Glacial advances in the Yankti Kuti Valley synchronizes with climate variability

Context

According to a new study, multiple events of glacial advances have been witnessed from the Yankti Kuti valley situated in the extreme eastern part of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand, since 52 thousand years (MIS 3) that synchronises with climate variability.

A study conducted by a group of scientists from the Wadia Institute of Geological Sciences revealed that the moisture-deprived valleys in the Himalayas react sensitively to precipitation.
The oldest known glacial advance from Uttarakhand was observed in the central Himalayas’ Yankti Kuti valley, which is located in the extreme eastern part of the state.
Through its geomorphological mapping, the scientists were able to identify four events of glaciation that happened during the past 52,000 MIS 3.
The term MIS 3 refers to the alternating warm and cool periods that occurred during the Earth’s Palaeoclimate found through oxygen isotope data reflecting temperature fluctuations.
The study can help enhance the existing knowledge of the relationship between Himalayan climate and glacier dynamics and can help assessing the role of Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) versus westerlies in driving the valley glaciers in the Central Himalayan region.

Do you know?

Glacial Advance is when a mountain glacier's terminus extends farther downvalley than before; occurs when a glacier flows downvalley faster than the rate of ablation at its terminus.

Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology

The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) at Dehradun.
This is an autonomous institution of Department of Science & Technology (DST), GoI, which came into being in 1968.
It has been pursuing basic researches to unravel the orogeny of majestic Himalaya and provide improved understanding on seismogenesis, geodynamic processes, climate-tectonic interactions, evolution and extinction of life, ore formation, glaciology, river system, natural hazards (landslides, floods, and earthquakes), anthropogenic impact etc. towards the well-being of population and safe-guarding the properties and structures in the Himalaya and adjoining areas.