Sayak Basu et al. 2019 PLoS ONE paper Highlights

• δ13Cn-alkane values after 2500 cal yr BP, which suggests proliferation of C4 grasses in this region.
• A significant increase in the δD values of paleoprecipitation (ca. 25 ‰) indicates a weakened ISM precipitation after ca. 2500 cal yr BP.
• The regional aridification and frequent fire events may have helped the expansion of C4 plant dominated grassland ecosystem in Banni region.
• Correlation between paleoclimatic records suggests that the southward migration of intertropical convergence zone and more frequent warm phases of El-Nino Southern Oscillation have triggered the weakening of monsoonal precipitation in the tropical region.

Sayak Basu et al. 2019 Global and Planetary Change paper Highlights

• Region-specific distribution of Δair-leaf values of C3 plants.
• Mid-latitude regions are characterized by lower Δair-leaf values than equatorial site.
• Spatially heterogeneous correlation between precipitation and Δair-leaf values.
• Precipitation exerts higher control on Δair-leaf value in arid zone and less influence in humid sites.
• C4 plants existed in Siwalik sections prior to earlier proposed timing.

Anurag Kumar et al. 2019 Journal of Hydrology paper Highlights

• Spatial distribution of δ18O values in river water across the Ganga river Basin.
• Upper stretch of river Ganga shows dominance of snow/glacier melt.
• Evaporation effect is higher in middle stretch of the river Ganga.
• Lower stretch shows high contribution of water from the Himalayan tributaries.
• Seasonal control in δ18O values of river water is more in middle than lower stretch.

Vijayananda Sarangi et al. 2019 Sedimentology paper Highlights

• Pedogenesis controls isotopic inheritance in calcretes.
• Sub-aerial exposure controls the source and preservation of organic matter in a paleosol.
• The higher molecular weight n-alkanes are unaffected by pedological processes during sub-aerial exposure.
• Detailed geomorphological and sedimentary investigations is a requisite before using calcretes and organic matter for palaeoenvironmental investigations.

Sambit Ghosh et al. 2018 Paleo3 paper Highlights

• Spatial variation in abundance of C4 plants along the Himalayan foreland.
• No clear trend in abundance of C4 from the western to eastern part.
• Sedimentary architecture varies along the Himalayan foreland.
• Significant role of substrate on the abundance of C4 plants in the Himalayan foreland.

Monsoon @ IISER-k

Sayak Basu et al. 2018 Paleo3 paper Highlights

• The δ18Ocarbonate value based 75 ka rainfall record from western India.
• Climatic fluctuations during the late Quaternary varied at basinal scale.
• Comparison between Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal components of ISM during the late Quaternary.
• Fluvial architecture in western India was shaped by ISM rainfall.
• Vegetation composition (C3-C4) was determined by ISM rainfall amount.

Lab members

Science Talk

Prof Prasanta Sanyal interview on Eureka Rajya Sabha TV