Characterization of flood plain and climate change using multi-proxy records from the Mahi river basin, mainland Gujarat

Abstract

Sedimentary succession at Bhimpura from the lower reaches of Mahi flood plain (situated in western India) is characterized using parameters such as grain size, magnetic susceptibility, carbonates, ferri-magnetic and other rock forming and clay mineral concentrations. Of the 1513 cm sediment record, the interval spanning 0-580 cm is analysed and compared with the sediment character of the well-dated section at Rayka. The interpolated age model suggests that the sediments under study fall within the time span of 30 ka to 10 ka. This study has identified strong and weak monsoon events, represented as fluvial/Aeolian sediment characters within the massive unstratified sandy-silty sediment of the Mahi flood plain. Since these sediments form a blanket cover over western India, the response to regional and global climate change is discussed.