Signatures of Last Glacial Cycle and Tectonics Along Gopalpur-Konark Coastal Tract, Odisha

Abstract

The signatures of transgression of Last Glacial Cycle (LGC) can be inferred from the continental shelf sediments and onshore landforms. The sea level lowered to 122 m exposed, almost the entire width of the continental shelf, to subaerial condition. The LGC transgressive sea level reached the present sea level about 6–7 ka BP. The rise of the sea level above the psl has given final shape to Mahanadi delta and evolved Lake Tampara as a trace of the palaeoshoreline, now located at 5.90–7.25 m above the present sea level. Two major lakes—Samang Lake and Sar Lake, originally brackish water turned fresh water after the shoreline receded from these water bodies, are the remnants of palaeoshoreline north of Puri. Bhargavi river which meandered southerly till early Holocene took a westerly turn due to the ENE–WSW trending ridge to the north of Puri, and alternating linear depressions. There is an increase in the episodes of beach erosion in some parts of Odisha. It is relevant to mention here that the erosion occurring along the Puri beach, is triggered by strong wave events and lowering of atmospheric pressure. The problem of erosion needs to be handled in a way that does not interfere with the natural systems.