The extra-peninsular Gondwana Group rocks are exposed in narrow patches within the Lesser Himalayan sequence of the NE-Arunachal Himalayas,India.The bulk of sediments for the sandstones of the Gondwana Group were deri...The extra-peninsular Gondwana Group rocks are exposed in narrow patches within the Lesser Himalayan sequence of the NE-Arunachal Himalayas,India.The bulk of sediments for the sandstones of the Gondwana Group were derived from felsic/acidic to intermediate igneous rocks,with minor mafic input from the upper continental crust(UCC),as supported by various discrimination diagrams based on quantification of detrital minerals coupled with sandstone geochemistry.The inputs from metamorphic sources in subordinate amounts cannot be ruled out,as indicated by quantification of the quartz varieties.These sediments were found to be sourced from the interior part of a craton or shield and recycled platformal sediments which were derived from both passive and active margin settings.The sediments experienced a wide variance in climatic conditions,from arid to humid,suffering low-moderate-inten-sity weathering(CIA:63.43;CIW:86.18;WIP:44.84;PIA:75.37;ICV:2.39;C-value:0.42;PF:0.49;Sr/Cu:9.23 and Rb/Sr:1.68)within the vicinity of the low plains to moderate hills.Additionally,redox-sensitive elements indicate the deposition of sediments under oxygenated or oxygen-rich conditions(U_(au):−2.91;Th/U:7.37;U/Th:0.18;V/Cr:1.71;δU:0.67 and Ce/Ce^(*):0.93).展开更多
The Himalayan-Tibetan Orogen holds numerous glaciers crucial for the Asian Water Tower,thus influencing the surface energy balance and climate feedback.Understanding glacier fluctuations is essential for improving our...The Himalayan-Tibetan Orogen holds numerous glaciers crucial for the Asian Water Tower,thus influencing the surface energy balance and climate feedback.Understanding glacier fluctuations is essential for improving our knowledge of current and future glacial evolution,but limited by short modern glacial observations.Proglacial lakes provide valuable opportunities to obtain high-resolution and continuous glacial changes,but detailed investigations remain scarce.For example,there is still controversy over whether lake sediments reflect melting or ablation.Therefore,we selected a modern glacial lake in the Himalayan region,formed due to glacial retreat in the 1960s,and compared its sedimentary records with modern observations.This provides a case study for future reconstruction of glacial changes using lake sediments.Our results indicate that the sediments of the proglacial lake are primarily influenced by glacial meltwater.Stronger meltwater fluxes transport more debris,magnetic minerals,and terrestrially derived organic matter to the lake.In terms of grain size distribution,the fine silt component(2–8μm)can serve as an indicator of glacial meltwater intensity.Additionally,this study reveals an opposite trend between glacial meltwater variations and air temperature trends over the past few decades.This suggests that evaporation may offset the increase in glacial meltwater,though the multi-century(>100-year)trend requires validation with longer records.展开更多
Treelines are ecologically unique,fragile,and rich in natural resources.They harbour high species diversity and at the same time are under threat due to anthropogenic activities.Recognizing this,the present study has ...Treelines are ecologically unique,fragile,and rich in natural resources.They harbour high species diversity and at the same time are under threat due to anthropogenic activities.Recognizing this,the present study has been framed to document the patterns of species richness and diversity in the state of Himachal Pradesh,western Himalaya.A total of six treeline sites(three disturbed and three undisturbed)were identified for vegetation sampling.Trees,shrubs,and herbs were sampled at each site using nested plots of 10 m^(2),5 m^(2),and 1 m^(2),respectively.The study exhibits the rich diversity of treeline communities,the patterns of which varied between treeline sites.Altogether,221 species of vascular plants belonging to 47 families and 140 genera were recorded from the area.Amongst families,Asteraceae was the dominant family followed by Apiaceae and Ranunculaceae.The study also revealed the presence of threatened species like Aconitum heterophyllum,Angelica glauca,Bergenia stracheyi,Dactylorhiza hatagirea,Picrorhiza kurroa,and Trillium govanianum etc.at treeline.Moreover,species composition revealed high densities of Betula utilis followed by the under canopy of Rhododendron campanulatum and R.anthopogon at treeline sites.Overall,species richness of herbs,shrubs,and trees were higher at undisturbed site as compared to disturbed one.The diversity indices of herbs and shrubs varied significantly between treeline sites while that of trees was non-significant.At the same time,soil properties showed distinct patterns wherein pH and available nitrogen significantly varied between treeline sites.Present study provides detailed insights into the floristic and ecological aspects of treeline communities from the unexplored ecoregion of western Himalaya.The treelines in the area are anthropogenically depressed and continued land-use activities might result in habitat fragmentation and displacement of plant communities in the near future.展开更多
Understanding how and why assemblage dissimilarity changes along spatial gradient is a great challenge in ecology,because answers to these questions depend on the analytical types,dimensions,and components of beta div...Understanding how and why assemblage dissimilarity changes along spatial gradient is a great challenge in ecology,because answers to these questions depend on the analytical types,dimensions,and components of beta diversity we concerned.To obtain a comprehensive understanding of assemblage dissimilarity and its implications for biodiversity conservation in the Himalayas,we explored the elevational patterns and determinants of beta diversity and its turnover and nestedness components of pairwise and multiple types and taxonomic and phylogenetic dimensions simultaneously.Patterns of beta diversity and their components of different types and dimensions were calculated based on 96 sampling quadrats along an 1800-5400 m elevational gradient.We examined whether and how these patterns differed from random expectations using null models.Furthermore,we used random forest methods to quantify the role of environmental variables representing climate,topography,and human disturbance in determining these patterns.We found that beta diversity and its turnover component,regardless of its types and dimensions,shown a hump-shaped elevational patterns.Both pairwise and multiple phylogenetic beta diversity were remarkably lower than their taxonomic counterpart.These patterns were significantly less than random expectation and were mostly associated with climate variables.In summary,our results suggested that assemblage dissimilarity of seed plants was mostly originate from the replacement of closely related species determined by climate-driven environmental filtering.Accordingly,conservation efforts should better cover elevations with different climate types to maximalize biodiversity conservation,rather than only focus on elevations with highest species richness.Our study demonstrated that comparisons of beta diversity of different types,dimensions,and components could be conductive to consensus on the origin and mechanism of assemblage dissimilarity.展开更多
Soil erosion is one of the major global hazards threatening the food security of the world population.Soil erosion can be a result of both natural and anthropogenic processes.Field monitoring and models(numerical and ...Soil erosion is one of the major global hazards threatening the food security of the world population.Soil erosion can be a result of both natural and anthropogenic processes.Field monitoring and models(numerical and physical)are commonly used to quantify soil erosion.However,field methods are time-consuming and the models inherently work with a level of uncertainty.Soil erosion studies in the Himalayas have been mostly carried out using modelling but there is a lack of sufficient field data to validate the results.We quantified soil erosion in a small catchment(Pranmati)in the Himalayas using the fallout meteoric^(10)Be nuclide for the first time.Based on the^(10)Be flux delivery rates determined from global circulation models(GCM),we calculated the rates of soil erosion at discrete points in the hilltop and mid-slope regions of hillslopes.The erosion rates vary between 17 mm kyr^(-1)to 68 mm kyr^(-1).These rates were determined in pristine areas that are unaffected by anthropogenic activities,thus,indicate the background erosion rates in the region.We established empirical relationships with estimated erosion rates and topographic parameters to assess the sediment dynamics in the hillslopes.It was observed that the sediment redistribution process operates differently in the mid-slope region compared to the hilltop region,due to increasing complexity of the active processes in the mid-slope region.展开更多
