Holocene climate change and environment

Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Contents
Contributors
Preface
Acknowledgments
1 The prelude to the Holocene: tropical Asia during the Pleistocene
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Scope, methodology, and data sources
1.3 Pliocene demise of Indian wet tropical forests
1.4 Pleistocene vegetation and climate change across India and Southeast Asia
1.4.1 Falling sea levels and topographic change across tropical Asia
1.4.2 Sundanian vegetation during periods of low sea level
1.4.3 Early Pleistocene and the dispersal of Homo erectus to India and Sunda
1.4.4 Southeast Asia and India during the last glacial/interglacial cycle
1.4.5 Immigration of Homo sapiens
1.4.6 The Toba eruption
1.4.7 Homo sapiens after Toba
1.5 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
2 Contemporary dynamics and Holocene extent of glaciers in the Himalayas
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Scope
2.3 Methodology and processes
2.4 Fieldwork and sampling techniques
2.5 Observations and results
2.5.1 Contemporary dynamics in glaciers of the Western and Eastern Himalayas
2.5.2 The Holocene glacial extent and timing
2.6 Discussion
2.7 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
3 Holocene climatic record of Ladakh, Trans-Himalaya
3.1 Introduction
3.1.1 Study area
3.1.2 Geomorphology, climate, and vegetation
3.2 Scope
3.3 Methodology and processes
3.4 Field work and sampling techniques
3.5 Observations and results
3.5.1 Lithology and chronology
3.5.2 Paleoclimate reconstruction
3.6 Discussion
3.7 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
4 Late Holocene advancements of denudational and depositional fronts in the Higher Himalaya: A case study from Chandra valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Scope
4.3 Methods
4.4 Field observations and documentation
4.4.1 Segment I
4.4.2 Segment II
4.5 Inferences from profiling
4.6 Discussion
4.7 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
5 Holocene regional-scale behavior of the rivers of Indian Peninsula
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Scope of the study
5.3 The Peninsular rivers: fluvial geomorphology and hydrology
5.4 The Pleistocene fluvial records in the Peninsular river valleys
5.5 Variability in the monsoon regime during the Holocene
5.6 Observations and discussion
5.6.1 Holocene regional-scale river behavior of the Peninsular rivers
5.6.2 Regional-scale river behavior: Early Historic Period to Current Period \(last ^^e2^^88^^bc2.5 ka\)
5.7 Holocene regional-scale river behavior vis-^^c3^^a0-vis the monsoon variability
5.8 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
6 Holocene vegetation and climate change from central India: An updated and a detailed pollen-based review
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Scope
6.3 Study area, vegetation, and climate
6.4 Results and discussion: regional and global contextualization
6.4.1 Early-Holocene to Mid-Holocene \(^^e2^^88^^bc11,700^^e2^^80^^938200 cal yr BP\)
6.4.2 Mid-Holocene to Late-Holocene \(^^e2^^88^^bc8200^^e2^^80^^934200 cal yr BP\)
6.4.3 Late-Holocene onward \(^^e2^^88^^bc4200 cal yr BP^^e2^^80^^93Present\)
6.5 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
7 Holocene climate and sea-level changes and their impact on ecology, vegetation and landforms in South Kerala Sedimentary Basin, India
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Scope
7.3 Material and methods
7.3.1 Borehole data
7.3.2 Fossil wood/subfossil logs
7.4 Fieldwork and sampling techniques
7.5 Observations and results
7.5.1 Ernakulam area
7.5.2 The area along the east of Vembanad lagoon
7.5.3 The area along the southwest of Vembanad lagoon
7.5.4 Thiruvarpu^^e2^^80^^93Kavanar^^e2^^80^^93Kudavechur area
7.5.5 Kalarkod area
7.5.6 The area along the east of the Vembanad lagoon
7.5.7 Southern sand-dominated area
7.6 Discussion
7.6.1 The relevance of tectonics in the study of sedimentary facies
7.6.2 Climate variability and sea-level changes and their impacts
7.6.3 Holocene deposits and the society
7.7 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
8 Reading source, Holocene climate change and monsoon signatures in surface and core sediments from western Bay of Bengal
8.1 Introduction
8.1.1 Scope of the study
8.2 Methodology
8.2.1 Sampling area
8.2.2 Sampling methods
8.2.3 Laboratory analysis
8.2.4 Data processing
8.3 Results and discussion
8.3.1 Surface and spade/multicore sediments^^e2^^80^^94source and processes
8.3.2 Gravity core sediments^^e2^^80^^94sedimentary depositional environments and Holocene climate
8.4 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
9 Holocene environmental magnetic records of Indian monsoon fluctuations
9.1 Introduction
9.2 Scope of the study
9.3 Methodology and processes
9.3.1 Study locations
9.3.2 Environmental magnetic measurements
