Geomorphological evidences of Late Quaternary Glacial Advancements in the Himalaya.
Abstract ID#: 34056
It is revealed that glaciers in Himalaya have been significantly retreating since the last century due to change in climate/global warming. The Himalaya had been extensively glaciated in the past as it is evidenced by geomorphic and glaciogenic landforms preserved in the form of number of large and long loops of moraines although the evidence of multiple glaciations are well exposed and the timings of these glaciations are poorly dated. In order to reveal this we have dated few glacial valleys that show the significant changes in the glacier extent during the late Quaternary driven by regional and global climatic changes.
1) In Mandakini valley, Garhwal Himalaya, India four glacial stages have been identified, chronology of these glacial expansions show close correspondence with existing events reported from the western and central Himalaya and suggesting a common forcing factor that attributed to the climatic variability.
2) Dating the successions of moraines in glaciated valley of the upper Tons River, Garhwal Himalaya, provide evidence of five glacial advances during the late Quaternary Period. This study confers the synchronicity with the records of glacial fluctuations from the other Himalayan glacier valleys and representing the combined effects of cooling/ warming of Himalayan glaciers.
3) On the basis of field observations and remote sensing data in present study we have marked at least five glacial stages in DinGad basin Garhwal Himalaya which is showing the similar glacial advancements as other parts of Garhwal Himalaya and chronological reconstruction would give the better synchronicity with glacial fluctuation.
Combining those studies with the synchronicity of glacial fluctuation with other part of Himalayan glaciers provide the comprehensive view of Himalayan glaciations and give a unique opportunity to reconstruct the climate change of past and help to predict the future changes.