Himalayas and Kashmir’s Climate Shift | 12 Jul 2025

Source: PIB 

A recent palaeobotanical study conducted by scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, has revealed that the Kashmir Valley, currently known for its cool Mediterranean-type climate, was once a warm and humid subtropical region approximately 4 million years ago. 

• BSIP was founded in 1946 to promote research in palaeobotany, and its foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1949. It received UNESCO support (1951–53) and became an autonomous body in 1969, funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). 

Study on Kashmir’s Climate Shift 

• About the Study: The study, based on a historic fossil leaf collection at BSIP, was prompted by a climatic mismatch between subtropical fossil specimens and Kashmir’s present-day temperate flora, leading to a fresh investigation into the valley’s ancient climate. 
• Scientific Techniques Used:  To reconstruct Kashmir’s palaeoclimate, the study used two key methods- CLAMP (Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program), which analyzed leaf morphology (shape, size, margins) to estimate past temperature and rainfall, and the Coexistence Approach, which compared fossil taxa with their modern relatives to infer ancient climate ranges. 
• Key Findings: Fossilized leaves from the Karewa sediments from Kashmir indicate that the valley once supported a lush subtropical forest. 
  • Many fossils resemble modern species from warm and humid climates, contrasting sharply with today's alpine and coniferous vegetation. 
  • The study attributes this climatic shift to the tectonic uplift of the Pir Panjal Range, part of the sub-Himalayan system. 
    • This uplift acted as a geological barrier, blocking the Indian summer monsoon, thereby reducing rainfall and transforming the region’s climate over geological timescales. 
• Significance of the Study: The study enhances climate modelling by linking tectonic activity with ecosystem change, highlights the sensitivity of Himalayan ecosystems, and offers analogues for understanding monsoon dynamics, glacial melt, and topography interactions.  
  • It underscores the policy relevance of palaeoclimate research for biodiversity conservation, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development in fragile mountain regions.