Sedimentation rate in North Indian lakes estimated using ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb dating techniques

In the present study, recent sedimentation rates in Nainital, Bhimtal, Sattal and Naukuchiatal lakes, Uttarakhand; Mansar and Dal lakes, Jammu and Kashmir, and Sagar and Bhopal lakes, Madhya Pradesh have been determined employing ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs dating techniques. The results indicate comparatively higher sedimentation rates in certain western Himalayan lakes such as Dal, Nainital and Bhimtal than in Sattal, Naukuchiatal and Mansar. The Bhopal lake is getting silted at a higher rate than the Sagar lake. The observed sedimentation pattern reveals that sedimentation rate decreases from near-shore to far-shore and is a minimum at the central and deepest part in lakes of western Himalayas, while Sagar and Bhopal lakes have a different pattern of sedimentation.