Extracted Data Points

  • Study reconstructed nearly 4,000 years of climate and vegetation history of Majuli Island, Assam
  • Majuli Island is the world's largest inhabited river island
  • Island is culturally significant as settlement of several tribes and major centre of Neo-Vaishnavite culture
  • Island positioned between Brahmaputra River to south/east, Subansiri River to west, and branch of Brahmaputra to north
  • Island has been severely affected by recurrent flooding and intense riverbank erosion
  • Region had UNESCO tentative status for cultural significance
  • Scientists from Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) conducted the study
  • BSIP is an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • Collected 150 cm deep sediment core from Sakali Wetland on Majuli Island
  • Used pollen analysis to reconstruct past vegetation
  • Used grain-size studies to understand river dynamics and flood intensity
  • Study period covered 4040 to 500 cal. yrs. BP
  • Research estimates past Mean Annual Temperature (MAT) and Mean Annual Precipitation (MAP)
  • Early warm and humid phase identified (4040–2260 cal. yrs. BP) with dense forest cover
  • Phase showed resilience during 4.2 ka dry climatic event
  • Followed by phases of fluctuating monsoon intensity and flood regimes
  • Relatively moist period during 1100–500 cal. yrs. BP corresponding to Medieval Climatic Anomaly
  • Last around 500 years show declining temperature and precipitation consistent with Little Ice Age
  • Last 500 years also show increased anthropogenic influence and expansion of scattered vegetation
  • Grain-size data indicate shift from low- to high-energy fluvial conditions
  • Study published in Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology (Elsevier)
  • Publication link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2026.105536