Chronology of the Late Quaternary glaciations around Badrinath (Upper Alaknanda Basin): preliminary observations

Abstract

Reconstruction based on the presence of lateral moraines and other relict periglacial features in Upper Alak-nanda basin indicates three phases of glaciation during the Late Quaternary. From oldest to youngest, they are named as Alaknanda (Stage-I), Alkapuri (Stage-II) and Satopanth (Stage-Ill) glacial advances. The oldest Stage-I was the most extensive glaciation in the basin that reached south of Badrinath (2604 m asl). Compared to this, the other two glaciations were terminated around 3550 and 3700 m asl respectively, in the N-S trending Upper Alaknanda basin. Preliminary estimate based on limited optical dating suggests the Stage-I predates the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). An indirect age estimate based on the chronology of recessional moraine dated to 12 ka suggests that Stage-II was deposited during the LGM whereas Stage-Ill is dated to 4.5 ka. Conical heaps in the vicinity of the present-day snout are attributed to the recent recession probably associated with the Little Ice Age.