New aspects on the late to post glacial

deglaciation around the Nilgiri Himal and

the southern Thakkola (Nepal Himalaya)

Markus Wagner

Northwest German Forest Research Station

Goettingen

Germany

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paleoclimate research in the Himalaya

• extent: glaciogeomorphology

• chronology: relative: e.g. glaciogeomorphology, pedology

• chronology: absolute: e.g. 14C, TL, OSL, TCN

• extent and chronology of pleistocene glaciation

• rating of the present climate and modelling of future climate trends

requires knowledge of climate and climate change in the past

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paleoclimate research in the Himalaya

• extent: glaciogeomorphology

• chronology: relative: e.g. glaciogeomorphology, pedology

• chronology: absolute: e.g. 14C, TL, OSL, TCN

• extent and chronology of pleistocene glaciation

• rating of the present climate and modelling of future climate trends

requires knowledge of climate and climate change in the past

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Last Glacial Maximum for High Asia after Kuhle (2004)

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Last Glacial Maximum for High Asia after Zhou et al. (2004)

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Kuhle (1982)

Fort (2000)

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TCN dating: 2.1 ± 1.7 and 0.6 ka BP (Zech et al. 2009)

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TCN dating: 18188 ± 3084 and 23007 ± 4397 a BP (Gayer et al. 2004)

28 ka ± 3 ka BP (Zech et al. 2009)

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soil profiles of the investigation areas

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pedological relative dating

1. formation of pedogenic iron and aluminium oxi-hydroxides

2. changing total element concentrations due to the element

specific mobilisation and leaching affinity

3. grain size distribution of fine earth

proof of the degree of soil development by:

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Exemplarily assortment of pedological weathering indices, Thini Khola

100

7,0

aCa

25,0

aK

9,0

aMg

35,0

aNa)P(WI

well chrystallised iron oxides: total iron ratio

clay mass

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Exemplarily assortment of pedological weathering indices, Dhampu Basin

Modfied Weathering Potential Index

(Na2O+K2O+CaO+MgO)/(Na2O+K2O+

CaO+MgO+Al2O3+Fe2O3+SiO2)*100

pedogenic iron oxides: total iron ratio

clay mass

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Exemplarily assortment of pedological weathering indices, Kali Gandaki south of

the Higher Himalaya

Clay Accumulation Index

well chrystallised iron oxides: total iron ratio

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Synoptical discussion of the results

• The own geomorphological investigations confirm the more extended last

high glacial glaciation found in the literature

• ELA depressions of at least 1300 m can be reonstructed; this is in

conformity with results from neighbouring regions

• lower and highly variable maximum ELA depressions, which are

explained by a weaker and shifting monsoon, can not be confirmed by

geomorphological investigations

• for pedological relative dating of moraines in the Himalaya similar

conditions of soil formation, and sufficient precipitation amounts are

required; in the central part of the Higher Himalaya around the Nilgiri-

Himal this is on the south-face of the Higher Himalaya extreme

topography and strong human influence prevent a for that necessary

continous soil development

Thank you very much for your attention !!!