In this study,we investigate the complex relationship between western disturbances(WDs),the El Ni?o–Southern Oscillation(ENSO),and extreme precipitation events(EPEs) in the western Himalaya(WH) during the extended wi...In this study,we investigate the complex relationship between western disturbances(WDs),the El Ni?o–Southern Oscillation(ENSO),and extreme precipitation events(EPEs) in the western Himalaya(WH) during the extended winter season(November–March).WDs west of WH coincide with 97% of recorded EPEs,contributing substantially(32% in winter,11% annually) to total precipitation within WH.WDs are 6% less frequent and 4% more intense during El Ni?o than La Ni?a to the west of WH.During El Ni?o(compared to La Ni?a) years,WDs co-occurring with EPEs are significantly more intense and associated with 17% higher moisture transport over “WH box”(the selected region where most of the winter precipitation over WH occurs).This results in twice the EPE frequency during El Ni?o periods than La Ni?a periods.A substantial southward shift(~180 km) of the subtropical jet(STJ) axis during El Ni?o brings WD tracks further south towards their primary moisture sources,especially the Arabian Sea.We have shown that WDs that are both more intense and pass to the south of their typical latitudes have higher levels of vertically integrated moisture flux(VIMF)within them.VIMF convergence in the most intense pentile of WDs is 5.7 times higher than in the weakest,and is 3.4 times higher in the second lowest latitude pentile than in the highest.Overall,this study demonstrates a direct link between changes in the latitudinal position and intensity of WDs associated with the winter STJ,and moisture convergence,which leads to the occurrence of EPEs over WH during ENSO phases.展开更多
The Kashmir Basin,shaped by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates,features prominent faults,including the Balapur fault and other fault zones.This study focuses on the Gulmarg fault within the North...The Kashmir Basin,shaped by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates,features prominent faults,including the Balapur fault and other fault zones.This study focuses on the Gulmarg fault within the Northwestern Himalaya,using advanced geomagnetic techniques for delineation.Geomagnetic measurements reveal the characteristics of the newly identified Gulmarg fault.Ground magnetic surveys with Proton Precession Magnetometers along linear profiles and a magnetic grid highlight fault-related anomalies.The results indicate a fault running through the Gulmarg meadows,approximately 1.6 km from the Balapur fault,suggesting a potential coupling between the two.Three profiles across the fault exhibit distinctive magnetic variations,highlighting the intricate nature of the fault structure.Gridding methods also reveal anomalies associated with subsurface water and hydraulic activities,underscoring the importance of advanced geophysical techniques.This study emphasizes the significance of detailed investigations to unravel the complex geological processes shaping the Kashmir Basin.The study provides valuable insights into the tectonic activity in the Gulmarg region,underscoring the role of geophysical studies in enhancing our understanding of dynamic geological structures like the Gulmarg fault zone.展开更多
Mountains serve as exceptional natural laboratories for studying biodiversity due to their heterogeneous landforms and climatic zones.The Himalaya,a global biodiversity hotspot,hosts rich endemic flora,supports vital ...Mountains serve as exceptional natural laboratories for studying biodiversity due to their heterogeneous landforms and climatic zones.The Himalaya,a global biodiversity hotspot,hosts rich endemic flora,supports vital ecosystem functions,and offers a unique window into multifaceted plant diversity patterns.This review synthesizes research on Himalayan plant diversity,including species,phylogenetic,functional,and genetic dimensions,highlighting knowledge gaps and solutions.Research on Himalayan plant diversity has developed significantly.However,gaps remain,especially in studies on phylogenetic and functional diversity.The region's vegetation ranges from tropical rainforests to alpine ecosystems,with species richness typically following a hump-shaped distribution along elevation gradients.The eastern Himalaya exhibits higher plant diversity than the central and western regions.Low-elevation communities were found to be more functionally diverse,whereas high-elevation communities displayed greater ecological specialization.Communities at mid-elevations tend to show greater phylogenetic diversity than those at higher and lower elevations.The eastern and western flanks of the Himalaya retain high levels of genetic diversity and serve as glacial refugia,whereas the central region acts as a hybrid zone for closely related species.Himalayan plant diversity is shaped by historical,climatic,ecological and anthropogenic factors across space and time.However,this rich biodiversity is increasingly threatened by environmental change and growing anthropogenic pressures.Unfortunately,research efforts are constrained by spatial biases and the lack of transnational initiatives and collaborative studies,which could significantly benefit from interdisciplinary approaches,and other coordinated actions.These efforts are vital to safeguarding the Himalayan natural heritage.展开更多
The Western Himalaya,often termed the“Water Tower of Asia,”is experiencing critical hydrological changes due to global warming.This review synthesizes current scientific knowledge on climate-driven alterations in th...The Western Himalaya,often termed the“Water Tower of Asia,”is experiencing critical hydrological changes due to global warming.This review synthesizes current scientific knowledge on climate-driven alterations in the region’s water cycle,assessing impacts on ecosystems,agriculture,energy security,and local livelihoods.We conducted a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed studies(2000-2024)from Scopus,Web of Science,and regional databases,supplemented by case studies and observational/modeling data.Key themes include cryospheric loss,shifting precipitation,river flow variability,and hydrological extremes.Key findings indicate that(1)temperature increases(0.2-0.5°C/decade)have accelerated glacier retreat(up to 20-30%mass loss in some basins)and reduced snow cover(5-15%decline since 2000);(2)altered precipitation patterns have increased rainfall dominance,elevating flood risks while reducing groundwater recharge in arid zones;and(3)river discharge shows declining dry-season flows but higher peak flows,threatening water security for over 200 million downstream inhabitants.These findings underscore the urgent need for integrated,cross-scale strategies combining scientific innovation,indigenous knowledge,and adaptive policies to enhance resilience.We highlight critical gaps in high-altitude monitoring and call for transboundary cooperation to mitigate escalating climate risks.This systematic review uniquely contrasts Western Himalayan hydrology with that of the Central and Eastern regions and benchmarks policy gaps,offering a roadmap for climate-resilient water governance.展开更多
