Stable isotopes from peat profiles from the western Himalayas (India as indicators of westerlies and monsoon variability during the Holocene

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This project proposes multiparameter investigations on modern mires and Holocene peat profiles in the Himalayan region. The main focus will be laid on the extraction of plant cellulose and the investigation of the carbon, oxygen and hydrogen isotope composition to gain insights into the climatic drivers of mire dynamics. The aims of the project are (i) to identify the drivers of the moisture balance of the investigated mires, (ii) to characterize differing sensitivities of various proxies e.g. pollens, microfossils, isotopes and biomarkers to different components of the climate system (temperature, hydrology), (iii) to reconstruct the low to medium-frequency climate variability during the Holocene and (iv) to infer the role and the interplay of the summer monsoon and the westerlies in regional precipitation. The feasibility of using the inorganic component of the peat as an indicator of the catchment area processes and aeolian input – both of which are related to climate changes - will also be explored. The research approach to reach these goals is a twofold one. A study of the existing mire systems will establish an understanding of the mire dynamics under modern conditions. This knowledge will be essential for the interperation of peat cores during the second phase. The data obtained from the peat archive will be integrated into the HIMPAC network and critically reviewed with reconstructions gained from other archives in the same/nearby regions. The ultimate goal is to obtain a concise picture of Holocene monsoon variability for the Western Himalayas.