Abstract Puga–Chumathang geothermal manifestations are located close to the Indus suture zone (ISZ), which acts as the Indo–Eurasia tectonic collision boundary of the NW Himalaya (altitude ~ 4500 m). Hot springs hold significant potential for renewable energy generation and green hydrogen production. Both geothermal fields comprise boiling springs, geysers, and hydrothermal deposits. The structure of the geothermal fields and the key geological factors are hitherto unclear. We propose a new insight into crustal architecture, suggesting a possible connection between the two geothermal fields, based on 3D inversion of magnetotelluric data from a total of 62 sites. The model resolution tests confirm the major conductivity anomalies in the study region. The model highlights the Kaigar Tso fault structure and its role in the geothermal manifestations of Puga valley, and it also recovers a geothermal reservoir model configuration at the Chumathang geothermal region. The prominent conductivity feature (1–10 Ω.m) observed at a depth of ~ 4–8 km can be attributed to a heat source from secondary magma, such as leucogranitic melts derived from the ISZ during the significant Indo–Eurasian collision dynamics. The clue for a common source and a possibility interconnection of these hot springs provides multi-scale geothermal exploration plans in India, aiding the global goal of net-zero carbon emissions. Graphical Abstract

Earthquake Hazard: A silent crisis in Kashmir Valley, NW Himalaya

Occurrence, sources, and controlling factors of emerging organic pollutants in a freshwater lake system in the NW Himalayas

Geochronology and petrogenesis of alkaline rocks from the Peshawar Plain Alkaline Igneous Province, NW Himalaya, Pakistan: Implications for rare metal mineralization and geodynamic settings

ABSTRACT The pre-collisional granitoids of the Lesser Himalaya preserve records of Proterozoic magmatic activity along the northern active margin of the Indian Plate. This study provides a comprehensive geological mapping, petrological investigation, and whole-rock geochemical analysis of the Kainchwa Granitoid Complex (KGC) in the NW Himalaya, aiming to elucidate its geological characteristics, tectono-magmatic evolution, emplacement mechanisms, and contact relationships with the surrounding country rocks. Geological mapping reveals that the Neoproterozoic KGC intrudes the Naura Formation along the S1 foliation plane, forming tongues and apophyses with sharp contact boundaries. The granitoids are classified into five variants: porphyroblastic gneiss, medium-grained augen gneiss, foliated porphyritic granite, fine-grained leucocratic granite, and garnet-bearing mesocratic granite. Geochemical data reveal high concentrations of SiO2 (50.48–73.97 wt.%), Al2O3 (13.08– 22.37 wt.%), K2O (2.03–5.59 wt.%), and Na2O (0.55–4.42 wt.%), with highly variable Na2O + K2O (4.28–9.14 wt.%), ΣREE (176.60–847.71 ppm), Rb (67–453 ppm), and Nb (6–23 ppm), indicating a possible heterogeneous source for these granitoids. The CIPW normative approach, utilising parameters Q’=100×Q/ (Q+Or+Ab+An) and ANOR = 100×An/(Or+An), places the KGC within the alkali granite field. The granitic rocks of KGC exhibit elevated SiO2 and are strongly peraluminous, with an A/CNK ratio of 1.65–3.38, similar to S-type granitoids. Total Alkali-Silica (TAS) and Harker diagrams confirm its alkaline to calc-alkaline nature, demonstrating systematic removal of ferromagnesian phases during crystallisation. The REE diagram indicates light rare earth element (LREE) enrichment ([La/Yb] N = 5.08–26.08) and moderate to slightly negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.18–0.82), suggesting plagioclase fractionation under reducing conditions. Well-fractionated LREE patterns, reflected in consistent (La/Yb)N values, suggest a uniform fractionation process across KGC samples. Discrimination diagrams, such as Rb/Sr versus Rb/Ba and La versus La/Sm, further indicate that the KGC originated from sedimentary sources with low clay content and high maturity, characteristic of psammitic or pelitic compositions, underscoring the granitoid complex’s uniform tectonic history and sedimentary derivation.

Late Quaternary tectonic-climate coupling controlled transient landscape, river piracy, and deformation partitioning in the mountain front of the NW Himalaya

The Dharali Catastrophic Disaster of 05th August 2025: A Wake-Up Call from the Kheer Ganga, NW Himalaya

Origin of leucosomes in a Kyanite-Zone migmatite of the Higher Himalayan Crystallines, Bhagirathi Valley (NW Himalaya)

Prediction of the spatial variability of rainfall- and human-induced landslides in the Bhagirathi Valley of the Indian NW Himalayas using machine learning techniques

Influence of late Quaternary climate change and Neo-tectonic on fluvial aggradation and incision in the Markanda valley, NW Himalaya

Integrating MHVSR and MSOR techniques with JFIM for seismic vulnerability assessment of sites and buildings in Jammu and Kashmir, NW Himalayas

Petrography and geochemistry of alkaline rocks from Michni (Warsak) area, NW Himalayas, Pakistan: Insights into petrogenesis and tectonic setting

ABSTRACT In recent times, the Batote-Baglihar area of Jammu and Kashmir, NW Himalaya, has witnessed increased landslide activity, damaging houses along the western slope of Chakwa Nala, located on the footwall of the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT). The mass movement activation is reflected in the form of slumps, creeps, and cracks in land, roads, and buildings of the affected area. The area has a gentle to moderate slope, moderate relative relief, and moderate to high Stream Power Index (SPI). The field-based mapping of intrinsic factors revealed the dominance of unconsolidated overburden material (81%). The frequency ratio (FR) reveals the highest positive correlation with old debris material (2.01), followed by mudstone-sandstone lithology (1.3), gentle slope (1.3), and moderate slope (1.2). The Google terrain and contour maps reveal the presence of indistinct morphological markers of palaeo-landslide activity such as rolling topography, slope-top benches, smoothened steep crest slopes with elliptical to amphitheatre shape, and reversal of contours. The field-based palaeo-landslide markers include thick (2–20m) debris material, the presence of rock boulders within the debris, and deflection of drainage around relict palaeo-landslide accumulation zones. The disposition of recent landslide features shows 92.5% of failures are witnessed over palaeo-landslides, indicating their strong reactivation. Thus, the identification and mapping of such palaeo-landslides, along with engineering geological and landslide activity maps, will be beneficial for development purposes and landslide risk reduction.

