Major Research Programmes

The basic building blocks of the Earth and planets in our solar system are the gases and dust in the solar nebula. Nonetheless, the chemical and isotopic compositions of all solar system bodies are different from each other. It implies that each planet has unique precursors as well as evolution pathways. The research activities of Genesis Lab mainly focus on the origin and evolution of the Earth and planetary objects using element concentrations, mass-dependent, and mass-independent isotope variations in terrestrial as well as extra-terrestrial materials.

Solid Earth Geochemistry        

Research in Solid Earth Geochemistry deals with the chemical composition and processes of the Earth's solid components, including the crust, mantle, and core. Studies in this field investigate the distribution, cycling, and interaction of elements and isotopes within Earth's interior and their influence on geological and geophysical processes. The research topics include, but are not limited to, the secular evolution of mantle, crust-mantle interaction, intraplate volcanism, subduction zone processes, and arc volcanism.

Quaternary Environments, Sedimentology, and Terrain response

The QuEST laboratory explores (para- and peri-) glacial, fluvial, aeolian, and coastal environments to understand the terrain response focusing on past-climate trends, especially the extreme events, and changes in the geomorphic processes. Utilising multi-proxy and multi-chronological techniques some of the current focus themes are Himalayan glacier changes (millennial to centennial scales), Himalayan and dryland flash floods, and the Holocene sea-level changes. Human-terrain-climate relationship is explored in the Holocene period to understand the anthropogenic processes as a geomorphic agent.

Paleoclimate Studies

This research focuses on past climate variability, monsoon dynamics, and sea surface temperature fluctuations. By analyzing natural archives like cave deposits and sediments and using isotopic techniques and climate models, we aim to understand both short-term human impacts and long-term natural drivers of climate to improve future predictions.

Hydrology

Hydrology Research at PRL examines the transport of moisture via atmospheric, surface, and sub-surface processes encapsulating- i) Terrestrially-recycled moisture ii) Diagnose moisture transport pathways iii) Detect multi-decadal rainfall trend reversals iv) Investigate surface-groundwater exchange, and v) Extreme precipitation events. We leverage isotopes (stable & radioactive), water table data, AI and ML tools, and statistical modeling to explore long-term changes and dynamics, offering insights into regional hydrology and sustainable water resource management.

Aqueous Geochemistry

Natural waters (rivers, groundwater, lakes) draining the solid earth play a critical role in supporting and maintaining life on the earth. These terrestrial aquatic systems are key to regulating climate, major and trace element cycling, supporting biodiversity and providing water as a resource. Our research under aquatic geochemistry focuses on understanding the chemistry of natural waters to assess the water-rock interactions, river and groundwater dynamics, and human/anthropogenic influence. Novel geochemical and isotopic tools are used to assess these processes.

Oceanography and Paleoceanography

The ocean circulation plays a key role in regulating global climate. Our research focuses on investigating the variability in ocean circulation across both time and space and their interactions with the climate system. By analyzing signals preserved in natural archives, we aim to reconstruct past oceanographic and climatic dynamics, gaining a deeper understanding of the factors that control these systems. Our research spans time scales from decadal to millions of years, to enhance predictions for the Earth's future climate and oceanographic developments.

Biogeochemistry

Our research focuses on how marine and terrestrial biota respond to global change, examining their impacts on ecosystem functioning and the resulting consequences for biogeochemical cycles. We aim to: (1) develop a mechanistic understanding of key biological processes at the elemental level and their global impact, (2) understand the influence of organismal response to community dynamics and ecosystem structures, shaping trophic interactions and food web efficiencies, (3) investigate how shifts in ecosystem composition and function affect biogeochemical cycling, (4) decipher the impact of anthropogenic modifications on terrestrial aquatic systems, and (5) study distribution of trace elements and isotopes in the past and present oceans.

  Aerosol Chemistry

The major focus of this research is to understand how sources and processes affect ambient aerosol concentration, composition, and characteristics over different regions of India and surrounding oceans, and how the atmospheric processing of aerosols affects their implications to atmospheric chemistry, air quality, human health, aquatic ecosystem, and climate change. The chemical and isotopic composition of aerosols measured through state-of-the-art analytical techniques are used as tools to achieve the research objectives. 

Facilities

• Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS)
• Multi-collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICPMS) equipped with femtosecond laser
• Quadrupole Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (Q-ICPMS)
• High-Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) equipped with laser ablation
• Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometer (TIMS)
• Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer (IRMS)
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GCMS)
• Thermoluminescence (TL) & Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating systems
• Ion Chromatograph
• Alpha, Beta, and Gamma detectors
• Liquid Scintillation Counters (LSC)
• Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometers (ICP-AES)
• CN-Analyzer
• Thermo-Optical EC-OC Analyzer
• Particle-into-Liquid Sampler (PILS)
• Ambient Ion Monitor coupled to Ion Chromatography (AIM-IC)
• Portable UV-visible spectrometer with liquid waveguide capillary cell (LWCC)
• Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers
• Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Analyzer
• High Resolution - Time of Flight - Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS)
• Aethalometer
• Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS)
• Particle Size Analyzer and Sieve shaker
• Magnetic Separator

A glimpse of Ph.D programmes offered

• Chemical and isotopic evolution of the Earth through time, Isotope Geochemistry, and Cosmochemistry
• Nitrogen and Carbon Cycling in Marine and Terrestrial Environments
• Isotopic Fingerprinting of Waters of India
• Paleoclimate Studies Using Marine and Terrestrial Proxies
• Marine Geochemistry
• Ocean circulation in the present and past
• Ocean redox dynamics in deep time
• Chemical Weathering and Climate
• Paleomonsoon and Desertification on various time scales
• Spatial and Temporal evolution of various Landforms in India
• Glacial and paraglacial terrain response (Himalayas)
• Human-climate-landform relationship in Holocene
• Evolution of Proterozoic Sedimentary Basins of India
• Subduction Zone Volcanism
• Aerosol Chemistry and Characterization
• Atmospheric deposition fluxes of biogeochemically important species
• Fate of Environmental Microplastics