Influence of edaphic factors on distribution and condition of Himalayan silver birch(Betula utilis D.Don)communities in the northwestern Indian Himalayas

The basic concept of phytosociology is crucial for the assessment of species composition and dynamic ecological succession of forests supporting ecological services,functions,disturbance,and resilience that lead to the development of integrated areas such as ecological niche modeling and contribute to identifying the valuable bio-indicators which can be used in framing conservation and management planning.B.utilis is one of the most dominant tree species of treeline ecotone in the Himalayan Region.The species is also considered as indicator species for monitoring the past and recent climate change impact.The current study was carried out in the natural populations of B.utilis from the sub-alpine zone of North-western Indian Himalaya.The birch dominated forest harbors a total of 305 plant species comprising Angiosperms(51 families,160 genera and 277 species),Gymnosperms(03 families,05 genera and 07 species)and Pteridophytes(07 families,11 genera and 21 species)with Asteraceae,Ranunculaceae and Rosaceae as dominant family.Birch forests are found dominant in shady moist habitat and North West aspect.Geographical characteristics,anthropogenic and developmental activities affect the population structure of B.utilis and associated species.However,the species has fair regeneration status in the study area.The acidic nature of soil pH and spatial variation in edaphic characteristics may be due to geographical differences,rooting patterns and litter accumulation of below and above-ground vegetation.Biomass estimation of a representative population of B.utilis from each site showed that TAGBD,TCD and TBD were found maximum in ST3(Hamta Pass II site).The CCA analysis determined that environmental variables such as altitude,organic matter,available phosphorous,organic carbon,available nitrogen,and electrical conductivity played a significant role in determining tree species composition and distribution in B.utilis dominated forests.

Deterministic processes drive turnover-dominated beta diversity of breeding birds along the central Himalayan elevation gradient

Beta diversity,the variation of community composition among sites,bridges alpha and gamma diversity and can reveal the mechanisms of community assembly through applying distance-decay models and/or partitioning beta diversity into turnover and nestedness components from functional and phylogenetic perspectives.Mountains as the most natural experiment system provide good opportunities for exploring beta diversity patterns and the underlying ecological processes.Here,we simultaneously consider distance-decay models and multiple di-mensions of beta diversity to examine spatial variations of bird communities,and to evaluate the relative importance of niche-based and neutral community assembly mechanisms along a 3600-m elevational gradient in the central Himalayas,China.Our results showed that species turnover dominates taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic beta diversity.We observed strongest evidence of spatial distance decays in taxonomic similarities of birds,followed by its phylogenetic and functional analogues.Turnover component was highest in taxonomic beta diversity,while nestedness component was highest in functional beta diversity.Further,all correlations of assemblage similarity with climatic distance were higher than that with spatial distances.Standardized values of overall taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic beta diversity and their turnover components increase with increasing elevational distance,while the standardized values of taxonomic and phylogenetic nestedness decreased with increasing elevational distance.Our results highlighted the niche-based deterministic processes in shaping elevational bird diversity patterns that were determined by the relative roles of decreasing trend of environmental filtering and increasing trend of limiting similarity along elevation distances.

Satellite Data-based Structural Mapping Reveals Active Panjal Traps Fault(PTF)in Kashmir,NW Himalaya

Exploring the evidence for unidentified earthquake-causing faults in the orogenic zones,and primarily the interior parts(Shah,2013),has been an ongoing quest for centuries(Willis,1923;Baker et al.,1988;Yeats et al.,1992;Wesnousky et al.,1999;Malik et al.,2010;Coudurier-Curveur et al.,2020;Shah et al.,2020).These faults are potentially dangerous due to their unknown risk and deformation budget,two of the most important aspects of mapping and understanding the vulnerability and hazards associated with active faults.

Below-Moho Earthquakes of Tibet,Himalaya,the Indian Foreland,and Worldwide:How,Where and Why?

