Unveiling Quaternary Environmental Dynamics: Multiproxy Insights from the Southwest Coast of Kerala, India

Divya Murali^a , Rajesh Reghunath^a, K. Anoop Krishnan^b

^a Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Karyavattom Campus, Trivandrum, Kerala-695581, India;
^b National Centre for Earth Science Studies, Akkulam, Trivandrum, Kerala, India

Abstract

Multiproxy investigations of Quaternary sediments provide excellent insights into past environmental dynamics and offer valuable perspectives for managing future issues. The current study intended to understand past climatic conditions of the Thiruvananthapuram–Kollam coastal stretch, South Kerala, India through granulometric, geochemical, and geochronological analysis of Quaternary sediments. Two cores of varying depths from two locations, viz., Chittumala and Kadinamkulam, were collected from coastal stretches of Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts using the rotary drilling method. Geochronological data suggest an Early Holocene age for the Chittumala core and a Late Holocene age for the Kadinamkulam core. Downcore lithofacies variations in both cores reflect predominantly stable depositional regimes punctuated by episodic high-energy events indicative of short-term environmental fluctuations. Geochemical data indicate extended periods of cool and wet climate punctuated by shorter periods of warm and dry conditions.

Keywords

Quaternary Sediments; TOC/TN Ratio; Radiocarbon Dating; Paleoenvironment

How to Cite

Murali, D., Reghunath, R., & Anoop Krishnan, K. (2026). Unveiling Quaternary Environmental Dynamics: Multiproxy Insights from the Southwest Coast of Kerala, India. Journal of Integrated Earth Sciences, 1(1), 112–119. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18514812