Quaternary Glacial History of Naradu Valley, Kinnar Himalaya, Himachal Pradesh

Surendar Singh,M N Kaul

doi:10.18483/ijsci.1039

Abstract

The Himalayan glaciers, presently confined above the altitude of 4000m, have existed at the lower altitude levels in the geological past. Glaciers of Quaternary period in Himalaya have retreated continuously with punctuations of minor advances. The evidences of glacial extent and its subsequent retreat can be observed in the form of various landforms in the glacial landscape attributing their origin to glacial and glacio-fluvial geomorphic processes that operated in the geological past. For documenting the palaeoglaciation, it is desirable to have uninterrupted stratigraphic data for a long period. The Quaternary deposits that are main source of data imprints are frequently discontinuous in three dimensions and are a mixture of glacial, glacio-fluvial and fluvial sediments. Thus, the effect of one environment under which the sediments have initially originated gets modified by the influence of other environment, which is responsible for their subsequent transportation and deposition. However, the study of sediments of Quaternary terrain provides a clue to understand the processes in the past and environment in which they originated. Kaul (1990), reconstructed the Quaternary history of Liddar Valley on the basis of pollen analysis, lichenometry, fossil flora and glacial geomorphologic evidences. Dodia, Agarwal and Vora, (1985) gave a summary of climate and geology of Kashmir for last four million years on the basis of pollen analysis of Kashmir Bogs. Mazari, Bagati, Chauhan and Rajagopalam, (1993) recorded their investigation on Trans-Himalayan Lahul-Spiti region and constructed palaeoclimatic record of the area for last 2000 years on the basis of lacustrine facies and pollen analysis. Lewis A. Owen, Christine H. Scott and Edward Derbishire (2000) in their paper on Quaternary glacial history of Nanga Parbat indicated that glacier advanced between 12km to 15km from present ice front.According to them, the maximum extent of glaciation in Nanga Parbat occurred during the early part of last glacial cycle followed by two re-advances or period of stagnation during Pleistocene/Holocene times. This was formulated on the basis of glacial deposits in the valleys and decline in the sub-glacial component. Koul and Ganjoo (2009), described the Quaternary Glacial History of Baspa Valley based on geomorphological evidences and multi-proxy analysis of palaeo lake profile and C14dating. They suggested two glacial advances followed by gradual three recessions after the second glacial advance.

Highlights

Area of Study Naradu glacier valley is situated in the Sangla Tehsil of Kinnaur District of Himachal Pradesh
The Naradu glacier is housed in the upper part of the valley commencing from Khimloga range head wall at an altitude of 5600m
The Naradu glacier housed in the upper part of the valley commences from Khimloga range head wall at an altitude of 5600m from a common ice front and descends in two branches in a cirque trough

Summary

Introduction

The pollen data of palaeo-lake of Naradu Garang and its radiocarbon dating document two available dates, one each close to the top and bottom of the profile (Bhattacharya et al.20006).The data shows very high influence of steppe vegetation of extra local and local pollen taxa of Chenopodiaceae, Ranunculaceae, Artimisia, Pine species corresponding to low value of broad leaf taxa that suggest a cold arid climate during 12,720 years to 10,876 years BP .The tree constituents did not grow locally near Naradu Garang but occupied relatively lower altitude slopes of Sangla.This stage was followed by gradual rise of pollen of conifers, Betula, Alnus, and Procaeae, followed by gradual decrease of Chenopodeaceae and simultaneous presence of Salix thereby indicating warm and moist climate around 10,603 to[9,928] yrs BP above frozen layer .The pollen data of the phase indicate increase in Chenopodeaceae, presence of Ephedra and the decline in Poaceae, Renunculaceae and broad-leaved taxa, suggestive of existence of cool dry climate 9,928 yrs BP to 8,990 yrs.

Results

Conclusion