Mawsmai Cave stalagmite sheds light on 6,000-year monsoon shifts in NE India

Why in News?

A study of a stalagmite recovered from Mawsmai Cave, Meghalaya, has provided evidence of long-term changes in the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) in northeastern India. The research identified variations in monsoon intensity between 11,807 and 5,622 years ago, linking ancient rainfall patterns with global climate systems and solar variations.

Key Findings of the Study

• The study found that the Indian Summer Monsoon was significantly stronger during the early Holocene.
• Monsoon intensity gradually weakened during the middle Holocene.
• The research is titled ‘Deciphering Holocene Monsoon Dynamics in Northeastern India’.
• It was published in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.
• The stalagmite was recovered from Mawsmai Cave, around 60 km south of Shillong, in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district.

What is the Holocene?

• The Holocene is the current geological epoch.
• It began approximately 11,700 years ago, following the last Ice Age.
• It is characterised by relatively warm and stable climatic conditions compared with the preceding glacial period.

What are Stalactites and Stalagmites?

These are cave formations, commonly found in limestone and dolomite caves, formed through the deposition of calcium carbonate (calcite). 

• Stalactites: Icicle-shaped mineral deposits that hang downward from cave ceilings.
• Stalagmites: Mound-shaped deposits that grow upward from cave floors due to dripping water from stalactites.
• Formation: Water dissolves minerals from overlying limestone and deposits calcium carbonate inside caves as it drips and loses carbon dioxide.

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