Fossil Leaves from Nagaland

Why in News?

Recently founded fossil leaves from Nagaland reveals how Antarctica shaped the Indian Monsoons.

• Study focus – Connection between Antarctic formation and Indian monsoon evolution.
• Organizations involved – Research led by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (Lucknow) and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (Dehradun).

Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, both are autonomous institutes of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

• Fossil discovery location – Laisong formation, Nagaland.
• Age of fossils – Approximately 34 million years old.
• Methodology used – CLAMP (Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program) to analyze fossilized leaves.
• Significance – Indicates that the region once thrived in a warm and wet climate.
• Climate Reconstruction Findings
• Past conditions – Evidence of very high rainfall and temperatures in ancient Nagaland.
• Study results – Suggested a much wetter and warmer environment compared to present-day conditions in Nagaland matched the global timing of Antarctic glaciation
• This links ice growth at the South Pole with tropical rainfall in India.
• Link to Antarctic Glaciation
• Timing –  Fossil age correlates with the onset of massive ice sheet formation in Antarctica.
• Global Connection – Growth of Antarctic ice likely shifted wind and rainfall patterns.
• Impact on India – This shift brought intense monsoonal rains to Northeast India.
• Implications for future climate
• Warning sign – Modern climate change and Antarctic ice melt could lead to a shift in the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
• Potential consequences – Disruption of monsoon patterns, which are crucial for agriculture and water supply in India and surrounding regions.
• Importance of understanding climate changes – Events in one part of the world impact conditions elsewhere.
• Insights from ancient shifts can inform future preparedness for climatic challenges.

Reference

PIB| Fossil Leaves From Nagaland