Vegetation history and sea level variations during the last 13,500 years inferred from a pollen record at Chilika Lake, Orissa, India

Chilika Lake is the largest lagoon in Asia, situated in the state of Orissa in India. In the year 2000, many surface samples and cores were taken. Here the lithological results and especially those of the pollen analysis are shown. The oldest sediments of core CHI 9 were dated at about 13,500 cal years b.p. At this time the area of Chilika Lake was a river or a river delta with fresh water vegetation. With the increase in the sea level after about 9,500 cal years b.p. the area became an estuary with mangrove vegetation. Small variations in the sea level between about 5,000 and 2,500 cal years b.p. are not visible in our pollen profile. However the regression after about 2,000 cal years b.p. caused the formation of a barrier spit and sand ridges with the consequence that a big lagoon was formed, Chilika Lake. Marine influence diminished and the fresh water impact from the rivers increased. Mangrove vegetation disappeared and was replaced by fresh water vegetation.