The Kumaun Himalaya is well-known as a geologically and tectonically complex region that amplifies mass wasting processes,particularly landslides.This study attempts to investigate the interplay between landslide dist...The Kumaun Himalaya is well-known as a geologically and tectonically complex region that amplifies mass wasting processes,particularly landslides.This study attempts to investigate the interplay between landslide distribution and the lithotectonic regime of Darma Valley,Kumaun Himalaya.A landslide inventory comprising 295 landslides in the area has been prepared and several morphotectonic proxies such as valley floor width to height ratio(Vf),stream length gradient index(SL),and hypsometric integral(HI)have been used to infer tectonic regime.Morphometric analysis,including basic,linear,aerial,and relief aspects,of 59 fourth-order sub-basins,has been carried out to estimate erosion potential in the study area.The result demonstrates that 46.77%of the landslides lie in very high,20.32%in high,21.29%in medium,and 11.61%in low erosion potential zones respectively.In order to determine the key parameters controlling erosion potential,two multivariate statistical methods namely Principal Component Analysis(PCA)and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering(AHC)were utilized.PCA reveals that the Higher Himalayan Zone(HHZ)has the highest erosion potential due to the presence of elongated sub-basins characterized by steep slopes and high relief.The clusters created through AHC exhibit positive PCA values,indicating a robust correlation between PCA and AHC.Furthermore,the landslide density map shows two major landslide hotspots.One of these hotspots lies in the vicinity of highly active Munsiyari Thrust(MT),while the other is in the Pandukeshwar formation within the MT's hanging wall,characterized by a high exhumation rate.High SL and low Vf values along these hotspots further corroborate that the occurrence of landslides in the study area is influenced by tectonic activity.This study,by identifying erosionprone areas and elucidating the implications of tectonic activity on landslide distribution,empowers policymakers and government agencies to develop strategies for hazard assessment and effective landslide risk mitigation,consequently safeguarding lives and communities.展开更多
Zircon crystals,which form directly from igneous melts,are invaluable for probing the deep crustal basement and provide crucial insights into its composition and evolution.Supercontinent cycles,including the formation...Zircon crystals,which form directly from igneous melts,are invaluable for probing the deep crustal basement and provide crucial insights into its composition and evolution.Supercontinent cycles,including the formation and breakup of Columbia,Rodinia,and Gondwana,play a pivotal role in shaping global magmatic and metamorphic records,and deciphering magmatic patterns is critical for unraveling the complex interplay between tectonics and magmatism.This study investigates U-Pb geochronology and trace/rare earth element(REE)compositions of zircons from the Early Cretaceous Tethyan Himalaya Igneous Province,revealing critical insights into Precambrian-Paleozoic magmatic and tectonic evolution.Dominant Paleoproterozoic(2498 Ma,1912 Ma)and Neoproterozoic(826-762 Ma)zircon populations confirm the existence of the Precambrian basement.Neoproterozoic magmatism shows decoupling between light and heavy REE(LREE/HREE)and europium anomalies(Eu/Eu^(*)=Eu_(N)/(Sm_(N)×Gd_(N))^(1/2))during the 826-762 Ma and 725-702 Ma intervals,indicating that the Rodinia margin evolved from Andean-style subduction to continental collision.Early Paleozoic magmatism correlates with Pan-African orogenesis and subsequent Proto-Tethyan Ocean subduction beneath the Indian Craton.Neo-Tethyan initiation(ca.273 Ma)is evidenced by 200-300 Ma zircons which exhibit(1)absence of LREE/HREE-Eu/Eu^(*)crustal thickness correlations,and(2)a thermal peak at 273 Ma.展开更多
The Darjeeling Himalayan region,characterized by its complex topography and vulnerability to multiple environmental hazards,faces significant challenges including landslides,earthquakes,flash floods,and soil loss that...The Darjeeling Himalayan region,characterized by its complex topography and vulnerability to multiple environmental hazards,faces significant challenges including landslides,earthquakes,flash floods,and soil loss that critically threaten ecosystem stability.Among these challenges,soil erosion emerges as a silent disaster-a gradual yet relentless process whose impacts accumulate over time,progressively degrading landscape integrity and disrupting ecological sustainability.Unlike catastrophic events with immediate visibility,soil erosion’s most devastating consequences often manifest decades later through diminished agricultural productivity,habitat fragmentation,and irreversible biodiversity loss.This study developed a scalable predictive framework employing Random Forest(RF)and Gradient Boosting Tree(GBT)machine learning models to assess and map soil erosion susceptibility across the region.A comprehensive geo-database was developed incorporating 11 erosion triggering factors:slope,elevation,rainfall,drainage density,topographic wetness index,normalized difference vegetation index,curvature,soil texture,land use,geology,and aspect.A total of 2,483 historical soil erosion locations were identified and randomly divided into two sets:70%for model building and 30%for validation purposes.The models revealed distinct spatial patterns of erosion risks,with GBT classifying 60.50%of the area as very low susceptibility,while RF identified 28.92%in this category.Notable differences emerged in high-risk zone identification,with GBT highlighting 7.42%and RF indicating 2.21%as very high erosion susceptibility areas.Both models demonstrated robust predictive capabilities,with GBT achieving 80.77%accuracy and 0.975 AUC,slightly outperforming RF’s 79.67%accuracy and 0.972 AUC.Analysis of predictor variables identified elevation,slope,rainfall and NDVI as the primary factors influencing erosion susceptibility,highlighting the complex interrelationship between geo-environmental factors and erosion processes.This research offers a strategic framework for targeted conservation and sustainable land management in the fragile Himalayan region,providing valuable insights to help policymakers implement effective soil erosion mitigation strategies and support long-term environmental sustainability.展开更多
A new species of the genus Tylototriton is described from eastern Himalaya based on molecular and morphological comparisons. The new species is diagnosable from the closely-related species by having light brown colour...A new species of the genus Tylototriton is described from eastern Himalaya based on molecular and morphological comparisons. The new species is diagnosable from the closely-related species by having light brown colouration in dorsal region in life, flat and blunt snout, greatly separated dorsolateral bony ridges on head and straightthick tailfin. In addition to head morphology, the new species is also morphologically distinguishable from its closelyrelated species Tylototriton shanorum by having 16 dorsal warts and average smaller Snout Vent Length（SVL）.展开更多
The Eastern Sikkim area forming a part of the Lesser Himalaya is located between 27°10′～27°30′N latitudes and 88°25′～88°40′E longitudes (750km 2). The previous workers agreed that a domal str...The Eastern Sikkim area forming a part of the Lesser Himalaya is located between 27°10′～27°30′N latitudes and 88°25′～88°40′E longitudes (750km 2). The previous workers agreed that a domal structure is present in Sikkim which is constituted by low to high grade metamorphic rocks characterised by inverted metamorphism. The rocks were repeatedly deformed and were metamorphosed at about 550 to 770℃ (550 to 750MPa). Geologically, the oldest rocks of Eastern Sikkim are represented by Darjeeling Formation showing medium to high grade metamorphism. It is followed by low grade Daling Formation which is characterised by tectonic wedges of Lingtse gneiss. The potassic syenite intrusive i.e. the Sikkim igneous formation is youngest rock type of the area. The Darjeeling Formation associated with amphibolite bands consists of kyanite\|sillimanite, staurolite and garnet zones, while the Daling Formation is characterised by low grade chloritoid and chlorite zones. Lingtse Formation is gneissic in which patches of retrograded and sheared garnet schists are present. Intrusions of potassic syenites (Sikkim Formation) occur in the form of oval and concordant bodies. The F 1, F 2 and F 3 folds are well developed in rocks of Eastern Sikkim area.. The F 1 folds are rootless, tightly isoclinal or reclined and highly obliterated in their attitude. The F 2 folds belong to class IC of Ramsay (1967). Their interlimb angles vary from 20～50 degrees. Intersection lineation due to S 0/S 1 and S 2 surfaces is parallel to the F 2 folds axis. Third generation structures are represented by open to moderately tight and kinked folds. Superimposition of F 3 folds on F 2 folds resulted into type II interference pattern of Ramsay (1967). Structural analysis of these folds have revealed that F 2 folds are non\|cylindrical. The kink or F 3 folds were possibly responsible for the formation of a megakink resembling with the domal structure. The repeatedly deformed rocks of Eastern Sikkim area were folded, faulted, sheared/thrusted during the Himalayan orogeny. The Main Central Thrust (M C T) is actually a ductile shear zone and was subjected to imbrication during later phases of F 2 folding.展开更多
