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Geomorphic investigation of the Late-Quaternary landforms in the southern Zanskar Valley, NW Himalaya

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Abstract

The Suru, Doda and Zanskar river valleys in the semi-arid region of Southern Zanskar Ranges (SZR) preserve a rich repository of the glacial and fluvial landforms, alluvial fans, and lacustrine deposits. Based on detailed field observations, geomorphic mapping and limited optical ages, we suggest four glaciations of decreasing magnitude in the SZR. The oldest Southern Zanskar Glaciation Stage (SZS-4) is inferred from glacially polished bedrock and tillite pinnacles. The SZS-4 is ascribed to the Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS)-4/3. The subsequent SZS-3 is represented by obliterated and dissected moraines, and is assigned to MIS-2/Last Glacial Maximum. The multiple recessional moraines of SZS-2 glaciation are assigned the early to mid Holocene age whereas, the youngest SZS-1 moraines were deposited during the Little Ice Age. We suggest that during the SZS-2 glaciation, the Drang-Drung glacier shifted its course from Suru Valley (west) to the Doda Valley (east). The study area has preserved three generations of outwash gravel terraces, which broadly correlate with the phases of deglaciation associated with SZS-3, 2, and 1. The alluvial fan aggradation, lacustrine sedimentation, and loess deposition occurred during the mid-to-late Holocene. We suggest that glaciation was driven by a combination of the mid-latitude westerlies and the Indian Summer Monsoon during periods of cooler temperature, while phases of deglaciation occurred during enhanced temperature.

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  • 13 March 2018

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Acknowledgements

This work is an outcome of the DST-sponsored field training programme coordinated by KSKV Kutchch University in 2015. Dr Navin Juyal is acknowledged for his guidance in the field work. Dr Anil Shukla, PRL, Ahmedabad, is acknowledged for radioactivity data. SS especially thanks Prof. M G Thakkar, Kutchch University and Dr S K Parcha, WIHG for their care and support during the field injury. We are also thankful to the three anonymous reviewers for their critical comments and suggestions which helped in improving the manuscript greatly.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, 140 306, India

    Shubhra Sharma

  2. Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, 380 009, India

    Shubhra Sharma, Aadil Hussain & Tarun Solanki

  3. Institute of Seismological Research, Raisan Gandhinagar, 382 007, India

    Aadil Hussain, Amit K Mishra & Tarun Solanki

  4. Department of Geology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226 007, India

    Amit K Mishra & Aasif Lone

  5. School of Earth Sciences, Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan, 304 022, India

    Amit K Mishra & Mohammad Khatib Khan

  6. Department of Geology, Anna University, Chennai, 600 025, India

    Aasif Lone

  7. Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202 002, India

    Mohammad Khatib Khan

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  1. Shubhra Sharma
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  2. Aadil Hussain
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Correspondence to Shubhra Sharma.

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Corresponding editor: Navin Juyal

A correction to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-018-0946-z.

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Sharma, S., Hussain, A., Mishra, A.K. et al. Geomorphic investigation of the Late-Quaternary landforms in the southern Zanskar Valley, NW Himalaya. J Earth Syst Sci 127, 9 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-017-0911-2

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