ongoing intra-plate deformation. The group has develop computational skills to process GPS data
using sophisticated GAMIT-GLOBK suit of Programs developed by MIT, USA. Over the years, the
group has conducted 2 National level workshops, has produced 7 trained manpower; four Ph.D.;
five articles in International Journals and seven conference papers. The objectives of the group are:
1. Crustal deformation studies
2. Precipitable water vapour studies
3. Geo-physical time series analysis
4. InSAR data analysis
Faculty:
Prof. Ashok Kumar
Department of Physics
Tezpur University
Website: http://www.tezu.ernet.in/dphy/staff/fac_home/ask.html
Details of Projects (ongoing and completed):
Ongoing Project:
Title: Estimation of Crustal Deformation and Tropospheric Precipitable water vapour content in the
North-Eastern India using GPS measurements
Sponsoring Agency: MoES
Budget: Rs.32.988 (TU) + 10.35 lakhs (CMMACS) = 43,33,800/Date of commencement: 09-Nov.-2009
Objectives:
1. To determine the internal deformation within the Shillong Plateau and its tectonic
relationship with the Mikir Hills by collecting and processing GPS campaign mode data
from large number of sites in the Shillong Plateau and Mikir Hills.
2. GPS observation data as well as meteorological data retrieval from the network of
permanent GPS stations in Northeastern India.
3. Deriving time series of integrated water vapour for modelling the variability of precipitable
water vapour over the permanent GPS sites in the region.
Completed Project:
Title: Studies of Kinematics and Crustal Structure of the Meghalaya-Assam-Arunachal Region
(89.5-92.50E, 25- 280N)
Sponsoring Agency: MoES
Budget: 89.04 Lakhs
Date of commencement: 14-Feb-2002
Date of completion: 31-Dec-2009
Objectives:
1. To identify active faults in the Meghalaya-Assam-Arunachal region and to determine their
shear strain rates by modelling:
a) GPS based annual surface deformation (velocity field) in the area.
b) Crustal structure using available broadband seismic data.
c) Identification of fault using magnetic data
2. To model precipitable water vapour in the atmosphere at Tezpur and other permanent sites in
the region using continuous data at the fixed sites.
Achievements
Papers published:
1. Pallabee Choudhury, A. Kumar & S.K.Laskar, Identification of EW trending faults and
determination of sedimentary thickness in Shillong-Mawlong area by analysis of magnetic
data, Journal of Geophysics, Vol. XXVI, No. 3 (2005) 139-150.
2. Sridevi Jade, Malay Mukul, A.K. Bhattacharyya, M.S.M. Vijayan, S Jaganathan, Ashok
Kumar, R.P. Tiwari, A. Kumar, S. Kalita, S.C. Sahu, A.P. Krishna, S.S. Gupta, M.V.R.L.
Murthy, V.K. Gaur, Estimates of interseismic deformation in Northeast India from GPS
measurements, Earth and Planetary Science Letters 263(2007)221-234.
3. Kashyap Mahanta, Jyotirmoy Das Chowdhury, Ashok Kumar, Arun Kumar, Indumati
Laskar, Sunil L. Singh, Prakash Barman, “Earthquakes and crustal deformation studies of
the seismically active Kopili Fault as well as North East India: A scientific field study using
Global Positioning System (GPS)”, The Clarion-International Multidisciplinary Journal 1
(1), 127-132, 2012, ISSN: 2277-1697.
4. Kashyap Mahanta, Jyotirmoy Das Chowdhury, S Baruah, Ashok Kumar, Arun Kumar, SL
Singh, Prakash Barman, “Crustal movement of North-East India and its impact on climate
change: a micro-seismic study using Global Positioning System (GPS)”, The ClarionInternational Multidisciplinary Journal 1 (2), 51-58, 2012.
