The himalayas have the largest deposits of snow and ice in the world outside the polar regions and is often referred to as the third pole and also as the water tower of asia. The mountains of snow have also been called the third pole, since they are the third largest body of snow on our planet after the antarctic and arctic. Pdf climate change impacts and vulnerability in the. Despite the immense likely environmental, economic and social costs of climate change, reliable information about the extent and magnitude of climate change and its consequences in the himalayas are not well known. For example, the special orographical features of the indian subcontinent, such as the high himalayan mountain ranges, can have an impact on climate change.
Jan 23, 2020 according to a recent study, on climate change and precipitation variations in the northwestern himalayas conducted by bhutiyani, v. Mar, 2018 climate warming is impacting the cryosphere in high mountain ranges, thereby enhancing the probability for more and larger masswasting processes to occur. The incidence of droughts, snowstorms, blizzards and the like in the himalayas has risen. Climate change impact and vulnerability in the eastern himalayas. Hindu kushhimalayas, the highest mountains in the world, situated in. Jamia millia islamia, new delhi organized by the centre for north east studies and policy research, jamia millia islamia introduction the undps human development report of 200708 described climate change as the defining. A study of local perceptions and responses basavaraj basannagari, chandra prakash kala ecosystem and environment management, indian institute of forest management, bhopal, madhya pradesh, india. Understanding and anticipating the impacts of climate. The himalayan climate and water atlas, impact of climate change. The work also shows how the special features of indian orography in the western himalaya affect climate change in the long term, changing the pattern of precipitation. This open access volume is the first comprehensive assessment of the hindu kush himalaya hkh region.
Climate change is remaking the himalayan region, putting at risk millions of south asians who depend on its water resources and pushing mountain dwellers in northern nepal, home to the worlds. Pdf on aug 6, 2017, g b pant and others published climate change in the himalayas find, read and cite all the research you need on. Environmentthe basic possible impacts of climate change. An overview of glaciers, glacier retreat, and subsequent. The signals of global warming are causing the retreat of glaciers particularly in the himalayas, although the pattern of climate change, glacier retreats, thinning, advances, and surges is complex.
As himalayas warm, nepals climate migrants struggle to. However, nepal has low adaptive capacity to respond to the variability occurs due to climate change 7. Mar 22, 20 almost half of the world gets its water from the himalayas and other high mountains, but little is known about how global warming will affect these sources. The work presented here describes some current trends in weather and climate over the western himalaya and suggests some possible explanations in the context of climate change. Existing observations indicate that the temperature is rising at a higher rate in nepal and chinese regions of the himalayas compared with rest of the himalayas. Dec 30, 2010 this falsecolor image shows snowcapped peaks and ridges of the eastern himalayas between major rivers in southwest china. The impacts of climate change in these high altitude terrains could be farreaching and competition for natural resources will increase. In addition, the impact of climate change is increasing steadily by resulting uncertainties and climate induced extreme events7,21. Acceleration of ice loss across the himalayas over the. Climate change will melt vast parts of the himalayas. According to available data, average annual mean temperatures have been increasing in nepal by 0. Climate change in the himalayas poses a serious threat to the source of these great rivers with dire and farreaching impacts on biodiversity, food, water and energy security. This particular image was taken by nasas advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection.
Climate change impacts on hazards in the eastern himalayas. The impacts of climate change in the himalayas are real. Rapid reduction in the volume of himalayan glaciers due to c. Also, recently the debate on climate change and environment has. Cascading effects of climate change on water, biodiversity. Climate change in nepal and its impact on himalayan glaciers article pdf available in regional environmental change 11. Apart from water availability, crop yield also depends on variables such as humidity, thermal stress, solar radiation, fertilization effect of co 2, and nitrogen stress. Climate change may induce disturbances and shift hazard zones beyond the known extents of occurrences. In order to minimise the adverse impacts of climate change, significant economic growth is needed in the countries of the eastern himalayas so that they are capable of adopting the necessary measures. The snow and avalanche study establishment sase, located near manali in himachal pradesh, has recorded that in the last 25 years, while rainfall has increased, snowfall has decreased.
This falsecolor image shows snowcapped peaks and ridges of the eastern himalayas between major rivers in southwest china. Climate change, livelihoods, growth and poverty march 78, 20 venue. Climate change in the himalayas the himalaya support nearly half of humanity him means snow alaya means mountain. Oct 04, 2018 the himalayas play an important role in shaping the climate of the subcontinent and the recent erratic weather is the direct result of the desecration of the himalayas.
