Carbonaceous aerosol transport from the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the Himalayas: Carbon isotope evidence and light absorption characteristics

The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is a major regional and global emitter of atmospheric pollutants, which adversely affect surrounding areas such as the Himalayas. We present a comprehensive dataset on carbonaceous aerosol (CA) composition, radiocarbon (Δ¹⁴C) -based source apportionment, and light absorption of total suspended particle (TSP) samples collected over a 3-year period from high-altitude Jomsom in the central Himalayas. The 3-year mean TSP, organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC) concentrations were 92.0 ± 28.6, 9.74 ± 6.31, and 2.02 ± 1.35 μg m^?3, respectively, with the highest concentrations observed during the pre-monsoon season, followed by the post-monsoon, winter, and monsoon seasons. The Δ¹⁴C analysis revealed that the contribution of fossil fuel combustion (f_fossil) to EC was 47.9% ± 11.5%, which is consistent with observations in urban and remote regions in South Asia and attests that EC likely arrives in Jomsom from upwind IGP sources via long-range transport. In addition, the lowest f_fossil (38.7% ± 13.3%) was observed in winter, indicating large contributions in this season from local biomass burning. The mass absorption cross-section of EC (MAC_EC: 8.27 ± 1.76 m²/g) and water-soluble organic carbon (MAC_WSOC: 0.98 ± 0.45 m²/g) were slightly higher and lower than those reported in urban regions, respectively, indicating that CA undergo an aging process. Organic aerosol coating during transport and variation of biomass burning probably led to the seasonal variation in MAC of two components. Overall, WSOC contributed considerably to the light absorption (11.1% ± 4.23%) of EC. The findings suggest that to protect glaciers of the Himalayas from pollution-related melting, it is essential to mitigate emissions from the IGP.     

New age constraints on the cooling and unroofing history of the Trans-Himalayan Ladakh Batholith (Kargil area), N. W. India

Thermotectonic history of the Trans-Himalayan Ladakh Batholith in the Kargil area, N. W. India, is inferred from new age data obtained here in conjunction with previously published ages. Fission-track (FT) ages on apatite fall around 20±2 Ma recording cooling through temperatures of ∼100°C and indicating an unroofing of 4 km of the Ladakh Range since the Early Miocene. Coexisting apatite and zircon FT ages from two samples in Kargil show the rocks to have cooled at an average rate of 5–6°C/Ma in the past 40 Ma. Zircon FT ages together with mica K−Ar cooling ages from the Ladakh Batholith cluster around 40–50 Ma, probably indicating an Eocene phase of uplift and erosion that affected the bulk of the batholith after the continental collision of India with the Ladakh arc at 55 Ma. Components of the granitoids in Upper Eocene-Lower Oligocene sediments of the Indus Molasse in Ladakh supports this idea. Three hornblende K−Ar ages of 90 Ma, 55 Ma, and 35 Ma are also reported; these distinctly different ages probably reflect cooling through 500–550°C of three phases of I-type plutonism in Ladakh also evidenced by other available radiometric data: 102 Ma (mid-Cretaceous), 60 Ma (Palaeocene), and 40 Ma (Late Eocene); the last phase being localised sheet injections. The geodynamic implications of the age data for the India-Asia collision are discussed.     

An approach for GIS-based statistical landslide susceptibility zonation—with a case study in the Himalayas

Landslide susceptibility zonation (LSZ) is necessary for disaster management and planning development activities in mountainous regions. A number of methods, viz. landslide distribution, qualitative, statistical and distribution-free analyses have been used for the LSZ studies and they are again briefly reviewed here. In this work, two methods, the Information Value (InfoVal) and the Landslide Nominal Susceptibility Factor (LNSF) methods that are based on bivariate statistical analysis have been applied for LSZ mapping in a part of the Himalayas. Relevant thematic maps representing various factors (e.g., slope, aspect, relative relief, lithology, buffer zones along thrusts, faults and lineaments, drainage density and landcover) that are related to landslide activity, have been generated using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The LSZ derived from the LNSF method, has been compared with that produced from the InfoVal method and the result shows a more realistic LSZ map from the LNSF method which appears to conform to the heterogeneity of the terrain.     

