Himalayan uplift and the evolution of a Mediterranean-type climate in the Kashmir Basin of India: Palaeobotanical evidence from the late Pliocene Dubjan Member (Karewa Group)

IF 2.6 2区地球科学 Q2 GEOGRAPHY, PHYSICAL

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology Pub Date : 2025-05-04 DOI:10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112998

Harshita Bhatia , Reyaz Ahmad Dar , Gaurav Srivastava

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Abstract

The Kashmir Valley is an intermontane basin in the northwestern Himalayan region, characterized by a Mediterranean-type climate, where the primary source of moisture is winter precipitation brought by the Western Disturbance low-pressure system. This basin was formed around ∼4 Ma due to the uplift of the Pir Panjal Range (Lesser Himalaya), which obstructed the ancient Himalayan drainage system, leading to the formation of a vast lake. The sediments deposited in this lake are assigned to the Karewa Group. In this paper, we reconstruct palaeoclimate using the Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program (CLAMP) and the Coexistence Approach (CA), based on late Pliocene leaf assemblages recovered from the Dubjan Member of the Hirpur Formation (Karewa Group). CLAMP-based climate reconstruction indicates a mean annual temperature (MAT) of 18.1 ± 2.3 °C and a cold month mean temperature (CMMT) of 11.1 ± 3.5 °C, suggesting a warm subtropical climate with a 9–10 month growing season. Estimated growing season precipitation (GSP) was 159.2 ± 64.3 cm, with a strong seasonal rainfall pattern (WET:DRY ratio of 6.9:1). Higher vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and specific humidity (11.7 g kg⁻¹) during summer and autumn indicate ample atmospheric moisture. CA-based estimates yield a MAT of 17.4 ± 0.6 °C, CMMT of 6.9 ± 3.1 °C, and warm month mean temperature (WMMT) of 25.5 ± 0.5 °C. Precipitation data suggest a mean annual precipitation (MAP) of 123.4 ± 8.8 cm, with monthly extremes ranging from 22.1 ± 0.5 cm (wettest) to 1.1 ± 0.2 cm (driest). The aforesaid quantitative climate reconstruction and fossil leaf physiognomy reveal a warm, summer monsoon-dominated regime preceding the modern Mediterranean-type climate. This climatic transition is linked to the uplift of the Pir Panjal Range (Lesser Himalaya), offering valuable insights into orographic influences on regional hydrology, climate evolution, and associated biodiversity patterns.

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喜马拉雅隆起与印度克什米尔盆地地中海型气候的演化：来自上新世晚期dujan成员（Karewa群）的古植物学证据

克什米尔山谷是喜马拉雅地区西北部的一个山间盆地，具有地中海型气候特征，主要的水汽来源是西部扰动低压系统带来的冬季降水。这个盆地形成于~ 4 Ma左右，因为Pir Panjal山脉（小喜马拉雅山脉）的隆起阻碍了古喜马拉雅的排水系统，形成了一个巨大的湖泊。该湖沉积的沉积物属于卡雷瓦群。本文基于Karewa群Hirpur组Dubjan组晚上新世叶片组合，利用气候叶片分析多元程序（CLAMP）和共存方法（CA）重建了古气候。基于clamp的气候重建显示，该区年平均气温（MAT）为18.1±2.3°C，寒月平均气温（CMMT）为11.1±3.5°C，属于亚热带温暖气候，生长期为9-10个月。生长季降水（GSP）估计为159.2±64.3 cm，具有较强的季节性降水模式（湿：干比为6.9:1）。夏季和秋季较高的蒸汽压差（VPD）和比湿度（11.7 g kg−1）表明大气湿度充足。基于ca的估算结果显示，月平均温度为17.4±0.6°C，月平均温度为6.9±3.1°C，暖月平均温度（WMMT）为25.5±0.5°C。降水资料显示，年平均降水量（MAP）为123.4±8.8 cm，月极值为22.1±0.5 cm（最湿）至1.1±0.2 cm（最干）。上述定量气候重建和化石叶片地貌揭示了在现代地中海型气候之前，一个温暖的夏季季风主导的政权。这种气候转变与Pir Panjal山脉（小喜马拉雅山脉）的隆起有关，为地形对区域水文、气候演变和相关生物多样性模式的影响提供了有价值的见解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

5.90

自引率

10.00%

发文量

398

审稿时长

3.8 months

期刊介绍： Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology is an international medium for the publication of high quality and multidisciplinary, original studies and comprehensive reviews in the field of palaeo-environmental geology. The journal aims at bringing together data with global implications from research in the many different disciplines involved in palaeo-environmental investigations. By cutting across the boundaries of established sciences, it provides an interdisciplinary forum where issues of general interest can be discussed.