This atlas was developed as part of the himalayan climate change. Vulnerable nations must therefore move rapidly to build resilience to these impacts and adapt to the changing climate. Rise in temperatures is threatening the survival of himalayas. Climate change impacts and vulnerability in the eastern himalayas 1 climate change impacts and vulnerability in the eastern himalayas eklabya sharma, nakul chettri, karma tsering, arun b shrestha, fang jing, pradeep mool and mats eriksson little is known in detail about the vulnerability of mountain ecosystems to climate change. The himalayas are made up of three parallel mountain ranges that together stretch for more than 1800 miles 2,900 kilometers. Dec 30, 2014 temperatures in the central himalayas increased by about 0. Climate warming enhances snow avalanche risk in the western. The impact of climate change at the top of the world could. Climate change has impacted the glacial ecosystem tremendously. The most widely reported impact is the rapid reduction in glaciers, with. The hindu kush himalayan region is so vast that there are great variations in climate, hydrology, glacier behavior, and the timing of precipitation. Nov 18, 2015 immerzeel w 2011 climate change impacts on the water resources of the hindu kush himalayas. The summer monsoon dominates the climate, lasting eight months marchoctober in the eastern himalayas, four.
Sacred natural sites, biocultural diversity and climate change in the eastern himalayas. May 15, 2012 background climate change in the himalayas, a biodiversity hotspot, home of many sacred landscapes, and the source of eight largest rivers of asia, is likely to impact the wellbeing of. In this article, jointly written with my wife vani narayanan, i have briefly captured our experiences and learnings from our trek to annapurna base camp abc in the himalayas recently. It is a region of mighty peaks, pure lakes, and rich forests, home to iconic species such as the snow leopard, bengal tiger, and onehorned rhino. Here, we quantify changes in ice thickness during the intervals 19752000 and 20002016 across the himalayas, using a. The himalayas also prevent the cold siberian air masses from entering into india. Their study, however, does not delve into untimely snowfall. Sixtyseven percent of glaciers are retreating at a startling rate in the himalayas and the major causal factor has been identified as climate change ageta and kadota, 1992. Climate change, himalayas, impacts of climate change.
The changing himalayas 2 himalayan climate and water the himalayas display great climatic variability. The purpose of choosing the himalayas as a focus is because it is a particularly fragile mountain system, highly sensitive to climate change impacts, and it contains one of the largest human populations affected by climate change. The changing himalayas impact of climate change on water resources and livelihoods in the greater himalayas the greater himalayan region, sometimes called the roof of the world, is noticeably impacted by climate change. Climate change, water resources, and water security. Climate change impacts and vulnerability in the eastern himalayas. This image shows plateau glaciers with glacier lakes at gangrinchemzoe pass in bhutan. Climate change effects in the western himalayan ecosystems. Immerzeel w 2011 climate change impacts on the water resources of the hindu kush himalayas.
It comprises important scientific research on the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainable mountain development and will serve as a basis for evidencebased decisionmaking to safeguard the environment and advance peoples wellbeing. This is why most of india has a warm, tropical climate with high precipitation. Climate change and apple farming in indian himalayas. Climate change climate change is already happening and represents one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet. Nepal gets serious about climate change the diplomat. The fragile landscapes of the himalayan region are highly susceptible to natural hazards, and there is ongoing concern about current and potential climate change impacts.
Climatechange studies in the western himalaya annals of. Joe romm passes along the news today that himalayan glaciers are melting faster than anyone has previously predicted. Request pdf climate change in the himalayas this book analyzes the issues associated with climate change in the himalayas. Climate and natural ecosystems are tightly coupled, and the stability of that coupled system is an important ecosystem service. Climate change in the eastern himalayas our knowledge about the impact of climate change on mountain ecosystems is very limited. It is also a region of fascinating cultural and spiritual heritage, where millions of people from diverse cultures and religions, coexist with irreplacebale plants and animals. The mountains act as a barrier to atmospheric circulation for both the summer monsoon and the winter westerlies. The himalayas have captured peoples imaginations for centuries. Pdf on aug 6, 2017, g b pant and others published climate change in the himalayas find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. This report emphasizes that social changes, such as changing patterns of water use and water management decisions, are likely to have at least as much of an impact. Limitedarea models, which are mostly used for mesoscale weather forecasting, are also being used for regional climate change studies, by nesting. Provides concise knowledge on sources and impacts of climate change in the himalayas.
Climate change will melt a third of the ice in the himalayas even if the goals of the paris climate agreement are met, a new report finds. Climate change in the himalayas, a biodiversity hotspot, home of many sacred landscapes, and the source of eight largest rivers of asia, is likely to impact the wellbeing of. Treeline dynamics with climate change at the central nepal. Background climate change in the himalayas, a biodiversity hotspot, home of many sacred landscapes, and the source of eight largest rivers of asia, is likely to impact the wellbeing of. Climate change vulnerability of mountain ecosystems in the.
This study will help identify critical research gaps on the impacts of climate change in the himalayas. Climate change and water resources in the himalayas. The basic possible impacts the issue of climate change. Environmentthe basic possible impacts of climate change in. Melting glaciers, erratic and unpredictable weather conditions, changing rainfall patterns, and increasing temperatures are impacting on the people and wildlife of the region. Indigenous knowledge held by local communities about climate change can. The changing himalayas impact of climate change on water resources and livelihoods in the greater himalayas. Melting glaciers, erratic and unpredictable weather. The hindu kush himalayas and climate change david molden neera shrestha pradhan.
