Need to study changing weather patterns: Dr. Sunil Nautiyal
Listen to this articleNeed to study changing weather patterns: Dr. Sunil Nautiyal
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Sept 16
Lack of widespread rains and it’s getting fragmented and localised in the past recent years has become a significant reason for high incidents of landslides in Uttarakhand during monsoon months as per the scientists.
“The changing rain pattern due to several factors of weather change and decreasing bearing capacity of fragile Himalayan region has contributed in increasing incidents of landslides during monsoon,” said Dr Sunil Nautiyal, Director of GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment at Kosi Katarmal in Almora.
“We have only received widespread rains only on September 13 to15 this year, otherwise it was more localised rains all over monsoon this year,” said the Director.
According to weather department sources in Uttarakhand, it rained at an average of 102 mm in 3 days from September 13 to 15 this year, that was widely spread.
“Moreover, the rains have also changed its pattern in Himalayan region, it has become a sudden rains pattern and the rains that used to be expected in June and July months are now pouring in mid- September and even October,” said Dr Nautiyal.
According to the scientists, the increased fragility of mid-Himalayan region, and changing patterns of rains, due to several factors, is being studied by his institute.” It is not the work of a single organisation but requires several scientific organisations to join hands to study such impacts,” said Dr Nautiyal
“The widespread forest fires are another reason that caused more landslides than average in this monsoon. Forest fires that burn herbs and grasses, results into a weak soil layer as the herbs and grasses that stop water flow in monsoon, gets unable to stop water flow from above the slips and results into landslides,” said Dr Nautiyal.
He further said that local ecology of Himalayan region also contributes in more intense rains but the monsoon rains have gone fragmented due to degrading local ecology of Himalayan region.”We have several localities like Jardhar forest in Garhwal and Sheetalakhet forests in Kumaon where the local ecology is still maintained due to dense forests surrounding it contributing in getting early and more rains in monsoon,” said Dr Nautiyal
He said that National Mission for Sustainable Himalayan Eco-system, one of the eight main missions launched by Government of India, is working successfully towards addressing this factor in the Himalayan region.
According to the GB Pant Institute scientist, the losses to agriculture in Himalayan region being felt less as most of the hill residents have left the profession of agriculture.” Had it been everyone’s profession today, the volumes of losses in agriculture due to weather pattern change would have been widely felt. There is need to readjust the cropping pattern as per the weather and rain pattern changes,” said Dr Nautiyal.
“We will have to check adverse effects of weather on Himalayan agriculture and livelihood by making united forum of several agencies working in this direction, it is not the responsibility of a single agency,” said the Director of GB Pant Institute.
