Insights from the palaeo-geomorphic features of the Central Ganga Plain, India: past to present

Abstract

The Ganga Plain is one of the largest alluvial tracts of the world consisting of rivers of different types and sizes. The domination of the fluvial process has evolved the different kinds of fluvial landforms on this plain. The palaeo-fluvial features have a significant presence in the region but are less explored/mapped. Palaeo-fluvial features are remanent of the past that are disconnected from the process that forms them. The palaeo-fluvial landforms on distant interfluve surfaces of the Central Ganga Plain are disconnected from the present rivers. The major palaeo-fluvial landforms observed in this region are palaeo-channel and associated oxbow lakes, meander scars etc . The evolution of such features is still not understood properly. These palaeo-fluvial features are a possible result of changing past climatic and geologic conditions in the region. The landscape memory of such features could be very important to understand the climatic and tectonic changes of the past. Apart from that, they do control several physical-cultural aspects of the region. The large-scale mapping of such features is very important to locate the old path of flow, the direction of channel changes, events of river capturing, and the evolution of contemporary rivers. The study of such features is required to understand the past evolution of the Ganga plain and to understand the impact of such features on the present physio-cultural setting.