| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-3.1-0150 |
| Title of Abstract | Transient Landscape processes in the Western Ghats of Peninsular India; A Multi-Proxy Assessment of Stream Capture and Escarpment Evolution |
| Authors | Shanthosh Senthamizhselvan*, Sakram Gugulothu, Nilesh K. Jaiswara, Anand K. Pandey |
| Organisation | CSIR NGRI |
| Address | Extension Building Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India Pincode: 500007 E-mail: shan211099@gmail.com |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Poster |
| Abstract | The Western Ghats of Peninsular India represent one of the most prominent passive margin escarpments globally, forming a steep, west-facing slope along the western continental margin of the Indian plate. Despite the long-term tectonic quiescence, its morphology shows geomorphic disequilibrium. The study is on the transition zone between the Cretaceous - Paleogene Deccan volcanic province and the Archean Dharwar Craton, focusing on ten west-flowing basins adjacent to the lower Krishna basin to evaluate the influence of erosional processes on ongoing transient landscape. High-resolution SRTM 30 m DEM data were used to extract morphometric parameters for calculating the modified Index of Active Tectonics (IAT). The analyzed parameters include the Stream Length⿿Gradient (SL) index, channel steepness (Ksn), hypsometric integral (HI), basin asymmetry (AF), and sinuosity index. The published apatite fission-track (AFT) and (U⿿Th⿿Sm)/He thermochronological data (Mandal et al, 2015; Gunnell et al, 1998) are used to estimate long-term landscape evolution. Results shows High HI and corresponding High Ksn and SL values in Gangavali, Sharavathi, Kali, Anghnashini rivers which denote youthful, actively incising zones controlled by localization of the escarpment. The trend consistently links high stream power and relief retention to active geomorphic expressions with landscape growth related to diachronous cooling at (~65 - 35 Ma) along the escarpment. These outcomes suggest that drainage divide migration and stream capture are controlled by lithological contrasts and long-term erosional retreat that dominates landscape evolutional processes in Western Ghats. |
| Keywords | Western Ghats, IAT, Drainage Divide Migration, Stream Capture. |