The Arun mega\|antiform, a large N—S structure transversal to the tectonic trend of the E Nepal Himalaya, is a tectonic window offering a complete section of the Himalayan nappe pile, from the Lesser Himalayan zone t...The Arun mega\|antiform, a large N—S structure transversal to the tectonic trend of the E Nepal Himalaya, is a tectonic window offering a complete section of the Himalayan nappe pile, from the Lesser Himalayan zone to the Tethyan Himalaya. At the northern end of the Arun tectonic window (ATW), the Ama Drime—Nyonno Ri range of south Tibet exposes a section of that portion of the Main Central Thrust (MCT) zone and Lesser Himalayan Crystallines (LHC) which elsewhere in Nepal is concealed below the overlying Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) nappe (Fig. 1). As throughout the Himalaya at the structural level of the MCT, the ATW is characterized by an inverted metamorphic field gradient characterized by a progression from chlorite to sillimanite grade from low to high structural levels of the nappe pile. Metamorphic peak temperatures rise from circa 400℃ in the pelitic and psammitic Precambrian metasediments of the Lesser Himalayan Tumlingtar Unit, to 550～620℃ in the overlying LHC, to over 700℃ in the muscovite\|free Barun Gneiss, the lowermost HHC unit in the Arun valley.展开更多
New monazite U\|Pb geochronological data from the Everest region suggest that 20～25Ma elapsed between the initial India—Asia collision and kyanite\|sillimanite grade metamorphism. Our results indicate a two\|phase m...New monazite U\|Pb geochronological data from the Everest region suggest that 20～25Ma elapsed between the initial India—Asia collision and kyanite\|sillimanite grade metamorphism. Our results indicate a two\|phase metamorphic history, with peak Barrovian metamorphism at (32 2±0 4)Ma and a later high\|temperature, low\|pressure event (620℃, 400MPa) at (22 7±0 2)Ma.. Emplacement and crystallization of the Everest granite subsequently occurred at 20 5～21 3Ma. The monazite crystallization ages that differ by 10Ma are recorded in two structurally adjacent rocks of different lithology, which have the same post collisional p—T history.. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the younger monazite is elaborately shaped and grew in close association with apatite at grain boundaries and triple junctions, suggesting that growth was stimulated by a change in the fluid regime. The older monazite is euhedral, is not associated with apatite, and is commonly armoured within silicate minerals. During the low\|pressure metamorphic event, the armouring protected the older monazites, and a lack of excess apatite in this sample prevented new growth. Textural relationships suggest that apatite is one of the necessary monazite\|producing reactants, and spots within monazite that are rich in Ca, Fe, Al and Si suggest that allanite acted as a preexisting rare earth element host. We propose a simplified reaction for monazite crystallization based on this evidence.展开更多
The Upper Triassic flysch sediments(Nieru Formation and Langjiexue Group)exposed in the Eastern Tethyan Himalayan Sequence are crucial for unraveling the controversial paleogeography and paleotectonics of the Himalaya...The Upper Triassic flysch sediments(Nieru Formation and Langjiexue Group)exposed in the Eastern Tethyan Himalayan Sequence are crucial for unraveling the controversial paleogeography and paleotectonics of the Himalayan orogen.This work reports new detrital zircon U-Pb ages and whole-rock geochemical data for clastic rocks from flysch strata in the Shannan area.The mineral modal composition data suggest that these units were mainly sourced from recycled orogen provenances.The chemical compositions of the sandstones in the strata are similar to the chemical composition of upper continental crust.These rocks have relatively low Chemical Index of Alteration values(with an average of 62)and Index of Compositional Variability values(0.69),indicating that they experienced weak weathering and were mainly derived from a mature source.The geochemical compositions of the Upper Triassic strata are similar to those of graywackes from continental island arcs and are indicative of an acidicintermediate igneous source.Furthermore,hornblende and feldspar experienced decomposition in the provenance,and the sediment became enriched in zircon and monazite during sediment transport.The detrital zircons in the strata feature two main age peaks at 225-275 Ma and 500-600 Ma,nearly continuous Paleoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic ages,and a broad inconspicuous cluster in the Tonian-Stenian(800-1200 Ma).The detrital zircons from the Upper Triassic sandstones in the study area lack peaks at 300-325 Ma(characteristic of the Lhasa block)and 1150-1200 Ma(characteristic of the Lhasa and West Australia blocks).Therefore,neither the Lhasa block nor the West Australia blocks likely acted as the main provenance of the Upper Triassic strata.Newly discovered Permian-Triassic basalt and mafic dikes in the Himalayas could have provided the 225-275 Ma detrital zircons.Therefore,Indian and Himalayan units were the main provenances of the flysch strata.The Tethyan Himalaya was part of the northern passive margin and was not an exotic terrane separated from India during the Permian to Early Cretaceous.This evidence suggests that the Neo-Tethyan ocean opened prior to the Late Triassic and that the Upper Triassic deposits were derived from continental crustal fragments adjacent to the northern passive continental margin of Greater India.展开更多
Prevailing dogma asserts that the uplift of Tibet, the onset of the Asian monsoon system and high biodiversity in southern Asia are linked, and that all occurred after 23 million years ago in the Neogene.Here, spannin...Prevailing dogma asserts that the uplift of Tibet, the onset of the Asian monsoon system and high biodiversity in southern Asia are linked, and that all occurred after 23 million years ago in the Neogene.Here, spanning the last 60 million years of Earth history, the geological, climatological and palaeontological evidence for this linkage is reviewed. The principal conclusions are that: 1) A proto-Tibetan highland existed well before the Neogene and that an Andean type topography with surface elevations of at least 4.5 km existed at the start of the Eocene, before final closure of the Tethys Ocean that separated India from Eurasia. 2) The Himalaya were formed not at the start of the India-Eurasia collision, but after much of Tibet had achieved its present elevation. The Himalaya built against a pre-existing proto-Tibetan highland and only projected above the average height of the plateau after approximately 15 Ma. 3)Monsoon climates have existed across southern Asia for the whole of the Cenozoic, and probably for a lot longer, but that they were of the kind generated by seasonal migrations of the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone. 4) The projection of the High Himalaya above the Tibetan Plateau at about 15 Ma coincides with the development of the modern South Asia Monsoon. 5) The East Asia monsoon became established in its present form about the same time as a consequence of topographic changes in northern Tibet and elsewhere in Asia, the loss of moisture sources in the Asian interior and the development of a strong winter Siberian high as global temperatures declined. 6) New radiometric dates of palaeontological finds point to southern Asia's high biodiversity originating in the Paleogene, not the Neogene.展开更多
文摘The extra-peninsular Gondwana Group rocks are exposed in narrow patches within the Lesser Himalayan sequence of the NE-Arunachal Himalayas,India.The bulk of sediments for the sandstones of the Gondwana Group were derived from felsic/acidic to intermediate igneous rocks,with minor mafic input from the upper continental crust(UCC),as supported by various discrimination diagrams based on quantification of detrital minerals coupled with sandstone geochemistry.The inputs from metamorphic sources in subordinate amounts cannot be ruled out,as indicated by quantification of the quartz varieties.These sediments were found to be sourced from the interior part of a craton or shield and recycled platformal sediments which were derived from both passive and active margin settings.The sediments experienced a wide variance in climatic conditions,from arid to humid,suffering low-moderate-inten-sity weathering(CIA:63.43;CIW:86.18;WIP:44.84;PIA:75.37;ICV:2.39;C-value:0.42;PF:0.49;Sr/Cu:9.23 and Rb/Sr:1.68)within the vicinity of the low plains to moderate hills.Additionally,redox-sensitive elements indicate the deposition of sediments under oxygenated or oxygen-rich conditions(U_(au):−2.91;Th/U:7.37;U/Th:0.18;V/Cr:1.71;δU:0.67 and Ce/Ce^(*):0.93).
