Loess in India: recorder of the Indian Monsoon system [LION]

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The Indian Monsoon system influences the lives of many million people, while its activity in the past is only partly known. For past reconstructions, marine geoarchives play a dominant role although these are more indirect and smoothed due to transport processes from precipitation region to the marine realm. Here we propose investigating loess-paleosol sequences in Kashmir, northern India. These geoarchives will be utilized for reconstructing relative fluctuations in precipitation and for obtaining an improved insight into past Indian Monsoon dynamics. We will use rock magnetic methods, calorimetry and grain size composition as proxy data for past environments. The timing will be determined by luminescence dating. This research proposal is planned to provide high-resolution proxy data from Kashmir loess, yet missing in the context of Eurasian loess research. If successful, a longer-term work is planned in the region.