Geospatial Diversity, Geologic Significance and Evolutionary Trends of Parabolic Dunes in Thar Desert of the Indian Subcontinent

Thar Desert, the world’s seventh largest desert on the subtropics, is characterized by arid-semiarid ecologically fragile environment and occupies a unique tectonic-sedimentary domain in north-western parts of Indian subcontinent. Observation of dune alignment using remotely sensed imagery has shown that regionally, these dunes are closely aligned with the prevailing wind direction of the southwest monsoon system. Therefore, the Thar dune systems potentially provide a rich archive of past climatic and geomorphological change. Quaternary deposits and landform assemblages that provide spectacular landscape include a diverse variety of dune forms and playa – saline lake deposits in the hot Thar.