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42401181,42025103)the Sichuan Tianfu Emei Plan
文摘The Himalayan-Tibetan Orogen holds numerous glaciers crucial for the Asian Water Tower,thus influencing the surface energy balance and climate feedback.Understanding glacier fluctuations is essential for improving our knowledge of current and future glacial evolution,but limited by short modern glacial observations.Proglacial lakes provide valuable opportunities to obtain high-resolution and continuous glacial changes,but detailed investigations remain scarce.For example,there is still controversy over whether lake sediments reflect melting or ablation.Therefore,we selected a modern glacial lake in the Himalayan region,formed due to glacial retreat in the 1960s,and compared its sedimentary records with modern observations.This provides a case study for future reconstruction of glacial changes using lake sediments.Our results indicate that the sediments of the proglacial lake are primarily influenced by glacial meltwater.Stronger meltwater fluxes transport more debris,magnetic minerals,and terrestrially derived organic matter to the lake.In terms of grain size distribution,the fine silt component(2–8μm)can serve as an indicator of glacial meltwater intensity.Additionally,this study reveals an opposite trend between glacial meltwater variations and air temperature trends over the past few decades.This suggests that evaporation may offset the increase in glacial meltwater,though the multi-century(>100-year)trend requires validation with longer records.
基金the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change and GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment for providing financial assistance through the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (GAP-0199)
文摘Treelines are ecologically unique,fragile,and rich in natural resources.They harbour high species diversity and at the same time are under threat due to anthropogenic activities.Recognizing this,the present study has been framed to document the patterns of species richness and diversity in the state of Himachal Pradesh,western Himalaya.A total of six treeline sites(three disturbed and three undisturbed)were identified for vegetation sampling.Trees,shrubs,and herbs were sampled at each site using nested plots of 10 m^(2),5 m^(2),and 1 m^(2),respectively.The study exhibits the rich diversity of treeline communities,the patterns of which varied between treeline sites.Altogether,221 species of vascular plants belonging to 47 families and 140 genera were recorded from the area.Amongst families,Asteraceae was the dominant family followed by Apiaceae and Ranunculaceae.The study also revealed the presence of threatened species like Aconitum heterophyllum,Angelica glauca,Bergenia stracheyi,Dactylorhiza hatagirea,Picrorhiza kurroa,and Trillium govanianum etc.at treeline.Moreover,species composition revealed high densities of Betula utilis followed by the under canopy of Rhododendron campanulatum and R.anthopogon at treeline sites.Overall,species richness of herbs,shrubs,and trees were higher at undisturbed site as compared to disturbed one.The diversity indices of herbs and shrubs varied significantly between treeline sites while that of trees was non-significant.At the same time,soil properties showed distinct patterns wherein pH and available nitrogen significantly varied between treeline sites.Present study provides detailed insights into the floristic and ecological aspects of treeline communities from the unexplored ecoregion of western Himalaya.The treelines in the area are anthropogenically depressed and continued land-use activities might result in habitat fragmentation and displacement of plant communities in the near future.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant number 31901109)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(grant number 2021A1515110744).
文摘Understanding how and why assemblage dissimilarity changes along spatial gradient is a great challenge in ecology,because answers to these questions depend on the analytical types,dimensions,and components of beta diversity we concerned.To obtain a comprehensive understanding of assemblage dissimilarity and its implications for biodiversity conservation in the Himalayas,we explored the elevational patterns and determinants of beta diversity and its turnover and nestedness components of pairwise and multiple types and taxonomic and phylogenetic dimensions simultaneously.Patterns of beta diversity and their components of different types and dimensions were calculated based on 96 sampling quadrats along an 1800-5400 m elevational gradient.We examined whether and how these patterns differed from random expectations using null models.Furthermore,we used random forest methods to quantify the role of environmental variables representing climate,topography,and human disturbance in determining these patterns.We found that beta diversity and its turnover component,regardless of its types and dimensions,shown a hump-shaped elevational patterns.Both pairwise and multiple phylogenetic beta diversity were remarkably lower than their taxonomic counterpart.These patterns were significantly less than random expectation and were mostly associated with climate variables.In summary,our results suggested that assemblage dissimilarity of seed plants was mostly originate from the replacement of closely related species determined by climate-driven environmental filtering.Accordingly,conservation efforts should better cover elevations with different climate types to maximalize biodiversity conservation,rather than only focus on elevations with highest species richness.Our study demonstrated that comparisons of beta diversity of different types,dimensions,and components could be conductive to consensus on the origin and mechanism of assemblage dissimilarity.