9.4 Results
9.4.1 Himalayan loess-paleosol deposits
9.4.2 Nal Sarovar Lake sediments
9.4.3 Godavari delta mangrove sediments
9.4.4 Iskapalii lagoon sediments
9.5 Composite S-ratio map and paleomonsoon rainfall fluctuations
9.5.1 A 20 ka climate record from Himalayan loess deposits
9.5.2 Holocene climate records in Western Lake and Eastern Coastal sediments
9.5.3 Late Holocene climate records from East Coast mangrove deposits
9.6 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
10 Application of tree rings in understanding long-term variability in river discharge of high Himalayas, India
10.1 Introduction
10.2 Scope
10.3 Methodology
10.3.1 Field work and sampling techniques
10.3.2 Crossdating of growth ring sequences
10.3.3 Chronology preparation
10.3.4 Climatic settings along the course of Sutlej River
10.3.5 Identification of climate signal in ring-width chronologies
10.3.6 River discharge reconstruction
10.4 Observations and results
10.5 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
11 Potential utility of Himalayan tree-ring 18O to reveal spatial patterns of past drought variability - Its assessments and implications
11.1 Introduction
11.2 The scope of the present study
11.3 Fieldwork and sampling technique
11.3.1 Tree-ring δ18O data sets
11.4 Methodology and processes
11.4.1 Cellulose extraction, isotope measurement, and chronology development
11.4.2 Paleoclimate reconstruction methodology
11.5 Results
11.6 Discussion
11.7 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
12 Bond events and monsoon variability during Holocene - Evidence from marine and continental archives
12.1 Introduction
12.1.1 Holocene epoch
12.1.2 Summer and winter monsoons
12.2 Scope
12.2.1 Instrumental data
12.2.2 Tree ring and corals: annual to decadal resolution climate reconstruction
12.3 Methodology
12.4 Observations
12.4.1 North Atlantic and Mediterranean regions
12.4.2 Marine archives from Northern Indian Ocean
12.4.3 Continental archives from Indian subcontinent
12.5 Discussion
12.5.1 Imprints of Bond events in marine and continental archives
12.5.2 Natural forcing and climate variables
12.6 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
13 Indian Summer Monsoon variability on different timescales and deciphering its oscillations from irregularly spaced paleoclimate data using different spectral techniques
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Scope
13.3 Methodology and processes
13.3.1 Spectral methods used for irregularly spaced time-varying natural signals
13.3.2 Spectral techniques, their stability, bias correction, and peak finding
13.3.3 Description of data used
13.4 Results
13.4.1 SPECTRUM results
13.4.2 REDFIT results
13.4.3 TS AAVSO results
13.4.4 NESToolbox results
13.4.5 WAVEPAL results
13.4.6 Periodicities in ISMR
13.5 Discussion
13.5.1 Forcing mechanisms on ISMR with different timescales
13.5.2 Decadal to multidecadal
13.5.3 Centennial to multicentennial forcings
13.6 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
14 Monsoon variability in the Indian subcontinent - A review based on proxy and observational datasets
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Scope
14.3 Methodology and processes
14.4 Observations and results
14.4.1 Proxy for surface runoff
14.4.2 Evaporative proxies
14.4.3 Observation and reanalysis data
14.5 Discussion
14.6 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
15 Holocene hydroclimatic shifts across the Indian subcontinent: A review based on interarchival coherences
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Scope
15.3 Present-day climatic regimes within the Indian subcontinent
15.4 Indian Summer Monsoon and its teleconnections
15.5 Methodology
15.5.1 Sources of uncertainty in climate records
15.6 Observations based on interproxy coherences
15.6.1 Lake sediments
15.6.2 Speleothems
15.6.3 Marine sediments
15.7 Discussion
15.8 Learning and knoledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
16 Application of precipitation isotopes in pursuit of paleomonsoon reconstruction: An Indian perspective
16.1 Introduction
16.2 Scope of the work
16.3 Methodology and processes
16.3.1 Precipitation sampling and precipitation data
16.3.2 Evaporation flux
16.3.3 Moisture flux divergence
16.3.4 Isotopic analysis of rainwater
16.3.5 Analysis of rainfall data
16.4 Results
16.5 Discussion
16.5.1 Examination of the amount effect on a monthly scale
16.5.2 Estimation of amount effect for the Andaman Islands region
16.6 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
17 Mangrove Ostracoda species fluctuations, habitual adaptation, and its environmental implications - A review
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Scope of the study
17.3 Results and Discussion
17.3.1 Holocene Ostracoda
17.3.2 Ostracoda species fluctuation in mangrove environment
17.3.3 Habitual adaptation of Ostracoda from mangrove environment