We seek to understand lithospheric rheology by mapping continental earthquake depths relative to Moho depth,across the entire India/Asia convergent orogen,and eventually worldwide.Such mapping has particular value in geothermometry,and potentially in identifying regions of delamination.How:We are extending our Sn/Lg method beyond amplitude ratios of regional seismic phases measured on arrays(array Sn/Lg method,Wang and Klemperer,2021)to include frequency proxies for earthquake depth relative to Moho(Wang&Klemperer,2024a,b;Harris et al.,2024).

Comprehensive analysis of glacier recession(2000-2020)in the Nun-Kun Group of Glaciers,Northwestern Himalaya

Himalayan glaciers are shrinking rapidly,especially after 2000.Glacier shrinkage,however,shows a differential pattern in space and time,emphasizing the need to monitor and assess glacier changes at a larger scale.In this study,changes of 48 glaciers situated around the twin peaks of the Nun and Kun mountains in the northwestern Himalaya,hereafter referred to as Nun-Kun Group of Glaciers(NKGG),were investigated using Landsat satellite data during 2000-2020.Changes in glacier area,snout position,Equilibrium Line Altitude(ELA),surface thickness and glacier velocity were assessed using remote sensing data supplemented by field observations.The study revealed that the NKGG glaciers have experienced a recession of 4.5%±3.4%and their snouts have retreated at the rate of 6.4±1.6 m·a^(-1).Additionally,there was a 41%increase observed in the debris cover area during the observation period.Using the geodetic approach,an average glacier elevation change of-1.4±0.4 m·a^(-1)was observed between 2000 and 2012.The observed mass loss of the NKGG has resulted in the deceleration of glacier velocity from 27.0±3.7 m·a^(-1)in 2000 to 21.2±2.2 m·a^(-1)in 2020.The ELA has shifted upwards by 83.0±22 m during the period.Glacier morphological and topographic factors showed a strong influence on glacier recession.Furthermore,a higher recession of 12.9%±3.2%was observed in small glaciers,compared to 2.7%±3.1%in larger glaciers.The debris-covered glaciers showed lower shrinkage(2.8%±1.1%)compared to the clean glaciers(9.3%±5%).The glacier depletion recorded in the NKGG during the last two decades,if continued,would severely diminish glacial volume and capacity to store water,thus jeopardizing the sustainability of water resources in the basin.

Spatial distribution characteristics of climate-induced landslides in the Eastern Himalayas

Climate warming is constantly causing hydro-meteorological perturbations,especially in high-altitude mountainous regions,which lead to the occurrences of landslides.The impact of climatic variables(i.e.,precipitation and temperature)on the distribution of landslides in the eastern regions of the Himalayas is poorly understood.To address this,the current study analyzes the relationship between the spatial distribution of landslide characteristics and climatic variables from 2013 to 2021.Google Earth Engine(GEE)was employed to make landslide inventories using satellite data.The results show that 2163,6927,and 9601 landslides were heterogeneously distributed across the study area in 2013,2017,and 2021,respectively.The maximum annual temperature was positively correlated with the distribution of landslides,whereas precipitation was found to have a non-significant impact on the landslide distribution.Spatially,most of the landslides occurred in areas with maximum annual precipitation ranging from 800 to 1600 mm and maximum annual temperature above 15℃.However,in certain regions,earthquake disruptions marginally affected the occurrence of landslides.Landslides were highly distributed in areas with elevations ranging between 3000 and 5000 m above sea level,and many landslides occurred near the lower permafrost limit and close to glaciers.The latter indicates that temperature change-induced freeze-thaw action influences landslides in the region.Temperature changes have shown a positive correlation with the number of landslides within elevations,indicating that temperature affects their spatial distribution.Various climate projections suggest that the region will experience further warming,which will increase the likelihood of landslides in the future.Thus,it is crucial to enhance ground observation capabilities and climate datasets to effectively monitor and mitigate landslide risks.