Perspectives on water and climate change adaptation 1 the. The birthplace of lord buddha in nepal, a mountain revered as the centre of the universe in tibet, longstanding monasteries in bhutan, and majestic alpine lakes in india are among the many sacred. However, despite the extraordinary environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic importance of the himalayas, and despite their rapidly increasing ecological. Climate change impacts and vulnerability in the eastern. Climate change, himalayas, impacts of climate change jel classification. Hindu kush himalayan region and the climate change insightsias. This treeringbased snow avalanche reconstruction in the indian himalayas shows an increase in avalanche occurrence and runout distances in recent decades. The himalayas, as a great climatic divide affecting large systems of air and water circulation, help determine meteorological conditions in the indian subcontinent to the south and in the central asian highlands to the north. An overview of climate change and its impact on agriculture. The changes in climate and water availability warrant smallscale adaptations with effective, flexible management that can adjust to the changing conditions. Local perceptions of climate change validated by scientific.
Climate change in nepal and its impact on himalayan glaciers. Downstream implications of climate change in the himalayas. Southwesterly monsoon currents channel moist air toward the eastern himalayas, where the moisture rising over the steep terrain cools and condenses to fall as rain or snow. Climate change vulnerability of mountain ecosystems in the eh 1. Tectonics influence the climate change in the himalayan. The research gaps and lessons learned provide a good platform for initiating concrete projects and activities on biodiversity and climate change in the eastern himalayas. Climate change in the himalayas is a major topic of worry for climate watchers in the subcontinent and across the world.
Impact of climate change on water resources and livelihoods in the. New images show 50 years of climate change in the himalayas. Pawar, a statistically significant downward trend in monsoon and average annual rainfall was observed between 1866 and 2006. However, despite the extraordinary environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic importance of the himalayas, and despite their rapidly increasing ecological degradation, not much is known. Since we are concerned about the consequences of global warming and climate change in the future, it is necessary to study the effect of global climate changes on the regional scale. A similar trend was noted from 1960 to 2006 over the western indian. Climate change, water resources, and water security makes recommendations and sets guidelines for the future of climate change and water security in the himalayan region. May 15, 2012 climate change in the himalayas, a biodiversity hotspot, home of many sacred landscapes, and the source of eight largest rivers of asia, is likely to impact the wellbeing of. Climate change impacts agriculture in the northern.
Food nexus mountain systems a global resource vital for water, food, energy, forests, biodiversity mountains. Various studies have stated that warming in the himalayas has been much greater and high altitude systems are at a greater risk. Agriculture in the himalayan region is mainly rainfed, which, therefore, means that it is vulnerable to climate change. Introduction climate change is expected to have a strong impact on water resources, especially in mountain regions buytaert, 2012, and even more so in the himalayas where the rise in temperature. In the himalayas, where the increase in temperatures is higher than the world average, climate change is expected to impact water resources in a particularly significant manner. By virtue of its location and stupendous height, the great himalaya range obstructs the passage of cold continental air from the north. Widespread climate change in the himalayas and associated. Whereas climate specialists using measurements and simulations play down this statement by underlining uncertainties and differences between the west and east of the range, the media and. The signals of global warming are causing the retreat of glaciers particularly in the himalayas, although the pattern of climate change, glacier retreats, thinning, advances, and surges is. It is also hoped that the rapid assessment will be helpful in guiding the macarthur foundation, icimod, and their partners in developing. Himalayan ecosystems to climate change as a result of their ecological fragility and economic marginality. This particular image was taken by nasas advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer aster, flying aboard the terra. Water resources management and the provision of clean water and sanitation is already a challenge in the hindu kush himalayan region.
Paper presented at the authors workshop for the regional report on climate change in the hindu kush himalayas. Himalaya, higher himalaya, lesser himalaya, and sub himalayan which are bounded and separated by several south propagating,northdipping thrustfault systems in different time spans neupane et al. Himalayan glaciers supply meltwater to densely populated catchments in south asia, and regional observations of glacier change over multiple decades are needed to understand climate drivers and assess resulting impacts on glacierfed rivers. Paper presented at the authors workshop for the regional report on climate change in the hindu kushhimalayas. Jan 27, 2020 with the purpose of highlighting the impact of climate change on the himalayas, the nepal government is organizing its firstever global summit to be dedicated to climate change issues. There is a link between climate change and mountain vulnerability. The purpose of choosing the himalayas as a focus is because it is a.
Recent warming has caused glacier retreat in highmountain asia, with a corresponding increase in the size and number of glacial lakes dammed by glaciers or their debris. Pdf climate change impact and vulnerability in the. To better gauge the impact of climate change on the hindu kush mountains, which includes the himalayas, and spruce up datagathering, the india meteorological department imd will collaborate with meteorological agencies in china and pakistan, among others, to provide climate forecast services to countries in the region. Since we are concerned about the consequences of global warming and climate change in the future, it is necessary to study the effect of global climate. This book analyzes the issues associated with climate change in the himalayas. Pdf tryst with himalayas and climate change ram narayanan.