Linkage of paraglacial processes from last glacial to recent inferred from Spituk sequence,Leh valley,Ladakh Himalaya

The paraglacial sequence in the Leh valley, Ladakh Himalaya preserves imprints of various processes active during deglaciation in the late phase of Last Glacial. In present work, a high resolution sedimentological record generated for Spituk is presented identifying aeolian episodes, mudflow events from Ladakh Range and debris flows extending from Zanskar Range across present Indus River. Two temporal phases of water ponding within Spituk Sequence are also identified. The seismites recorded at various stratigraphic depths and their association with the sediment facies signifies gravity induced process besides possible seismic activity as an added phenomena. Linkage between paraglacial processes since Last Glacial to Recent is tracked and evaluated.     

Morphology, mineralogy and magnetic susceptibility of epikarst-Terra Rossa developed in late Quaternary aeolianite deposits of southeastern Saurashtra, India

The nature and development of epikarst and soil development in aeolianites under a monsoonal climatic regime has not yet been described. Late Quaternary aeolianites of the southeastern coast of Saurashtra in western India show a wide array of epikarst and red-soil formation, and serve to typify the character of aeolianite weathering under a monsoonal climate. Three varieties of epikarst are identified that represent down-profile increase in groundwater flow. Five types of Terra Rossae represent a transition from the karstified limestone to soil development. Terra Rossae differ in the content of residual aeolianite and show both simple and complex profiles. The latter at places shows ped development. The results show that an ontogenetic (growth) sequence exists from incipient epikarst to complex palaeosols. This ontogenetic sequence represents an incremental increase in the groundwater budget of the region in response to changing intensification of the Indian monsoon rainfall. Magnetic properties of the Terra Rossae formed under a monsoonal climate are described for the first time. The magnetic susceptibility together with its frequency-dependent and anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) represents both the concentration of single domain and ultrafine superparamagnetic (SP) magnetite. The formation of single domain and superparamagnetic magnetite and hematite are linked genetically to weathering of the aeolianite that leads to the formation of Terra Rossa.     

Genetic architecture of three Turbinella pyrum varieties (Linnaeus, 1758) from the southeast coast of India

The genetic diversity and variation of three pseudo‐species of the commercially important Indian conch Turbinella pyrum from the southeast coast of India were studied. A total of 88 individuals was genotyped at 12 loci and differences in the genetic diversity among genetic groups were correlated with known population histories. The study identified 535 alleles and all the studied loci were highly polymorphic. The number of alleles ranged between four and 29 with a global mean of 14.861. The global means of the observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.774 and 0.891, respectively. The estimated within‐population inbreeding value (F_IS = 0.131) indicated a shortfall of heterozygosity in the populations. An analysis of molecular variance showed that 5% of the total variation was due to differences between genetic groups. The Bayesian approach revealed strong distinctiveness in the three genetic groups studied. Overall microsatellite analysis revealed less genetic diversity in all studied genetic groups and significant genetic variation among the three pseudo‐species. The study highlights the significant distinctiveness of the pseudo‐species of T. pyrum and the need for appropriate conservation efforts in order to prevent further losses of their genetic diversity.     

Middle to Late Holocene climate,vegetation and sea-level changes in NW Tripura,northeast India,based on palynological and mineral magnetic evidence

Journal of Paleolimnology - The sediment deposits of northwestern Tripura, northeast India, revealed the enhanced proximity to the marginal marine environments, forest cover variations and...     

Morphostratigraphy and palaeoclimate appraisal of the Leh valley,Ladakh Himalayas,India

In the present paper we study morphology, occurrence and mutual interrelationship of erosional (amphitheaters) and depositional landforms belonging to glacial (moraines), fluvio-glacial (glacial out wash), mass wasting (alluvial fans), aeolian (obstacle dune and sand sheets) and lacustrine (palaeo-lake sediments) processes within the Leh valley. These landforms are the geomorphic expression of past deglaciation grouped into five Formative Stages of Landform (FSL 1 to FSL 5) development in the Leh valley. The broad age bracket for the formative stages are based on the empirical relationship of the landforms, available chronology and their correlation with comparable climate phases. The retreat of glaciers in the Leh valley, along the southern slopes of Ladakh hill range and their retention over the northern slopes and Karakoram is further explained.     

Reconstruction of the variability of the southwest monsoon during the past 3 ka,from the continental margin of the southeastern Arabian Sea

From temporal variation in δ¹⁸O in Globigerinoides ruber and G. sacculifer and geochemical indices of weathering/erosion (chemical index of alteration, Al and Ti), we infer rapid southwest monsoon (SWM) deterioration with dwindling fluvial and detrital fluxes at ca. 450–650, 1000 and 1800–2200 cal. a BP during the late Holocene. We have evaluated the role of solar influx (reconstructed) and high‐latitude climate variability (archived in GRIP and GISP‐2 cores) on SWM precipitation. Broadly, our δ¹⁸O climate reconstruction is concordant with GRIP and GISP‐2, and supports a teleconnection through atmospheric connection between the SWM and the North Atlantic climate – albeit temporal extents of the Little Ice Age and Medieval Warm Period from high latitude are not entirely coeval. Moreover, there is a humid climate and enhanced precipitation during the terminal stages of the Little Ice Age. The medieval warming (ca. AD 800–1300) is not synchronous either, and is punctuated by an arid event centred at 1000 a BP. Although the delineation of the specific influence of solar influx on SWM precipitation is elusive, we surmise that SWM precipitation is a complex phenomenon and local orography along southwestern India may have a role on the entrapment of moisture from the southwest trade winds, when these hit land. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.