Subsidence of Holocene sediments in the Godavari delta, India

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to estimate the rates of subsidence in the Holocene sediments of the Godavari delta along the east coast of India. Two boreholes dug at Panangipalli village in the delta revealed Early Historic culture material such as potsherds including Coarse Red ware, Red-Slipped ware, Coarse Grey ware, and Black and Red ware, between 3.5 m and 9.0 m below the surface level. This suggests that the location was a human settlement of Andhra Satavahana period which flourished in the region between 3rd century BC and 3rd century AD. The fossil shells of Anadara sp. recovered from the borehole further downward at 11.5 m below the surface are considered to represent the intertidal swampy/lagoonal environment. The age of the shells was determined through AMS 14C dating as 6400 cal a BP. The presence of about 2.5m thick intertidal swampy/lagoonal material between 9.0 m and 11.5 m depth, suggests post-depositional subsidence at an average rate of less than 1.0 mm·a−1. However, a higher rate of subsidence of about 2.0 mm to 4.0 mm·a−1 is estimated for the upper 9.0 m thick floodplain sediment unit which embeds the Early Historic culture remains. The increased rates of subsidence during the last two millennia when compared to the earlier period in this part of the Godavari delta could be due to anthropogenic activity of deforestation and agriculture leading to accelerated soil erosion in the catchment and increased sedimentation in the delta.