Early onset of aridity in the past millennium: Insights from vegetation dynamics and climate change in the alpine, cold-desert region of Trans Himalaya, India.
Palynological analysis of surface soil and sub-surface sediments from the outwash plain of Hamtah Glacier, Lahaul-Spiti, India, has brought out the vegetation and climatic changes in the area during the last 1580 years. The arboreal and non-arboreal pollen ratio (AP/NAP) has been used to demarcate t...
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2024-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0295785&type=printable |
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| author | Ruchika B Mohanty Amit K Mishra Kriti Mishra Akhilesh K Yadava M Firoze Quamar Iswar C Barua Ratan Kar |
| author_facet | Ruchika B Mohanty Amit K Mishra Kriti Mishra Akhilesh K Yadava M Firoze Quamar Iswar C Barua Ratan Kar |
| author_sort | Ruchika B Mohanty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Palynological analysis of surface soil and sub-surface sediments from the outwash plain of Hamtah Glacier, Lahaul-Spiti, India, has brought out the vegetation and climatic changes in the area during the last 1580 years. The arboreal and non-arboreal pollen ratio (AP/NAP) has been used to demarcate the different vegetation and climatic zones, complemented by the frequencies of the broad-leaved taxa. Lower values of thermophilous, broad-leaved arboreal taxa, indicate that the region experienced cold-arid conditions between 1580 and 1330 yr BP (AD 370-620); which can be related to the Dark Ages Cold Period (DACP). Thereafter, between 1330 and 950 yr BP (AD 620-1000), a rejuvenation of the broad-leaved elements reflects the initiation of a comparatively warm and moist phase, marking the Medieval Climatic Anomaly (MCA) in the region. The warm-moist phase was, however, short-lived, and from 950 yr BP to the Present (AD 1000 onwards), the region saw a return to cold-arid conditions, as evidenced by a sharp fall in the AP/NAP ratio. This cold-arid phase was, nevertheless, punctuated by a warm-moist period during 790 to 680 yr BP (AD 1160-1270), which marks the terminal phase of the MCA. After the termination of the MCA, the Little Ice Age (LIA) is well-marked in the area. The culmination of the long cold-arid regime is characterized by warmer conditions over the last 160 years, which is the manifestation of the Current Warm Period (CWP). Magnetic susceptibility (χlf) and sediment geochemistry (Weathering Index of Parker) were also attempted to have a multi-proxy approach, and show a general compatibility with the palynological data. The palaeoclimatic evidences suggest shorter warm periods and extended colder phases during the last 1580 years; in this high-altitude, cold-desert, Trans Himalayan region. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:06:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-25710badb82246ce90e57807b53f0acb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:06:48Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
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| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-25710badb82246ce90e57807b53f0acb2024-01-15T05:31:30ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-01191e029578510.1371/journal.pone.0295785Early onset of aridity in the past millennium: Insights from vegetation dynamics and climate change in the alpine, cold-desert region of Trans Himalaya, India.Ruchika B MohantyAmit K MishraKriti MishraAkhilesh K YadavaM Firoze QuamarIswar C BaruaRatan KarPalynological analysis of surface soil and sub-surface sediments from the outwash plain of Hamtah Glacier, Lahaul-Spiti, India, has brought out the vegetation and climatic changes in the area during the last 1580 years. The arboreal and non-arboreal pollen ratio (AP/NAP) has been used to demarcate the different vegetation and climatic zones, complemented by the frequencies of the broad-leaved taxa. Lower values of thermophilous, broad-leaved arboreal taxa, indicate that the region experienced cold-arid conditions between 1580 and 1330 yr BP (AD 370-620); which can be related to the Dark Ages Cold Period (DACP). Thereafter, between 1330 and 950 yr BP (AD 620-1000), a rejuvenation of the broad-leaved elements reflects the initiation of a comparatively warm and moist phase, marking the Medieval Climatic Anomaly (MCA) in the region. The warm-moist phase was, however, short-lived, and from 950 yr BP to the Present (AD 1000 onwards), the region saw a return to cold-arid conditions, as evidenced by a sharp fall in the AP/NAP ratio. This cold-arid phase was, nevertheless, punctuated by a warm-moist period during 790 to 680 yr BP (AD 1160-1270), which marks the terminal phase of the MCA. After the termination of the MCA, the Little Ice Age (LIA) is well-marked in the area. The culmination of the long cold-arid regime is characterized by warmer conditions over the last 160 years, which is the manifestation of the Current Warm Period (CWP). Magnetic susceptibility (χlf) and sediment geochemistry (Weathering Index of Parker) were also attempted to have a multi-proxy approach, and show a general compatibility with the palynological data. The palaeoclimatic evidences suggest shorter warm periods and extended colder phases during the last 1580 years; in this high-altitude, cold-desert, Trans Himalayan region.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0295785&type=printable |
| spellingShingle | Ruchika B Mohanty Amit K Mishra Kriti Mishra Akhilesh K Yadava M Firoze Quamar Iswar C Barua Ratan Kar Early onset of aridity in the past millennium: Insights from vegetation dynamics and climate change in the alpine, cold-desert region of Trans Himalaya, India. PLoS ONE |
| title | Early onset of aridity in the past millennium: Insights from vegetation dynamics and climate change in the alpine, cold-desert region of Trans Himalaya, India. |
| title_full | Early onset of aridity in the past millennium: Insights from vegetation dynamics and climate change in the alpine, cold-desert region of Trans Himalaya, India. |
| title_fullStr | Early onset of aridity in the past millennium: Insights from vegetation dynamics and climate change in the alpine, cold-desert region of Trans Himalaya, India. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Early onset of aridity in the past millennium: Insights from vegetation dynamics and climate change in the alpine, cold-desert region of Trans Himalaya, India. |
| title_short | Early onset of aridity in the past millennium: Insights from vegetation dynamics and climate change in the alpine, cold-desert region of Trans Himalaya, India. |
| title_sort | early onset of aridity in the past millennium insights from vegetation dynamics and climate change in the alpine cold desert region of trans himalaya india |
| url | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0295785&type=printable |
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