基金financially supported by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR)(grant no.09/045(1399)/2015-EMR-I)the Ministry of Earth Sciences(Mo ES),Government of India(grant no.Mo ES/P.O.(Geo)/95/2017)。
文摘Soil erosion is one of the major global hazards threatening the food security of the world population.Soil erosion can be a result of both natural and anthropogenic processes.Field monitoring and models(numerical and physical)are commonly used to quantify soil erosion.However,field methods are time-consuming and the models inherently work with a level of uncertainty.Soil erosion studies in the Himalayas have been mostly carried out using modelling but there is a lack of sufficient field data to validate the results.We quantified soil erosion in a small catchment(Pranmati)in the Himalayas using the fallout meteoric^(10)Be nuclide for the first time.Based on the^(10)Be flux delivery rates determined from global circulation models(GCM),we calculated the rates of soil erosion at discrete points in the hilltop and mid-slope regions of hillslopes.The erosion rates vary between 17 mm kyr^(-1)to 68 mm kyr^(-1).These rates were determined in pristine areas that are unaffected by anthropogenic activities,thus,indicate the background erosion rates in the region.We established empirical relationships with estimated erosion rates and topographic parameters to assess the sediment dynamics in the hillslopes.It was observed that the sediment redistribution process operates differently in the mid-slope region compared to the hilltop region,due to increasing complexity of the active processes in the mid-slope region.
基金the Ministry of Science and Technology,Government of India,and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR)(09/081(1371)/2019-EMRI)for its funding,supported by a NERC Independent Research Fellowship(MITRE,NE/W007924/1)。
文摘In this study,we investigate the complex relationship between western disturbances(WDs),the El Ni?o–Southern Oscillation(ENSO),and extreme precipitation events(EPEs) in the western Himalaya(WH) during the extended winter season(November–March).WDs west of WH coincide with 97% of recorded EPEs,contributing substantially(32% in winter,11% annually) to total precipitation within WH.WDs are 6% less frequent and 4% more intense during El Ni?o than La Ni?a to the west of WH.During El Ni?o(compared to La Ni?a) years,WDs co-occurring with EPEs are significantly more intense and associated with 17% higher moisture transport over “WH box”(the selected region where most of the winter precipitation over WH occurs).This results in twice the EPE frequency during El Ni?o periods than La Ni?a periods.A substantial southward shift(~180 km) of the subtropical jet(STJ) axis during El Ni?o brings WD tracks further south towards their primary moisture sources,especially the Arabian Sea.We have shown that WDs that are both more intense and pass to the south of their typical latitudes have higher levels of vertically integrated moisture flux(VIMF)within them.VIMF convergence in the most intense pentile of WDs is 5.7 times higher than in the weakest,and is 3.4 times higher in the second lowest latitude pentile than in the highest.Overall,this study demonstrates a direct link between changes in the latitudinal position and intensity of WDs associated with the winter STJ,and moisture convergence,which leads to the occurrence of EPEs over WH during ENSO phases.
文摘The Kashmir Basin,shaped by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates,features prominent faults,including the Balapur fault and other fault zones.This study focuses on the Gulmarg fault within the Northwestern Himalaya,using advanced geomagnetic techniques for delineation.Geomagnetic measurements reveal the characteristics of the newly identified Gulmarg fault.Ground magnetic surveys with Proton Precession Magnetometers along linear profiles and a magnetic grid highlight fault-related anomalies.The results indicate a fault running through the Gulmarg meadows,approximately 1.6 km from the Balapur fault,suggesting a potential coupling between the two.Three profiles across the fault exhibit distinctive magnetic variations,highlighting the intricate nature of the fault structure.Gridding methods also reveal anomalies associated with subsurface water and hydraulic activities,underscoring the importance of advanced geophysical techniques.This study emphasizes the significance of detailed investigations to unravel the complex geological processes shaping the Kashmir Basin.The study provides valuable insights into the tectonic activity in the Gulmarg region,underscoring the role of geophysical studies in enhancing our understanding of dynamic geological structures like the Gulmarg fault zone.
基金funded by the Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences,CAS(ZDBS-LY-7001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32170398,42211540718,W2433074,32071541)+6 种基金the CAS“Light of West China”Programthe Xingdian Talent Support Program of Yunnan Province(XDYC-QNRC-2022-0026)the Natural Science Foundation of Yunnan(202201AT070222)the Fund of Yunnan Key Laboratory of Crop Wild Relatives Omics(CWR-2024-04)funding from the China Scholarship Council(202304910135,202304910138)for their oneyear study at the University of Toronto,Canadathe Pakistan Science Foundation&NSFC for the joint venture under the project(PSF-NSFC/JSEP/BIO/COAU(04))surpported by the Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission(2023ZKZD36).
文摘Mountains serve as exceptional natural laboratories for studying biodiversity due to their heterogeneous landforms and climatic zones.The Himalaya,a global biodiversity hotspot,hosts rich endemic flora,supports vital ecosystem functions,and offers a unique window into multifaceted plant diversity patterns.This review synthesizes research on Himalayan plant diversity,including species,phylogenetic,functional,and genetic dimensions,highlighting knowledge gaps and solutions.Research on Himalayan plant diversity has developed significantly.However,gaps remain,especially in studies on phylogenetic and functional diversity.The region's vegetation ranges from tropical rainforests to alpine ecosystems,with species richness typically following a hump-shaped distribution along elevation gradients.The eastern Himalaya exhibits higher plant diversity than the central and western regions.Low-elevation communities were found to be more functionally diverse,whereas high-elevation communities displayed greater ecological specialization.Communities at mid-elevations tend to show greater phylogenetic diversity than those at higher and lower elevations.The eastern and western flanks of the Himalaya retain high levels of genetic diversity and serve as glacial refugia,whereas the central region acts as a hybrid zone for closely related species.Himalayan plant diversity is shaped by historical,climatic,ecological and anthropogenic factors across space and time.However,this rich biodiversity is increasingly threatened by environmental change and growing anthropogenic pressures.Unfortunately,research efforts are constrained by spatial biases and the lack of transnational initiatives and collaborative studies,which could significantly benefit from interdisciplinary approaches,and other coordinated actions.These efforts are vital to safeguarding the Himalayan natural heritage.
文摘The Western Himalaya,often termed the“Water Tower of Asia,”is experiencing critical hydrological changes due to global warming.This review synthesizes current scientific knowledge on climate-driven alterations in the region’s water cycle,assessing impacts on ecosystems,agriculture,energy security,and local livelihoods.We conducted a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed studies(2000-2024)from Scopus,Web of Science,and regional databases,supplemented by case studies and observational/modeling data.Key themes include cryospheric loss,shifting precipitation,river flow variability,and hydrological extremes.Key findings indicate that(1)temperature increases(0.2-0.5°C/decade)have accelerated glacier retreat(up to 20-30%mass loss in some basins)and reduced snow cover(5-15%decline since 2000);(2)altered precipitation patterns have increased rainfall dominance,elevating flood risks while reducing groundwater recharge in arid zones;and(3)river discharge shows declining dry-season flows but higher peak flows,threatening water security for over 200 million downstream inhabitants.These findings underscore the urgent need for integrated,cross-scale strategies combining scientific innovation,indigenous knowledge,and adaptive policies to enhance resilience.We highlight critical gaps in high-altitude monitoring and call for transboundary cooperation to mitigate escalating climate risks.This systematic review uniquely contrasts Western Himalayan hydrology with that of the Central and Eastern regions and benchmarks policy gaps,offering a roadmap for climate-resilient water governance.