Geomorphological evidence inconvenient for the antecedent rivers of the Arun and Tista across the Himalayan range

The Arun and Tista Rivers,which flow across the Himalayas,are commonly known as antecedent valleys that overcame the rapid uplift of the Higher Himalayan ranges.To clarify whether the idea of antecedent rivers is acceptable,we investigated the geomorphology of the Himalayas between eastern Nepal and Bhutan Himalayas.The southern part of Tibetan Plateau,extending across the Himalayas as tectonically un-deformed glaciated terrain named as'Tibetan Corridor,'does not suggest the regional uplift of the Higher Himalayas.The 8,000-m class mountains of Everest,Makalu,and Kanchenjunga are isolated residual peaks on the glaciated terrain composed of mountain peaks of 4,000–6,000 m high.The Tibetan glaciers commonly beheaded by Himalayan glaciers along the great watershed of the Himalayas suggest the expansion of Himalayan river drainage by glaciation.For the narrow upstream regions of the Arun and Tista Rivers with less precipitation behind the range,it is hard to collect enough water for the power of down-cutting their channels against the uplifting Himalayas.The fission track ages of the Higher Himalayan Crystalline Nappe suggest that the Himalayas attained their present altitude by 11–10 Ma,and the Arun and Tista Rivers formed deep gorges across the Himalayas by headward erosion.

Impacts of hydropower-induced flow alterations on composition and diversity of riparian vegetation in the Western Himalayas: A case study in Uttarakhand, India

The increasing demand for water and energy resources has led to widespread dam construction,particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like the Himalayan Range.This study focuses on the Uttarakhand state in the Western Himalayas,where hydroelectric projects(HEPs)have significantly altered river flow regimes.The research investigates the impact of flow alterations on the composition and structure of riparian vegetation in the Garhwal Himalayas,specifically analysing four rivers regulated by hydroelectric projects.Utilizing the paired-reach comparison method,control(undisturbed),diverted(downstream of barrage/dam),and altered flow conditions(downstream of water outlet)were examined.The research reveals diverse and unique riparian ecosystems,with 89 genera and 113 taxa identified,showcasing the dominance of families like Asteraceae and Lamiaceae.The study unveils the structural importance of key species such as Berberis asiatica and Artemisia nilagirica.The density,diversity,and richness of shrub and herb species vary significantly across flow conditions.Notably,altered flow conditions demonstrate resilience in vegetation structure,while diverted conditions exhibit decreased species richness and density.The study emphasizes the importance of nuanced environmental flow management for mitigating adverse effects on riparian biodiversity in the fragile Himalayan region.These findings contribute to the global discourse on dam impacts and riparian ecology,shedding light on the complexities of this dynamic relationship in a vulnerable ecosystem.

Modeling glacio-hydrological processes in the Himalayas:A review and future perspectives

The Himalayas and their surrounding areas boast vast glaciers rivaling those in polar regions,supplying vital meltwater to the Indus,Ganges,and Brahmaputra rivers,supporting over a billion downstream inhabitants for drinking,power,and agriculture.With changing runoff patterns due to accelerated glacial melt,understanding and projecting glacio-hydrological processes in these basins is imperative.This review assesses the evolution,applications,and key challenges in diverse glacio-hydrology models across the Himalayas,varying in complexities like ablation algorithms,glacier dynamics,ice avalanches,and permafrost.Previous findings indicate higher glacial melt contributions to annual runoff in the Indus compared to the Ganges and Brahmaputra,with anticipated peak melting in the latter basins—having less glacier cover—before the mid-21st century,contrasting with the delayed peak expected in the Indus Basin due to its larger glacier area.Different modeling studies still have large uncertainties in the simulated runoff components in the Himalayan basins;and the projections of future glacier melt peak time vary at different Himalaya sub-basins under different Coupled Model Intercomparison Project(CMIP)scenarios.We also find that the lack of reliable meteorological forcing data(particularly the precipitation errors)is a major source of uncertainty for glacio-hydrological modeling in the Himalayan basins.Furthermore,permafrost degradation compounds these challenges,complicating assessments of future freshwater availability.Urgent measures include establishing comprehensive in situ observations,innovating remote-sensing technologies(especially for permafrost ice monitoring),and advancing glacio-hydrology models to integrate glacier,snow,and permafrost processes.These endeavors are crucial for informed policymaking and sustainable resource management in this pivotal,glacier-dependent ecosystem.

