Vegetational and climatic changes in the Himalayas and Trans-Himalayas

This presentation is based on the above-mentioned PhD. dissertation that includes the analyses of multi-proxy-data towards reconstruction of past vegetation vis-à-vis climate in the Himalayas during the late Quaternary. The study focuses on four sites, three under the Greater Himalayas receiving precipitation during both summer and winter monsoons and the fourth in Ladakh, the Trans-Himalayan region, receiving precipitation mainly during the winter. By the analyses of several proxy data viz. pollen, environmental magnetism and carbon isotopes, the long climatic history of these sites has been built.

A comparatively longer climatic reconstruction covering major part of last glacial period from Ladakh suggests that this site, at least since last 35,000 yr B.P., has been experiencing a predominantly semiarid climatic condition, punctuated by short episodes of increased moisture evidenced by the expansions of Betula and other local tree taxa within the steppe.

The three sites in the Greater Himalayan region allow a climatic reconstruction from pre-Holocene to the present. An abrupt transition from a Cool and dry phase prior to 11,600 cal yr B.P. to a warm-moist transitional phase of Pleistocene to Holocene, around 12,136 cal yr B.P is observed. This is correlated with the “Younger Dryas” frequently reported in different parts of the world.

Speaker

Dr. Parminder Singh Ranhotra, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, Lucknow (pranhotra@yahoo.com)

Organisers

Department of Ecology, French Institute of Pondicherry

Venue

Jawaharlal Nehru Conference Hall, French Institute of Pondicherry, 11, Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry – 605001

Time

15h00