IISER MOHALI

Abstract: Nestled in the eastern reaches of India, the Mahanadi Delta emerges as a vital hub of ecological diversity,nurturing a rich tapestry of ecosystems that interlace with human settlements. However, the delta's delicate equilibriumfaces a looming threat from prospective sea level rise, which stands to disrupt the socio-economic fabric of its coastalinhabitants. Consequently, it becomes imperative to delve into the historical forces sculpting the delta and shaping itsintricate ecosystems. Over time, the Mahanadi Delta has undergone a series of evolutionary stages, oscillating betweenprogradation and retrogradation in tandem with marine regression and transgression phases. These developmentalepochs have left their mark on the delta's fluvial channels, evident in the transitions between anastomosing-meanderingpatterns, shifting river mouths, and dendritic channels tracing paleostrandlines. The morphological evolution of thesechannels hints at a complex interplay of upstream and downstream influences. While sea-level changes exertdownstream control, sediment influx from the Eastern Ghats provides an upstream trigger for the fluviogeomorphicchanges in the Mahanadi Delta.\n\nMeeting id: 944 2649 3601\nPasscode: 070134\n