Physicochemical composition and climate response of surface sediments at different altitudes in Motuo on the southern slope of the Himalayas

Background,aim,and scope Certain physicochemical indexes of topsoil are closely related to climatic factors including temperature,and precipitation.Understanding the relationship between modern topsoil properties and climatic factors is essential for quantitative paleoclimate reconstruction.Motuo located in the eastern Himalayas,exhibits a significant elevation gradient of over 7000 m from Nnamjagbarwa Peak(7782 m a.s.l.)to the Baxika(150 m a.s.l.).This region features a complete vertical zonation of vegetation,from alpine meadow to tropical forest,presenting an ideal place to investigate the relationships among vegetation,soil and climate conditions across altitudinal gradients.This study aims to explore the vertical variations in the physicochemical composition of topsoil and its relationship with temperature and precipitation.Materials and methods Twenty-seven topsoil samples were collected at 100 m intervals from 800 m to 3600 m a.s.l.along the southern slope of the Himalayas.Grain size,magnetic susceptibility and geochemical elements were measured to discuss the vertical variation characteristics of topsoil composition and their correlation with climatic factors.Results(1)The grain size of topsoil at different altitudes in Motuo is mainly composed of sand accounting for an averaged 53.2%,followed by silt and clay.(2)In the mixed forest zone,frequency dependent magnetic susceptibility(χfd%)shows a clear relationship with altitude,and clay is positively correlated with both altitude and climatic factors.(3)The oxides of topsoil in this area mainly consist of SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3) and Fe_(2)O_(3),followed by MgO,CaO,Na_(2)O and K_(2)O,with slight variations in the primary components at different altitudes.The sensitivity of elements to climate varies across different altitudes and vegetation zone,likely due to the region’s complex topography and vegetation.(4)Physical and biological weathering dominates in the broad-leaved forest zone of Motuo,while chemical weathering is more prominent in the coniferous forest zone,with the mixed forest zone falling in between.Discussion The formation of topsoil across the three vegetation zones is influenced by various factors,including parent material,vegetation,and climate.In the broad-leaved forest zone,physical weathering(precipitation,root wedging etc.)and pedogenesis dominate,resulting in finer grain size.The χ_(fd)% increases with altitude likely due to the high temperature and abundant precipitation in this zone,which facilitate the transformation of strong magnetic miners into weaker ones,particularly when the soil is oversaturated.Zirconium(Zr),primarily found in zircon,is depleted at lower altitudes by strong current erosion.Barium(Ba)is similarly reduced at low altitudes in this zone.In mixed forest zone,clay content is the lowest,indicating weaker physical weathering conditions than broad-leaved forest zone.The coarser grain size may result from the combined effects of topography and vegetation coverage.Magnetic susceptibility and organic matter show a positive correlation with altitude.Zr concentration is higher than that in the broad-leaved forest zone,likely resulting from decreased precipitation.In the coniferous zone,the clay content shows considerable fluctuations,with grain size generally becoming finer as altitude increases.This trend may be explained by intensified soil disintegration from seasonal freeze-thaw cycles.The χ_(fd)% values lack a clear trend or pattern,possibly due to soil erosion causing the migration of magnetic minerals or insufficient iron precipitation,which reduces the concentration of magnetic minerals in the soil.Additionally,a positive correlation is observed between altitude and organic matter content,with higher altitudes associated with greater organic matter accumulation.This may be attributed to lower microbial activity in colder conditions,which slows the decomposition and transformation of organic matter.Conclusions The variations in grain size,magnetic susceptibility,and geochemical elements differ across altitudes and vegetation zones,closely connected to the complex interplay of terrain,vegetation,and climate in Motuo.In the mixed forest,altitude has a significant impact onχfd%,and the clay component is particularly sensitive to changes in altitude,mean annual temperature,and precipitation.Zr shows a strong correlation with altitude and climate factors,making it a valuable indicator for assessing changes in atmospheric precipitation within specific altitude ranges.Recommendations and perspectives This study enhances our understanding of the relationships between the physicochemical properties of topsoil and climate conditions,offering valuable insights for paleoclimate reconstruction in Motuo.