ABSTRACTUnderstanding plant adaptive strategies that determine species distributions and ecological optima is crucial for predicting responses to global change drivers. While functional traits provide mechanistic insights into distribution patterns, the specific trait syndromes that best predict elevational optima, particularly in less‐studied regions such as the Himalayas, remain unclear. This study employs a novel hierarchical framework integrating morphological, anatomical, and physiological traits to explain elevational distributions among 310 plant species across a 3,500‐m gradient (2,650–6,150 m). We analyzed 95,000 floristic records collected from 4,062 localities spanning 80,000 km2 in Ladakh, NW Himalayas, India, to define elevational optima and link them with 17 functional traits from over 7,800 individuals. We assessed the roles of moisture and cold limitations on trait–optima relationships by comparing two contrasting habitats (dry steppe and wetter, colder alpine). The predictive power of functional traits was more pronounced in the alpine species facing more extreme abiotic stress than the steppe species. Our results indicate that conservative life history strategies strongly predict elevational optima in alpine areas, while drought avoidance and competitive dominance are key in steppe habitats. Trait syndromes combining short stature, compact growth forms, enhanced storage tissues, and features promoting water‐use efficiency (δ13C), freezing resistance (fructan levels), and nutrient retention (high root nitrogen and leaf phosphorus) explained 61% of the variation in alpine species' optima. Conversely, lifespan and clonal propagation determined the optima of steppe species at lower elevations. The study emphasizes the importance of functional trait combinations in determining elevational optima, highlighting that alpine species prioritize resource conservation and stress tolerance, while steppe species focus on competitive growth strategies. This multi‐trait approach contrasts with previous research focusing on single trait–elevation relationships, providing novel insights into the diverse mechanisms shaping elevational distributions and offering valuable predictive power for assessing vegetation responses to future climate change.

We investigated a 83-cm-thick fluvio-glacial sedimentary profile from Baspa Valley, Central Himalaya, where monsoonal precipitation and glacial deposits are well preserved. We use a multi-proxy strategy to reconstruct Late-Holocene climatic variability in this region, including carbon isotope, environmental magnetism, total organic carbon, and AMS Carbon-14 dating. These multi-proxy data showed alternate warm and cool climatic phases that govern glacial snow melting and advancement, respectively. The current study revealed that the climate was warm and moist (deglaciation phases) from 2.9 to 1.5 ka and 1 to 0.5 ka. The warm and moist conditions in this area are characterised by depleted carbon isotope values, high organic production, and high magnetic mineral concentrations. The Indian monsoon conditions were very intense during this time period. Cold and dry climatic conditions (glacial phase) were recorded between 1.5 and 1 ka, as shown by carbon isotope enrichment, lower organic production, and low magnetic mineral concentrations. During this period, weak monsoonal conditions were observed in the Baspa region, Northwest Himalayan region. Keywords: Palaeoclimate, Environmental Magnetism, Carbon Isotope, AMS 14C Dating, Baspa Valley, NW Himalaya

Inconsistencies in stratigraphic interpretation and correlation – Comments on “depositional cyclicity of lower Cambrian strata in the NW Himalayas: Regional sequence stratigraphy of the Indian passive margin” by Mahmood et al. (2024)

U–Pb zircon geochronology constraints on the contractional and extensional tectonics along the South Tibetan detachment system (STDS), Dhauliganga Valley, NW Himalaya

ABSTRACT We compile GPS measurements of crustal deformation from the NW Himalaya to estimate convergence rate, status of strain accumulation, spatial variation of locking width and locking extent on the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT). We find that the convergence rate from east to west decreases from 18 mm/yr in the Kumaun Himalaya to 13.6 mm/year in the Kashmir Himalaya. The locking on the MHT is very strong beneath the Outer and Lesser Himalaya and decreases to the north beneath the Higher Himalaya. The locking width of the MHT is ~100 km in the Garhwal-Kumaun, Himachal and Jammu region but reaches to 165 km in the Kashmir region. The anomalous locking width in the Kashmir region is also marked with unusually low locking beneath the Kashmir valley. It implies for partial ruptures of earthquakes in the Zanskar and Pir Panjal region. However, there may be a scenario in which the entire locked width of ~165 km on the MHT may rupture in the case of an impulsive and energetic earthquake. The larger width of the locking transition in the Jammu region may be due to a lack of GPS constraints from the north. Along the entire length of ~1000 km for the NW Himalaya, spanning from Kashmir to Kumaun, the Kumaun region might have accumulated more strain since the last major or great earthquake in respective regions.

Interseismic deformation and 3D kinematic reconstruction of the Balapur Fault, NW Himalaya: Insights from InSAR and gravity data

Archaeo-seismological Evidences of a Shifted Capital in Chamba Region of NW Himalaya