The attenuation mechanism of seismic waves in northwestern Himalayas

We analysed local earthquake waveforms recorded on a broad-band seismic network in northwestern Himalayas to compute the intrinsic and scattered attenuation parameters from coda waves. Similar to other tectonically active and heterogeneous regions, attenuation-frequency relation for western Himalaya is   Q ⁻¹ _c = (113 ± 7)  f ^(1.01±0.05)  where   Q_c   is the coda Q parameter. Intrinsic  ( Q ⁻¹ _i )  and scattering  ( Q ⁻¹ _s )  attenuations was separated using   Q_c   and direct S -wave Q data  ( Q_d )  . It is observed that estimated   Q ⁻¹ _c   is close to   Q ⁻¹ _i   and both of them are much larger than   Q ⁻¹ _s   suggesting that coda decay is predominantly caused by intrinsic attenuation. At higher frequencies, both the attenuation parameters   Q_c   and,   Q_d   are similar indicating that coda is predominantly composed of back-scattered S waves at these frequencies.     

北喜马拉雅地区下白垩统海底扇沉积环境

北喜马拉雅地区早白垩世沉积以碎屑岩为主，海底扇沉积十分发育。根据沉积岩的矿物成分、结构、构造和产状特征，可将这些海底扇分为6个亚相。根据亚相在空间的排列组合所指示的沉积环境，海底扇的发展过程可划分为萌芽、青春、成熟和消亡四个阶段。在早白垩世早、中期海底扇处于萌芽阶段和青春阶段，沉积岩的砂/?泥比值高，砂岩的矿物成分和结构多样，反映出海岸平原和大陆架较窄，海底坡度较大，从早白垩世开始沉积环境经历了由陆棚向大陆斜坡转移的过程，海平面升高，构造性质主要为水平拉张、裂陷。早白垩世晚期海底扇处于成熟阶段，海岸平原和大陆架宽度加大，砂/?泥比值降低，沉积物以泥质组分为主，富含菱铁矿、钙质结核，少见菊石等生物化石，相变缓慢，水体低能，属于缓倾斜、无明显坡折带的陆缘，反映了北喜马拉雅区的最大海侵事件。由于印度洋扩张、印度板块向北漂移，在早白垩世晚期北喜马拉雅被动陆缘已趋成熟，本区处于大陆斜坡下部强还原的深海-半深海环境。晚白垩世总体上属于海退，海底扇处于消亡阶段，其岩石由泥岩类向砂岩类直至砾岩类演化。白垩纪沉积盆地则相应经历了由陆棚→拉张断陷盆地→陆坡→深海盆地的演变。     

西藏古错-岗巴盆地下白垩统黑色页岩地质特征及其油气资源意义

藏南聂拉木县、岗巴县的古错-岗巴盆地呈东西向展布,位于北喜马拉雅构造分区。早白垩世沉积以碎屑物质为主,其黑色页岩主要集中于下白垩统古错四组、古错五组和东山组。黑色页岩沉积物颗粒微细,以泥质、粘土质组分为主,砂/泥比值低,局部夹有海底扇沉积的细砂岩、粉砂岩等韵律层,富含菱铁矿、钙质结核,少见菊石等生物化石。其沉积环境应为相变缓慢、水体低能且较为特殊（受火山活动影响）的海相还原环境。黑色页岩中的粘土质所反映出的稀土配分模式与玄武岩标准模式极为接近,显示出当时的沉积可能伴随有火山活动及基性物质的介入。综合地质特征显示出本区下白垩统黑色页岩厚度巨大,构造简单,具有较好的成烃条件,虽然有机质成熟度较高,但黑色页岩仍是未来本区油气资源潜力评价中值得重视的积极因素之一。     

1990—2015年喜马拉雅山冰川变化的遥感监测

基于Landsat系列遥感数据,运用比值阈值法（B3/B5）和目视解译,研究1990—2015年喜马拉雅山冰川面积的分布与变化特征。结果表明：25年间研究区冰川面积共减少2553.10 km²,年均退缩率为0.44%/a,研究时段冰川加速退缩。研究区冰川主要分布在西段地区,中段次之,东段最少,近25年来西段、东段和中段地区冰川均表现为退缩趋势,其中东段地区退缩最快,中段最慢。从地形分布和变化特征看,5°~25°范围内冰川的分布面积较多,近25年来各坡度等级冰川均在退缩,其中25°~30°之间冰川面积退缩较快,在极平缓/极陡峭地区退缩较慢。尽管8个坡向上冰川均表现为退缩趋势,但退缩幅度有所差异,北坡与西北坡冰川退缩较慢,其他坡向退缩较快。研究时段表碛物覆盖型与非表碛物覆盖型冰川均在退缩,但后者的退缩幅度较大,表明研究区表碛物在一定程度上抑制了冰川消融。     

