Understanding paleo-fires from the Quaternary sediments of the Ganga basin using multiproxy approach

Jakhar, Manoj (2022) Understanding paleo-fires from the Quaternary sediments of the Ganga basin using multiproxy approach. Masters thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

Text (MS dissertation of Manoj Jakhar (17MS066)) 17MS066_Thesis_file.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (2MB)

Abstract

Proxy records of paleo fire offer valuable information on the role of fire in an ecosystem. Such information can be used to understand the linkage between fire, biodiversity and the environment. This study focuses on the frequent and intense paleo fires and their characteristics. Both charcoal and PAHs, used as proxies in this study, are produced by burning and they are difficult to breakdown chemically or mechanically. Charcoal and PAHs were studied combined in order to give this strong idea of how climatically controlled fire could have a unique impact on an ecosystem. The morphological analysis of the charcoal particles shows that wood charcoals are dominantly present in the western part of the Ganga basin, indicating an intensified fire region. The abundance of thick and angular shaped charcoal particles is very high, which suggest that the transportation of the charcoal particles is less, and the source of the fire events is around the depositional site. Also, the different ratios like LMW/TPAHs and Fl/(Fl+Pyr) supports this idea about in-situ fire derived material in Chambal. The centre region of the Ganga basin, on the other hand, has had very less in-situ fire activity. The morphology of Manjhi charcoal particles is thin and round, which is connected with the transportation. In this area, PAHs were predominantly transported with smoke from a vast distance, indicating that the central part must have undergone wet deposition of smokes.

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