A micromorphological approach to Paleogene and Neogene weathering conditions from fossil soils of Antarctica and Himalaya

01/02/2017 to 31/01/2018

The intended short visit under INSA-DFG 2017 by Prof. Pankaj Srivastava, Delhi University, India is to initiate a collaborative research work on A micromorphological approach to Paleogene and Neogene weathering conditions from fossil soils of Antarctica and Himalaya with Dr. Peter Kühn, Universität Tübingen. Major objective of the proposed study is to describe and evaluate key micromorphological features
related to weathering and paleopedogenesis in Antarctica during
Eocene warming and Greenhouse conditions and comparing them
with weathering and paleopedogenesis in fluvial sequences of the
Himalayan Foreland Basin (HFB). During the short academic stay,
Prof Srivastava will interact with Dr. Peter Kühn and his research
group at Universität Tübingen discussing Eocene paleopedogenesis
in Antarctica. He will deliver few lectures on critical issues dealing with
the evolution of soils and paleosols in the HFB and their importance
as modern analogue to the ancient paleosols. This will be followed by
a joint micromorphological study with the experts from the host
institution for important paleosols thin sections from Antarctica and
HFB. Key inputs from this study will be utilized to initiate the
formulation of a long term collaborative research to study the Eocene
paleosols of the Antarctica and fossils soils of the Himalaya with a
micromorphological approach. The collaborative work will be useful to
the researchers across the world to comprehend weathering and
paleoenvironments during Paleogene and Neogene times at Global
level.