Himalayas as a global hot spot of springtime stratospheric intrusions:Insight from isotopic signatures in sulfate aerosols

Downward transport of stratospheric air into the troposphere(identified as stratospheric intrusions)could potentially modify the radiation budget and chemical of the Earth's surface atmosphere.As the highest and largest plateau on earth,the Tibetan Plateau including the Himalayas couples to global climate,and has attracted widespread attention due to rapid warming and cryospheric shrinking.Previous studies recognized strong stratospheric intrusions in the Himalayas but are poorly understood due to limited direct evidences and the complexity of the meteorological dynamics of the third pole.Cosmogenic^(35)S is a radioactive isotope predominately produced in the lower stratosphere and has been demonstrated as a sensitive chemical tracer to detect stratospherically sourced air mass in the planetary boundary layer.Here,we report 6-month(April–September 2018)observation of^(35)S in atmospheric sulfate aerosols(^(35)SO_(4)^(2-))collected from a remote site in the Himalayas to reveal the stratospheric intrusion phenomenon as well as its potential impacts in this region.Throughout the sampling campaign,the^(35)SO_(4)^(2-)concentrations show an average of 1,070±980 atoms/m^(3).In springtime,the average is 1,620±730 atoms/m^(3),significantly higher than the global existing data measured so far.The significant enrichments of^(35)SO_(4)^(2-)measured in this study verified the hypothesis that the Himalayas is a global hot spot of stratospheric intrusions,especially during the springtime as a consequence of its unique geology and atmospheric couplings.In combined with the ancillary evidences,e.g.,oxygen-17 anomaly in sulfate and modeling results,we found that the stratospheric intrusions have a profound impact on the surface ozone concentrations over the study region,and potentially have the ability to constrain how the mechanisms of sulfate oxidation are affected by a change in plateau atmospheric properties and conditions.This study provides new observational constraints on stratospheric intrusions in the Himalayas,which would further provide additional information for a deeper understanding on the environment and climatic changes over the Tibetan Plateau.

Forecast future disasters using hydro-meteorological datasets in the Yamuna river basin,Western Himalaya:Using Markov Chain and LSTM approaches

This research aim to evaluate hydro-meteorological data from the Yamuna River Basin,Uttarakhand,India,utilizing Extreme Value Distribution of Frequency Analysis and the Markov Chain Approach.This method assesses persistence and allows for combinatorial probability estimations such as initial and transitional probabilities.The hydrologic data was generated(in-situ)and received from Uttarakhand Jal Vidut Nigam Limited(UJVNL),and meteorological data was acquired from NASA’s archives MERRA-2 product.A total of sixteen years(2005-2020)of data was used to foresee daily Precipitation from 2020 to 2022.MERRA-2 products are utilized as observed and forecast values for daily Precipitation throughout the monsoon season,which runs from July to September.Markov Chain and Long Short-Term Memory(LSTM)findings for 2020,2021,and 2022 were observed,and anticipated values for daily rainfall during the monsoon season between July and September.According to test findings,the artificial intelligence technique cannot anticipate future regional meteorological formations;the correlation coefficient R^(2) is around 0.12.According to the randomly verified precipitation data findings,the Markov Chain model has a success rate of 79.17 percent.The results suggest that extended return periods should be a warning sign for drought and flood risk in the Himalayan region.This study gives a better knowledge of the water budget,climate change variability,and impact of global warming,ultimately leading to improved water resource management and better emergency planning to the establishment of the Early Warning System(EWS)for extreme occurrences such as cloudbursts,flash floods,landslides hazards in the complex Himalayan region.

