KASHMIR LIFE (KL): How has climate change impacted Kashmir? Or has it?
Irfan Rashid (IR): The impact of climate change on Jammu and Kashmir is very clear. There is a plethora of scientific literature on the impact of climate change on glaciers, vegetation, agriculture, incidence and frequency of extreme weather events, and livelihoods. Research has shown that the glaciers in the Jammu and Kashmir region are melting at comparatively higher rates compared to other parts of the Hindukush-Himalaya-Karakoram region.
For example, the Kolahoi glacier is one of the fastest retreating glaciers in Kashmir whose snout is depleting at ~50 m per year. Drang Drung, a 23 km long glacier in Zanskar, is retreating at ~60 m per year. Many other glaciers are showing similar recession patterns and higher mass loss.
Climate change is also affecting the vegetation distribution and composition in the region that includes the shift of treeline and proliferation of invasive species in otherwise pristine landscapes. The erratic weather patterns over Kashmir like the untimely snowfall that Kashmir experienced in November of 2018 and 2019 dented the apple industry. Even the Chillai Kalaan of 2021 was very harsh considering the climatological record of the last three decades.
KL: This winter was the harshest since 1991. Can we relate it to climate change or there could be other factors as well?
IR: Climatic change does not mean warmer temperatures only. It is, as I said, also associated with increased frequency of extremes, in this case extremely low temperatures that were experienced across Kashmir during January. However, more research needs to be done to see the impact of climatic change on atmospheric circulation patterns including western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 21-27, 2021-Ausgabe von Kashmir Life.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 21-27, 2021-Ausgabe von Kashmir Life.
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Before The Kabul Retreat
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Almost everybody in academia and politics that Khalid Bashir Gura spoke to, the response over Kabul happens was simple – wait and watch
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To enhancing facilities for the convenience of the Vaishno Devi pilgrims, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation for the Durga Bhawan, a high utility pilgrim-centric facility worth Rs 24.4 crore. The facility will accommodate 4000 pilgrims.
Women Empowerment
In the first, 480 talented girls from Jammu and Kashmir were included in the degree and diploma courses of the Pragati Scholarship. Jammu and Kashmir has also got nine scholarships under the Saksham Scheme for Persons with Disabilities.
‘SOME HISTORIANS BELIEVE THAT AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT IS THE OUTCOME OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN KASHMIR STAND-OFF'
Foreign policy expert and editor of HardNews magazine, Sanjay Kapoor believes that Taliban 2.0 has more legitimacy unlike in the past as it had signed a deal with the US and negotiated with other countries of the region, but the final verdict can be passed only after it manages ticklish issues involving half of its population, the women
Boredom Is Creative?
Getting bored is not as boring as it gets, writes Azra Hussain
LG In Bangus
Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha inaugurated the Bungus Awaam Mela amidst grand arrangements for village games, exhilarating local performances, and other activities to celebrate the 75th year of Independence.