5. P. Mahesh, J.K. Catherine, V.K. Gahalaut, Bhaskar Kundu, A. Ambikapathy, Amit Bansal, L.
Premkishore, M. Narsaiah, Sapna Ghavri, R.K. Chadha, Pallabee Choudhary, D.K. Singh,
S.K. Singh, Subhash Kumar, B. Nagarajan, B.C. Bhatt, R.P. Tiwari, Arun Kumar, Ashok
Kumar, Harsh Bhu, S. Kalita, Rigid Indian plate: Constraints from GPS measurements,
Gondwana Res. 22 (3-4) (2012) 1068-1072.
Papers Presented in Seminars/conferences:
1. Pallabee Choudhury, A. Kumar and S.K. Laskar, Identification of predicted Oldham fault by
Analysis of Magnetic data, National workshop on Science and Technology for Regional
Development: Case for North-East India, IIT Guwahati, Feb. 3-6, 2004.
2. A. K. Bhattacharyya, N. Hazarika, P. Choudhury, A. Kumar and S.K. Laskar, GPS and BBS
activities at Tezpur University, National workshop on Science and Technology for Regional
Development: Case for North-East India, IIT Guwahati, Feb. 3-6, 2004.
3. Sanjeev Kr. Bhattacharyya, A. Kumar and P. Goswami, Estimation of Strain Accumulation
in Northeast India using GPS measurements, National Seminar on “Geodynamics,
sedimentation and biotic response in the context of India-Asia collision” being organized
Mizoram University during 26th-28th November, 2009.
4. A. Kumar, Sanjeev Kr. Bhattacharyya and P. Goswami, Kinematics and Crustal Deformation
Estimation of Northeast India Region using GPS data, National Seminar on “Geodynamics,
sedimentation and biotic response in the context of India-Asia collision” being organized
Mizoram University during 26th-28th November, 2009.
5. Sanjeev Kr. Bhattacharyya, Anjan Kr. Bhattacharyya and A. Kumar, “Crustal Deformation
Studies in Northeastern India using dense GPS network data”, 55th Annual Technical Session
of Assam Science Society, Gauhati University, 15th Feb. 2010.
6. Prakash Barman, Jagat Dwipendra Ray and A. Kumar, “Present day seismicity around
Kopili fault of Northeastern India”, National Seminar on “Challenges and preparedness for
earthquakes in India” on December 17th-18th, 2011 organized by Environmental watch and
management institute, Guwahati.
7. Jagat Dwipendra Ray, M.S.M Vijayan, Prakash Barman, A. Kumar, “Seasonal variation of
crustal deformation of North-East India using GPS measurements”, National Seminar on
“Earthquake Hazards: Education, Preparedness and Management” on December 28th-30th,
2012 organized by Environmental watch and management institute, Guwahati.
Research Scholars:
Prakash Barman
M.Sc. (2006) from Cotton College under Gauhati University
M.Phil (2009) Assam University, Silchar
Designation: SRF
GPS Laboratory
Department of Physics, Tezpur University
E-Mail: prakashb2002@tezu.ernet.in
Phone: 03712275566
Jagat Dwipendra Ray
M.Sc. (2010) from Tezpur University
Designation: SRF
GPS Laboratory
Department of Physics, Tezpur University
E-Mail: jagatgp@tezu.ernet.in
Phone: 03712275566
Alumni:
Dr. Anjan Kumar Bhattacharyya
Designation: System Analyst
Department of Mathematics
Tezpur University
E-Mail: anjan@tezu.ernet.in
Phone: 03712-27-5512
Dr. Nava Kumar Hazarika
Designation: Technical Officer I
Indian Institute of Geomagnetism, Shillong Observatory
E-Mail: nabahazarika@gmail.com
Phone: 0364-2560112
Dr. Pallabee Choudhury
Sr.. Scientist C
Institute of Seismological Research, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India
E-Mail: pallabee.ch@gmail.com
Phone: +91-79-66739015(O), +91-79-66739017(O)
Dr. Sanjeev Bhattacharya
Geophysicist
Geological Survey of India
Nagpur
E-Mail: bhattasanjeev@gmail.com
Phone: +917122510503