Studies on quaternary glaciations in India during 2010-2016

Abstract

In the recent years, number of studies were carried out to define the timing and extent of Quaternary glaciation throughout the Himalayan region. Such studies have helped to understand the past climate changes and further develop predictive futuristic models. There have been 22 research studies that were carried out during the past six years (2010-2016) with equal contribution from Indian researcher and their international counterparts in terms of research output. Most of these studies have focused on the north-western Himalaya, with only a few studies being carried out in the eastern part. Recently published new glacial succession chronology (Terrestrial Cosmogenic Nuclide (10Be TCN), Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL), Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and Radiocarbon (14C)) in these studies provide a synoptic picture of glacial episode for most the Himalayan regions. Major glacial advances occurred during the Last glacial stage and early Holocene, with minor fluctuations during the mid-Holocene. However, recent study suggests contrary to the earlier suggestions that a reasonably large valley glacier expansion occurred during the global Last Glacial Maxmium (LGM), likely in response to global variations in temperature.