Thermoluminescence chronology of sand profiles in the Thar desert and their implications

Thermoluminescence chronology of three sand profiles in Western Rajasthan indicates a peak in sand accretion rate at ca 14 ka and a period of dormancy during 13-6 ka BP. This observation shows a general correlation with pollen and geochemical records from lakes in Thar and demonstrates the potential of desert sands in paleoclimatic reconstruction. Thermoluminescence ages of 36 ka and 40 ka on two samples suggest that the aeolian sand mobilization activity in this regions is at least as old