A New Species of the Genus Tylototriton(Amphibia: Urodela: Salamandridae) from Eastern Himalaya

A new species of the genus Tylototriton is described from eastern Himalaya based on molecular and morphological comparisons. The new species is diagnosable from the closely-related species by having light brown colouration in dorsal region in life, flat and blunt snout, greatly separated dorsolateral bony ridges on head and straightthick tailfin. In addition to head morphology, the new species is also morphologically distinguishable from its closelyrelated species Tylototriton shanorum by having 16 dorsal warts and average smaller Snout Vent Length（SVL）.

GEOLOGICAL STUDIES OF METAMORPHIC ROCKS IN THE VICINITY OF M.C.T./LESSER HIMALAYAN SHEAR ZONE, PARTS OF SIKKIM HIMALAYAS

The Eastern Sikkim area forming a part of the Lesser Himalaya is located between 27°10′～27°30′N latitudes and 88°25′～88°40′E longitudes (750km 2). The previous workers agreed that a domal structure is present in Sikkim which is constituted by low to high grade metamorphic rocks characterised by inverted metamorphism. The rocks were repeatedly deformed and were metamorphosed at about 550 to 770℃ (550 to 750MPa). Geologically, the oldest rocks of Eastern Sikkim are represented by Darjeeling Formation showing medium to high grade metamorphism. It is followed by low grade Daling Formation which is characterised by tectonic wedges of Lingtse gneiss. The potassic syenite intrusive i.e. the Sikkim igneous formation is youngest rock type of the area. The Darjeeling Formation associated with amphibolite bands consists of kyanite\|sillimanite, staurolite and garnet zones, while the Daling Formation is characterised by low grade chloritoid and chlorite zones. Lingtse Formation is gneissic in which patches of retrograded and sheared garnet schists are present. Intrusions of potassic syenites (Sikkim Formation) occur in the form of oval and concordant bodies. The F 1, F 2 and F 3 folds are well developed in rocks of Eastern Sikkim area.. The F 1 folds are rootless, tightly isoclinal or reclined and highly obliterated in their attitude. The F 2 folds belong to class IC of Ramsay (1967). Their interlimb angles vary from 20～50 degrees. Intersection lineation due to S 0/S 1 and S 2 surfaces is parallel to the F 2 folds axis. Third generation structures are represented by open to moderately tight and kinked folds. Superimposition of F 3 folds on F 2 folds resulted into type II interference pattern of Ramsay (1967). Structural analysis of these folds have revealed that F 2 folds are non\|cylindrical. The kink or F 3 folds were possibly responsible for the formation of a megakink resembling with the domal structure. The repeatedly deformed rocks of Eastern Sikkim area were folded, faulted, sheared/thrusted during the Himalayan orogeny. The Main Central Thrust (M C T) is actually a ductile shear zone and was subjected to imbrication during later phases of F 2 folding.

METAMORPHISM IN THE LESSER HIMALAYAN CRYSTALLINES AND MAIN CENTRAL THRUST ZONE IN THE ARUN VALLEY AND AMA DRIME RANGE (EASTERN HIMALAYA)

The Arun mega\|antiform, a large N—S structure transversal to the tectonic trend of the E Nepal Himalaya, is a tectonic window offering a complete section of the Himalayan nappe pile, from the Lesser Himalayan zone to the Tethyan Himalaya. At the northern end of the Arun tectonic window (ATW), the Ama Drime—Nyonno Ri range of south Tibet exposes a section of that portion of the Main Central Thrust (MCT) zone and Lesser Himalayan Crystallines (LHC) which elsewhere in Nepal is concealed below the overlying Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) nappe (Fig. 1). As throughout the Himalaya at the structural level of the MCT, the ATW is characterized by an inverted metamorphic field gradient characterized by a progression from chlorite to sillimanite grade from low to high structural levels of the nappe pile. Metamorphic peak temperatures rise from circa 400℃ in the pelitic and psammitic Precambrian metasediments of the Lesser Himalayan Tumlingtar Unit, to 550～620℃ in the overlying LHC, to over 700℃ in the muscovite\|free Barun Gneiss, the lowermost HHC unit in the Arun valley.