17.4 Learning and knowledge outcomes
References
18 Late Quaternary landscape evolution of Peninsular India: A review based on fluvial archives
18.1 Introduction
18.2 Scope
18.3 Methodology and data sources
18.4 Observations and results
18.5 Discussion
18.5.1 West flowing Peninsular rivers
18.5.2 East flowing Peninsular rivers
18.5.3 Southern Peninsular Rivers
18.6 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
19 The imprints of Holocene climate and environmental changes in the South Mahanadi Delta and the Chilika lagoon, Odisha, India - An overview
19.1 Introduction
19.1.1 The geographical and geomorphological setting of the study area
19.1.2 Previous work
19.2 Scope of the study
19.3 Methodology
19.4 Observation and results
19.4.1 Geoenvironmental setting of the study area
19.4.2 Holocene temperature changes
19.4.3 The Chilika lagoon and the south Mahanadi delta
19.4.4 Hydrology and geomorphology of SMD
19.5 Discussion
19.5.1 The Holocene changes in Chilika lagoon
19.5.2 Holocene changes in SMD
19.6 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
20 Holocene changes in fluvial geomorphology, depositional environments, and evolution of coastal wetlands - A multiproxy study from Southwest India
20.1 Introduction
20.2 Scope
20.3 Study area
20.4 Materials and methods
20.5 Results
20.5.1 Borehole lithology and textural characteristics
20.5.2 Organic carbon \(C-org\) and CaCO3
20.5.3 Heavy mineralogy
20.5.4 Palynology
20.5.5 Lime shell occurrences
20.5.6 Geochronology
20.6 Discussion
20.7 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
21 Holocene evolution of coastal wetlands - A case study from Southern Kerala, India
21.1 Introduction
21.2 Scope
21.3 Study area
21.4 Materials and methods
21.5 Field work and sampling techniques
21.6 Results
21.6.1 Borehole lithology and sediment texture
21.6.2 Surface sediments^^e2^^80^^94granulometric characteristics
21.6.3 Heavy mineralogy
21.6.4 SEM analysis
21.6.5 Geochemistry
21.7 Discussion
21.7.1 Sedimentary processes and depositional environments
21.7.2 Sea-level changes and coastal evolution
21.8 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
22 Late Quaternary geoarcheology and palynological studies of some saline lakes of the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, India
22.1 Introduction
22.1.1 Vegetation
22.1.2 Landforms of the Thar Desert
22.2 Scope
22.3 Observations
22.3.1 Saline lakes
22.3.2 Archeology around saline lakes
22.4 Discussion
22.4.1 Lakes
22.4.2 Human^^e2^^80^^93environment relationship
22.5 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
23 Late Quaternary geoarchaeological and palaeoenvironmental aspects of Kurnool Basin in the Indian Peninsula
23.1 Introduction
23.2 Scope
23.3 Study area
23.3.1 Regional geography and geology
23.4 Billa Surgam investigations
23.4.1 Late Middle Pleistocene to Late Holocene faunal and archaeological record
23.4.2 Field investigations in the Billa Surgam Valley
23.4.3 Laboratory studies and dating
23.5 Investigations in the Jurreru Valley
23.5.1 Stratified YTT and depositional environment
23.6 Palaeolithic sites and dated lithic and symbolic artifact assemblages
23.6.1 Jwalapuram tank Acheulian occurrence
23.6.2 Stratified Middle Palaeolithic occupation floors
23.6.3 Microlithic sequence at Jwalapuram 9 \(JWP9\)
23.7 The Middle and Late Palaeolithic typology and technology
23.7.1 Middle Palaeolithic assemblages
23.7.2 Late Palaeolithic Microlithic technology
23.8 Neolithic Kunderu Tradition during the Late Holocene
23.9 Challenges and solutions
23.9.1 Dating the Middle and Late Palaeolithic in the Jurreru Valley
23.9.2 Are the Pre-YTT Middle Palaeolithic assemblages in secondary context?
23.9.3 When did the Middle Palaeolithic technology originate?
23.10 Post KAP developments in Indian prehistory
23.10.1 Out of Africa into the Indian Subcontinent: the organized search for hominin remains
23.11 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
24 Holocene vegetation, climate, and culture in Northeast India: a pollen data^^e2^^80^^93based review
24.1 Introduction
24.2 Scope
24.3 General climatic conditions
24.4 Monsoon
24.5 Methodology
24.6 Holocene vegetation and climatic records
24.6.1 Assam
24.6.2 Manipur
24.6.3 Tripura
24.6.4 Sikkim Himalaya
24.6.5 Darjeeling
24.6.6 Arunachal Pradesh
24.6.7 Mizoram
24.6.8 Meghalaya
24.6.9 Nagaland
24.7 Discussion
24.8 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
25 Late Holocene vegetation, climate dynamics, and human-environment interaction along Konkan coast, India
25.1 Introduction
25.2 Scope
25.3 Methodology and processes
25.4 Fieldwork and sampling techniques
25.5 Observations and results
25.6 Discussion
25.6.1 Landscape dynamics
25.6.2 Vegetation response
25.6.3 Culture and human impact
25.7 Learning and knowledge outcomes
Acknowledgments
References
List of reviewers
Index