Mid to late Quaternary Fluvial activity in allochthonous river systems of the Maharashtra Plateau, India: A review and new observations

Authors

  • Vishwas S. Kale Formerly at the Department of Geography, SP Pune University, Pune 411007, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54991/jop.2021.20

Keywords:

Godavari, Krishna, Aggradation, Incision, Infilled basins and valleys, Gorges, Knickpoints, Isohyetal pattern

Abstract

The Maharashtra Plateau dominantly displays an erosional landscape and the Quaternary alluvial deposits in the valleys are remarkably limited in areal extent and thickness. The only exceptions are the infilled basins/valleys downstream of bedrock gorges with knickpoints. Earlier studies have inferred a good correspondence between the major changes in the monsoon regime and the fluvial activity (aggradation and incision/excavation) on the regional–scale during the last approx. 103 –105 years. However, geomorphic evidence suggests that some of the mid to late Quaternary aggradational events may not be directly related to known climatic events and the fluvial activity in some of the tributaries did not correspond with the recognized regional behavioural pattern. Basin–specific tectonic activity as well as alterations in the isohyetal pattern in the rainshadow zone appear to be the plausible reasons for the observed variations in the fluvial responses. The relationship between Quaternary climate changes and fluvial activity, even in this area of uniform lithology, appears to be a complex one.

सारांश

महाराष्ट्र का पठार प्रमुख रूप से एक अपरदनात्मक परिदृश्य को प्रदर्शित करता है और घाटियों में क्वाटर्नरी जलोढ़ निक्षेप क्षेत्र विस्तार और मोटाई में उल्लेखनीय रूप से सीमित हैं। एकमात्र अपवाद निक्पॉइंट्स के साथ बेडरॉक गॉर्ज के डाउनस्ट्रीम इन्फिल्ड द्रोणियाँ/घाटियां हैं। पहले के अध्ययनों ने पिछले लगभग103-105 वर्षों के दौरान मानसून शासन में बड़े बदलावों और क्षेत्रीय स्तर पर नदी संबंधी गतिविधि (वृद्धि और चीरा/खुदाई) के बीच एक अच्छे सामंजस्य को निष्कर्षित किया है। हालाँकि, भू-आकृतिक साक्ष्य बताते हैं कि कुछ मध्य से अंतिम क्वाटर्नरी वृद्धि की घटनाओं का सीधा संबंध ज्ञात जलवायु संबंधी घटनाओं से नहीं हो सकता है और कुछ सहायक नदियों में फ्लुवियल गतिविधि ज्ञात क्षेत्रीय व्यवहार पैटर्न के अनुरूप नहीं थी। बेसिन-विशिष्ट विवर्तनिक गतिविधि के साथ-साथ रेनशैडो ज़ोन में आइसोहाइटल पैटर्न में परिवर्तन फ़्लूवियल प्रतिक्रियाओं में देखी गई विविधताओं के लिए स्वीकार्य कारण प्रतीत होता हैं। क्वाटर्नरी जलवायु परिवर्तन और फ़्लूवियल प्रतिक्रियाओं के बीच संबंध, यहां तक कि एकसमान लीथोलॉजी इस क्षेत्र में भी, जटिल प्रतीत होता है।

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Published

2021-09-10

How to Cite

S. Kale, V. (2021). Mid to late Quaternary Fluvial activity in allochthonous river systems of the Maharashtra Plateau, India: A review and new observations. Journal of Palaeosciences, 70((1-2), 289–304. https://doi.org/10.54991/jop.2021.20