基金CSIR for providing financial assistance(09/0420(11800)/2021EMR-I)。
文摘The Kumaun Himalaya is well-known as a geologically and tectonically complex region that amplifies mass wasting processes,particularly landslides.This study attempts to investigate the interplay between landslide distribution and the lithotectonic regime of Darma Valley,Kumaun Himalaya.A landslide inventory comprising 295 landslides in the area has been prepared and several morphotectonic proxies such as valley floor width to height ratio(Vf),stream length gradient index(SL),and hypsometric integral(HI)have been used to infer tectonic regime.Morphometric analysis,including basic,linear,aerial,and relief aspects,of 59 fourth-order sub-basins,has been carried out to estimate erosion potential in the study area.The result demonstrates that 46.77%of the landslides lie in very high,20.32%in high,21.29%in medium,and 11.61%in low erosion potential zones respectively.In order to determine the key parameters controlling erosion potential,two multivariate statistical methods namely Principal Component Analysis(PCA)and Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering(AHC)were utilized.PCA reveals that the Higher Himalayan Zone(HHZ)has the highest erosion potential due to the presence of elongated sub-basins characterized by steep slopes and high relief.The clusters created through AHC exhibit positive PCA values,indicating a robust correlation between PCA and AHC.Furthermore,the landslide density map shows two major landslide hotspots.One of these hotspots lies in the vicinity of highly active Munsiyari Thrust(MT),while the other is in the Pandukeshwar formation within the MT's hanging wall,characterized by a high exhumation rate.High SL and low Vf values along these hotspots further corroborate that the occurrence of landslides in the study area is influenced by tectonic activity.This study,by identifying erosionprone areas and elucidating the implications of tectonic activity on landslide distribution,empowers policymakers and government agencies to develop strategies for hazard assessment and effective landslide risk mitigation,consequently safeguarding lives and communities.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42172055)。
文摘Zircon crystals,which form directly from igneous melts,are invaluable for probing the deep crustal basement and provide crucial insights into its composition and evolution.Supercontinent cycles,including the formation and breakup of Columbia,Rodinia,and Gondwana,play a pivotal role in shaping global magmatic and metamorphic records,and deciphering magmatic patterns is critical for unraveling the complex interplay between tectonics and magmatism.This study investigates U-Pb geochronology and trace/rare earth element(REE)compositions of zircons from the Early Cretaceous Tethyan Himalaya Igneous Province,revealing critical insights into Precambrian-Paleozoic magmatic and tectonic evolution.Dominant Paleoproterozoic(2498 Ma,1912 Ma)and Neoproterozoic(826-762 Ma)zircon populations confirm the existence of the Precambrian basement.Neoproterozoic magmatism shows decoupling between light and heavy REE(LREE/HREE)and europium anomalies(Eu/Eu^(*)=Eu_(N)/(Sm_(N)×Gd_(N))^(1/2))during the 826-762 Ma and 725-702 Ma intervals,indicating that the Rodinia margin evolved from Andean-style subduction to continental collision.Early Paleozoic magmatism correlates with Pan-African orogenesis and subsequent Proto-Tethyan Ocean subduction beneath the Indian Craton.Neo-Tethyan initiation(ca.273 Ma)is evidenced by 200-300 Ma zircons which exhibit(1)absence of LREE/HREE-Eu/Eu^(*)crustal thickness correlations,and(2)a thermal peak at 273 Ma.
文摘The Darjeeling Himalayan region,characterized by its complex topography and vulnerability to multiple environmental hazards,faces significant challenges including landslides,earthquakes,flash floods,and soil loss that critically threaten ecosystem stability.Among these challenges,soil erosion emerges as a silent disaster-a gradual yet relentless process whose impacts accumulate over time,progressively degrading landscape integrity and disrupting ecological sustainability.Unlike catastrophic events with immediate visibility,soil erosion’s most devastating consequences often manifest decades later through diminished agricultural productivity,habitat fragmentation,and irreversible biodiversity loss.This study developed a scalable predictive framework employing Random Forest(RF)and Gradient Boosting Tree(GBT)machine learning models to assess and map soil erosion susceptibility across the region.A comprehensive geo-database was developed incorporating 11 erosion triggering factors:slope,elevation,rainfall,drainage density,topographic wetness index,normalized difference vegetation index,curvature,soil texture,land use,geology,and aspect.A total of 2,483 historical soil erosion locations were identified and randomly divided into two sets:70%for model building and 30%for validation purposes.The models revealed distinct spatial patterns of erosion risks,with GBT classifying 60.50%of the area as very low susceptibility,while RF identified 28.92%in this category.Notable differences emerged in high-risk zone identification,with GBT highlighting 7.42%and RF indicating 2.21%as very high erosion susceptibility areas.Both models demonstrated robust predictive capabilities,with GBT achieving 80.77%accuracy and 0.975 AUC,slightly outperforming RF’s 79.67%accuracy and 0.972 AUC.Analysis of predictor variables identified elevation,slope,rainfall and NDVI as the primary factors influencing erosion susceptibility,highlighting the complex interrelationship between geo-environmental factors and erosion processes.This research offers a strategic framework for targeted conservation and sustainable land management in the fragile Himalayan region,providing valuable insights to help policymakers implement effective soil erosion mitigation strategies and support long-term environmental sustainability.
基金supported by the world academy of sciences(TWAS)CAS-TWAS president fellowship programthe National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(NSFC-31201702 granted to Bin Wang and NSFC-31471964 granted to Jianping Jiang)
文摘A new species of the genus Tylototriton is described from eastern Himalaya based on molecular and morphological comparisons. The new species is diagnosable from the closely-related species by having light brown colouration in dorsal region in life, flat and blunt snout, greatly separated dorsolateral bony ridges on head and straightthick tailfin. In addition to head morphology, the new species is also morphologically distinguishable from its closelyrelated species Tylototriton shanorum by having 16 dorsal warts and average smaller Snout Vent Length（SVL）.
