Chronology of late quaternary glaciations in Indian Himalaya: A critical review

The timing of glaciation is an important parameter that helps in the understanding of past climate change and provides valuable information for developing the predictive futuristic models. There are evidences to suggest that during the late Quaternary, Himalayan glaciers fluctuated considerably thus implying their sensitivity to changes in past climatic conditions. Although the Himalayan region is fed by two major weather systems viz. the southwest summer monsoon and the mid-latitude westerlies, however, the existing chronology (mostly exposure ages) indicates that irrespective of the geographical position, glaciers seem to grow during increased insolation and enhanced southwest summer monsoon including the mid-latitude westerly dominated north-western Himalayan glaciers (Ladakh and Karakoram). Considering the limited geographical coverage and the dating uncertainty, the above inferences should be treated as tentative.