1990-2015年喜马拉雅山冰川变化的遥感监测及动因分析

采用Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI影像数据,结合比值阈值法与目视解译提取冰川边界,分析了喜马拉雅山冰川在1990-2015年的进退变化。结果表明：近25 a来喜马拉雅山冰川整体呈退缩趋势,冰川面积由23 229.27 km2减少至20 676.17 km2,共减少2 553.10 km2,退缩率为10.99%,研究时段喜马拉雅山冰川加速退缩,尤其是近5 a来,加速退缩的趋势尤为显著。研究区冰川主要分布在海拔4 800~6 200 m范围内,且随着海拔升高冰川分布面积呈先增加后减小趋势,综合分析喜马拉雅山山体海拔特征可知,5 200~5 600 m很可能是研究区的“第二大降水带”。依据山岳冰川分布特征,我们将研究区冰川分为山谷冰川、冰斗冰川、冰斗-山谷冰川、悬冰川和平顶冰川,其中悬冰川的数量最多,山谷冰川的分布面积和平均规模最大。结合研究区周边气象格点数据,同时以12a为滞后期发现,近25a来喜马拉雅山冰川持续退缩很可能是气温升高和降水减少共同作用的结果,且未来十几年内冰川仍可能处于持续退缩的状态。     

Major and trace element geochemistry in upper Ganga river in the Himalayas, India

Chemical weathering and resulting water compositions in the upper Ganga river in the Himalayas were studied. For the first time, temporal and spatial sampling for a 1 year period (monthly intervals) was carried out and analyzed for dissolved major elements, trace elements, Rare Earth Elements (REE), and strontium isotopic compositions. Amounts of physical and chemical loads show large seasonal variations and the overall physical load dominates over chemical load by a factor of more than three. The dominant physical weathering is also reflected in high quartz and illite/mica contents in suspended sediments. Large seasonal variations also occur in major elemental concentrations. The water type is categorized as HCO₃^––SO₄^2––Ca²⁺ dominant, which constitute >60% of the total water composition. On an average, only about 5–12% of HCO₃^– is derived from silicate lithology, indicating the predominance of carbonate lithology in water chemistry in the head waters of the Ganga river. More than 80% Na⁺ and K⁺ are derived from silicate lithology. The silicate lithology is responsible for the release of low Sr with extremely radiogenic Sr (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶ Sr>0.75) in Bhagirathi at Devprayag. However, there is evidence for other end-member lithologies for Sr other than carbonate and silicate lithology. Trace elements concentrations do not indicate any pollution, although presence of arsenic could be a cause for concern. High uranium mobilization from silicate rocks is also observed. The REE is much less compared to other major world rivers such as the Amazon, perhaps because in the present study, only samples filtered through <0.2 m were analysed. Negative Eu anomalies in suspended sediments is due to the excess carbonate rock weathering in the source area.     

Secular pilgrimages and sacred tourism in the Indian Himalayas

Assuming the above quote as a true portrayal of pilgrims, this article attempts to describe the prototypical pilgrim from amongst the wide array of contemporary religious and secular tourists. To achieve this end, two approaches have been adopted. Firstly, the phenomenon/concept of pilgrimages have been discussed, so to distinguish it from the tourism phenomenon and; Secondly, the geographical notion of genus loci has been employed to exemplify the fundamental quest for ‘geopiety’ attained through the unification of the pilgrim’s intrinsic belief with its external location. The second part of the article illustrates the forgoing through an exploration of Himalayan pilgrimages. This has been achieved with a discussion of the emerging practices and recent trends in Himalayan pilgrimology. This appraisal alludes to Cohen’s quest for a ‘Theology of Tourism.’ The article concludes with an examination of a specific genre of contemporary tourists in the Indian Himalayas, who have been identified as ‘environmental pilgrims.’

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