文摘The Eastern Sikkim area forming a part of the Lesser Himalaya is located between 27°10′～27°30′N latitudes and 88°25′～88°40′E longitudes (750km 2). The previous workers agreed that a domal structure is present in Sikkim which is constituted by low to high grade metamorphic rocks characterised by inverted metamorphism. The rocks were repeatedly deformed and were metamorphosed at about 550 to 770℃ (550 to 750MPa). Geologically, the oldest rocks of Eastern Sikkim are represented by Darjeeling Formation showing medium to high grade metamorphism. It is followed by low grade Daling Formation which is characterised by tectonic wedges of Lingtse gneiss. The potassic syenite intrusive i.e. the Sikkim igneous formation is youngest rock type of the area. The Darjeeling Formation associated with amphibolite bands consists of kyanite\|sillimanite, staurolite and garnet zones, while the Daling Formation is characterised by low grade chloritoid and chlorite zones. Lingtse Formation is gneissic in which patches of retrograded and sheared garnet schists are present. Intrusions of potassic syenites (Sikkim Formation) occur in the form of oval and concordant bodies. The F 1, F 2 and F 3 folds are well developed in rocks of Eastern Sikkim area.. The F 1 folds are rootless, tightly isoclinal or reclined and highly obliterated in their attitude. The F 2 folds belong to class IC of Ramsay (1967). Their interlimb angles vary from 20～50 degrees. Intersection lineation due to S 0/S 1 and S 2 surfaces is parallel to the F 2 folds axis. Third generation structures are represented by open to moderately tight and kinked folds. Superimposition of F 3 folds on F 2 folds resulted into type II interference pattern of Ramsay (1967). Structural analysis of these folds have revealed that F 2 folds are non\|cylindrical. The kink or F 3 folds were possibly responsible for the formation of a megakink resembling with the domal structure. The repeatedly deformed rocks of Eastern Sikkim area were folded, faulted, sheared/thrusted during the Himalayan orogeny. The Main Central Thrust (M C T) is actually a ductile shear zone and was subjected to imbrication during later phases of F 2 folding.
文摘The Arun mega\|antiform, a large N—S structure transversal to the tectonic trend of the E Nepal Himalaya, is a tectonic window offering a complete section of the Himalayan nappe pile, from the Lesser Himalayan zone to the Tethyan Himalaya. At the northern end of the Arun tectonic window (ATW), the Ama Drime—Nyonno Ri range of south Tibet exposes a section of that portion of the Main Central Thrust (MCT) zone and Lesser Himalayan Crystallines (LHC) which elsewhere in Nepal is concealed below the overlying Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) nappe (Fig. 1). As throughout the Himalaya at the structural level of the MCT, the ATW is characterized by an inverted metamorphic field gradient characterized by a progression from chlorite to sillimanite grade from low to high structural levels of the nappe pile. Metamorphic peak temperatures rise from circa 400℃ in the pelitic and psammitic Precambrian metasediments of the Lesser Himalayan Tumlingtar Unit, to 550～620℃ in the overlying LHC, to over 700℃ in the muscovite\|free Barun Gneiss, the lowermost HHC unit in the Arun valley.
文摘New monazite U\|Pb geochronological data from the Everest region suggest that 20～25Ma elapsed between the initial India—Asia collision and kyanite\|sillimanite grade metamorphism. Our results indicate a two\|phase metamorphic history, with peak Barrovian metamorphism at (32 2±0 4)Ma and a later high\|temperature, low\|pressure event (620℃, 400MPa) at (22 7±0 2)Ma.. Emplacement and crystallization of the Everest granite subsequently occurred at 20 5～21 3Ma. The monazite crystallization ages that differ by 10Ma are recorded in two structurally adjacent rocks of different lithology, which have the same post collisional p—T history.. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the younger monazite is elaborately shaped and grew in close association with apatite at grain boundaries and triple junctions, suggesting that growth was stimulated by a change in the fluid regime. The older monazite is euhedral, is not associated with apatite, and is commonly armoured within silicate minerals. During the low\|pressure metamorphic event, the armouring protected the older monazites, and a lack of excess apatite in this sample prevented new growth. Textural relationships suggest that apatite is one of the necessary monazite\|producing reactants, and spots within monazite that are rich in Ca, Fe, Al and Si suggest that allanite acted as a preexisting rare earth element host. We propose a simplified reaction for monazite crystallization based on this evidence.
基金sponsored by National Program on Key Basic Research Project(973 Program, Grant No. 2016YFC0600308)the China Geological Survey(Grant No. DD20160015)
文摘The Upper Triassic flysch sediments(Nieru Formation and Langjiexue Group)exposed in the Eastern Tethyan Himalayan Sequence are crucial for unraveling the controversial paleogeography and paleotectonics of the Himalayan orogen.This work reports new detrital zircon U-Pb ages and whole-rock geochemical data for clastic rocks from flysch strata in the Shannan area.The mineral modal composition data suggest that these units were mainly sourced from recycled orogen provenances.The chemical compositions of the sandstones in the strata are similar to the chemical composition of upper continental crust.These rocks have relatively low Chemical Index of Alteration values(with an average of 62)and Index of Compositional Variability values(0.69),indicating that they experienced weak weathering and were mainly derived from a mature source.The geochemical compositions of the Upper Triassic strata are similar to those of graywackes from continental island arcs and are indicative of an acidicintermediate igneous source.Furthermore,hornblende and feldspar experienced decomposition in the provenance,and the sediment became enriched in zircon and monazite during sediment transport.The detrital zircons in the strata feature two main age peaks at 225-275 Ma and 500-600 Ma,nearly continuous Paleoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic ages,and a broad inconspicuous cluster in the Tonian-Stenian(800-1200 Ma).The detrital zircons from the Upper Triassic sandstones in the study area lack peaks at 300-325 Ma(characteristic of the Lhasa block)and 1150-1200 Ma(characteristic of the Lhasa and West Australia blocks).Therefore,neither the Lhasa block nor the West Australia blocks likely acted as the main provenance of the Upper Triassic strata.Newly discovered Permian-Triassic basalt and mafic dikes in the Himalayas could have provided the 225-275 Ma detrital zircons.Therefore,Indian and Himalayan units were the main provenances of the flysch strata.The Tethyan Himalaya was part of the northern passive margin and was not an exotic terrane separated from India during the Permian to Early Cretaceous.This evidence suggests that the Neo-Tethyan ocean opened prior to the Late Triassic and that the Upper Triassic deposits were derived from continental crustal fragments adjacent to the northern passive continental margin of Greater India.
文摘Prevailing dogma asserts that the uplift of Tibet, the onset of the Asian monsoon system and high biodiversity in southern Asia are linked, and that all occurred after 23 million years ago in the Neogene.Here, spanning the last 60 million years of Earth history, the geological, climatological and palaeontological evidence for this linkage is reviewed. The principal conclusions are that: 1) A proto-Tibetan highland existed well before the Neogene and that an Andean type topography with surface elevations of at least 4.5 km existed at the start of the Eocene, before final closure of the Tethys Ocean that separated India from Eurasia. 2) The Himalaya were formed not at the start of the India-Eurasia collision, but after much of Tibet had achieved its present elevation. The Himalaya built against a pre-existing proto-Tibetan highland and only projected above the average height of the plateau after approximately 15 Ma. 3)Monsoon climates have existed across southern Asia for the whole of the Cenozoic, and probably for a lot longer, but that they were of the kind generated by seasonal migrations of the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone. 4) The projection of the High Himalaya above the Tibetan Plateau at about 15 Ma coincides with the development of the modern South Asia Monsoon. 5) The East Asia monsoon became established in its present form about the same time as a consequence of topographic changes in northern Tibet and elsewhere in Asia, the loss of moisture sources in the Asian interior and the development of a strong winter Siberian high as global temperatures declined. 6) New radiometric dates of palaeontological finds point to southern Asia's high biodiversity originating in the Paleogene, not the Neogene.