提单中“Himalaya条款”的民法渊源——论“Himalaya条款”与雇主责任制度

海商法学界对"Himalaya条款"的理论基础探讨一直不曾间断,但鲜有结合民法一般理论进行探讨的先例。文章结合民法中雇主责任制度的理论,分析"Himalaya条款"在两大法系不同的适用情形,明确该条款系传统民法雇主责任制度融入了海商法保护承运人的特殊价值取向,体现了海商法是民法特别法的基本理念。

TWO EPISODES OF MONAZITE CRYSTALLIZATION DURING METAMORPHISM AND CRUSTAL MELTING IN THE EVEREST REGION OF THE NEPALESE HIMALAYA

New monazite U\|Pb geochronological data from the Everest region suggest that 20～25Ma elapsed between the initial India—Asia collision and kyanite\|sillimanite grade metamorphism. Our results indicate a two\|phase metamorphic history, with peak Barrovian metamorphism at (32 2±0 4)Ma and a later high\|temperature, low\|pressure event (620℃, 400MPa) at (22 7±0 2)Ma.. Emplacement and crystallization of the Everest granite subsequently occurred at 20 5～21 3Ma. The monazite crystallization ages that differ by 10Ma are recorded in two structurally adjacent rocks of different lithology, which have the same post collisional p—T history.. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the younger monazite is elaborately shaped and grew in close association with apatite at grain boundaries and triple junctions, suggesting that growth was stimulated by a change in the fluid regime. The older monazite is euhedral, is not associated with apatite, and is commonly armoured within silicate minerals. During the low\|pressure metamorphic event, the armouring protected the older monazites, and a lack of excess apatite in this sample prevented new growth. Textural relationships suggest that apatite is one of the necessary monazite\|producing reactants, and spots within monazite that are rich in Ca, Fe, Al and Si suggest that allanite acted as a preexisting rare earth element host. We propose a simplified reaction for monazite crystallization based on this evidence.

Late Triassic sedimentary records in the northern Tethyan Himalaya:Tectonic link with Greater India

The Upper Triassic flysch sediments(Nieru Formation and Langjiexue Group)exposed in the Eastern Tethyan Himalayan Sequence are crucial for unraveling the controversial paleogeography and paleotectonics of the Himalayan orogen.This work reports new detrital zircon U-Pb ages and whole-rock geochemical data for clastic rocks from flysch strata in the Shannan area.The mineral modal composition data suggest that these units were mainly sourced from recycled orogen provenances.The chemical compositions of the sandstones in the strata are similar to the chemical composition of upper continental crust.These rocks have relatively low Chemical Index of Alteration values(with an average of 62)and Index of Compositional Variability values(0.69),indicating that they experienced weak weathering and were mainly derived from a mature source.The geochemical compositions of the Upper Triassic strata are similar to those of graywackes from continental island arcs and are indicative of an acidicintermediate igneous source.Furthermore,hornblende and feldspar experienced decomposition in the provenance,and the sediment became enriched in zircon and monazite during sediment transport.The detrital zircons in the strata feature two main age peaks at 225-275 Ma and 500-600 Ma,nearly continuous Paleoproterozoic to Neoproterozoic ages,and a broad inconspicuous cluster in the Tonian-Stenian(800-1200 Ma).The detrital zircons from the Upper Triassic sandstones in the study area lack peaks at 300-325 Ma(characteristic of the Lhasa block)and 1150-1200 Ma(characteristic of the Lhasa and West Australia blocks).Therefore,neither the Lhasa block nor the West Australia blocks likely acted as the main provenance of the Upper Triassic strata.Newly discovered Permian-Triassic basalt and mafic dikes in the Himalayas could have provided the 225-275 Ma detrital zircons.Therefore,Indian and Himalayan units were the main provenances of the flysch strata.The Tethyan Himalaya was part of the northern passive margin and was not an exotic terrane separated from India during the Permian to Early Cretaceous.This evidence suggests that the Neo-Tethyan ocean opened prior to the Late Triassic and that the Upper Triassic deposits were derived from continental crustal fragments adjacent to the northern passive continental margin of Greater India.

