Executive Summary : | The livelihoods of ~40% of the global population residing along coastlines are closely tied to the ecological, hydro-climatic, and sea-level conditions. The escalating impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, salt-water intrusion into groundwater reserves, coastal biodiversity loss, and increased extreme weather events pose multifaceted threats to these coastal areas. From an Indian perspective, the significance of the coastal regions, spanning from the northeast to the south and the western corridor, is immense. Predicting the frequency and magnitude of these events affecting coastal ecosystems, infrastructure, and human interaction remains a challenge. By understanding the natural variations in monsoonal climate and coastal dynamics, it is possible to assess the probability of recurrence and associated damages. The Indian coastline exhibits substantial variability due to the interactions of different branches of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM) and the retreating northeast monsoon (NEM). The regional climate studies and models are yet unable to fully understand this climate pattern. To address these challenges, well-dated palaeo-records of the Holocene period, encompassing variations in monsoon patterns and regional unpredictability are required. Given the large spatio-temporal variability in monsoons and coastal dynamics, the utilization of various biotic and isotopic proxies is essential to gain the necessary insights. In line with this framework, this project aims to create biotic and isotopic datasets to track changes in the monsoonal fluctuations, including the southwest monsoon (SWM) and the northeast monsoon (NEM). The focus will be on reconstructing high-resolution climate and environmental changes reflecting palaeoproductivity, palaeolimnology, and relative sea-level change during the Holocene period. By utilizing suitable tracers, the project will strive to capture the imprints of anthropogenic influences on natural processes that affect biological productivity, ranging from freshwater drainage basins to the coastal and offshore marine areas. The Holocene deposits found in the coastal lowlands of Kerala offer valuable insights into the impacts of natural and human activities on the region's past and present conditions. Utilizing diatoms, palynofacies, and isotopic analysis from the coastal and paddy fields of Kerala can provide qualitative and quantitative reconstructions of palaeoclimate and palaeolimnology. However, such studies are scarce in Indian contexts. Additionally, studying the earliest evidence of paddy cultivation in Kerala and its connection to human activity during the Holocene can shed light on the coastal geoarchaeology of south India. The study not only aims to understand the dynamics of coastal environments but also seeks to gather knowledge addressing current climate change challenges and provide insights for future sustainability and societal relevance. |