Tibet,the Himalaya,Asian monsoons and biodiversity-In what ways are they related？

Prevailing dogma asserts that the uplift of Tibet, the onset of the Asian monsoon system and high biodiversity in southern Asia are linked, and that all occurred after 23 million years ago in the Neogene.Here, spanning the last 60 million years of Earth history, the geological, climatological and palaeontological evidence for this linkage is reviewed. The principal conclusions are that: 1) A proto-Tibetan highland existed well before the Neogene and that an Andean type topography with surface elevations of at least 4.5 km existed at the start of the Eocene, before final closure of the Tethys Ocean that separated India from Eurasia. 2) The Himalaya were formed not at the start of the India-Eurasia collision, but after much of Tibet had achieved its present elevation. The Himalaya built against a pre-existing proto-Tibetan highland and only projected above the average height of the plateau after approximately 15 Ma. 3)Monsoon climates have existed across southern Asia for the whole of the Cenozoic, and probably for a lot longer, but that they were of the kind generated by seasonal migrations of the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone. 4) The projection of the High Himalaya above the Tibetan Plateau at about 15 Ma coincides with the development of the modern South Asia Monsoon. 5) The East Asia monsoon became established in its present form about the same time as a consequence of topographic changes in northern Tibet and elsewhere in Asia, the loss of moisture sources in the Asian interior and the development of a strong winter Siberian high as global temperatures declined. 6) New radiometric dates of palaeontological finds point to southern Asia's high biodiversity originating in the Paleogene, not the Neogene.

SEISMOLOGICAL EVIDENCES FOR THE MULTIPLE INCOMPLETE CRUSTAL SUBDUCTIONS IN HIMALAYA AND SOUTHERN TIBET

Geological evidences have indicated large\|scale crustal shortening by thrust faultings in Himalaya , such as MCT and MBT. The thrust faulting near Yarlungzampbo suture was also observed. However, it is still unknown to what depth those thrust faultings have been going down into the crust or upper mantle . Seismological evidences indicate that the thrust faultings in Himalaya and southern Tibet have extended to a depth of 80 to 100km , and stopped there. The thrust faultings underneath MCT MBT and Yarlungzampbo suture are closely related to the multiple crustal subductions in Himalaya and southern Tibet. It provides important constraints for the collision process between India and Eurasia. The incomplete crustal subductions in this region suggest that the impinging Indian crust is too light to prevent it going further down, and retreat of crustal subduction is required for the continuing northward movement of the Indian plate. The multiple crustal subductions are compatible to the multiple episodes of the geological activities in Himalaya and southern Tibet. At first, the crustal subduction was produced at Yarlungzampbo suture , and stopped at a depth of 80～100km. Then, it migrated to the south, other new crustal subductions would start successively at MCT and MBT respectively. They stopped at a depth of 80 to 100km also. Beside the north\|dipping seismic zones in Himalaya and Yarlungzamp bo suture, another gentle south\|dipping seismic zone,extending from Tangula Shan at the surface to the Moho at Yarlungzampbo suture was also observed. It can be interpreted to be an obduction at Tangula Shan. The multiple incomplete crustal subductions in Himalaya and Yarlungzampbo suture highly imply that the impinging Indian crust has been splitted apart from its upper\|most mantle, which may b e subducted deeper into the Eurasian mantle.