Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 6: The average temperature in Jammu and Kashmir is increasing due to variation in climate characteristic over the years while as majority of glaciers have been showing degradation and the prevailing situation has the potential of posing biggest challenge for the State in the coming decades.
This has been observed in the document of Department of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing prepared by GIZ (a German Firm) Consultants IRG Pvt Ltd in consultation with the stakeholders of the State.
“In the context of Jammu and Kashmir, which nestles in fragile Himalayan ecosystem, there are natural fluctuations in climate, human induced changes due to large scale urbanization that drives the warning trend”, the document said, adding “the biodiversity loss and water stress owing to the climate change are the greatest challenge for the State over the coming Decades”.
Stating that climate change poses a serious threat to the species diversity, habitats, forests, wildlife, fisheries and the water resources in the region, the document said, “many wetlands in J&K that support 20% of the known range of biodiversity in the region are adversely affected”.
Observing that climate profile of J&K indicates variation in climate characteristic over the years, the document said, “there is increase in an average temperature in Jammu and Kashmir”, adding “Kashmir valley has shown rise of 1.45 degree Celsius and Jammu region has shown a rise of 2.32 degree Celsius over last two decades”.
The maximum temperature has increased by 0.5 degree Celsius per year in Kashmir valley and 0.08 degree Celsius per year in Jammu region. Moreover, amount of snowfall has reduced over the years, the document said while laying stress on in-depth exercise to study the climate change projections in Jammu and Kashmir.
About the changes observed in glaciers in Jammu and Kashmir, the document said, “the studies conducted during last three decades by the National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, reveal that in Ladakh, Zanskar and the Great Himalayan ranges of Jammu and Kashmir are generally receding and the glacier volume changes range between 3.6% and 97% with the majority of glaciers showing a degradation of 17%–25%”.
“The 23-km long Drang-Drung glacier in the Zanskar valley is highly affected by western disturbances”, the document said, adding “the Nubra valley of Jammu and Kashmir has 114 small-sized glaciers varying between less than 5 km and 10 km in length. The glaciers of the valley, however, do not show much change in their length and area during the period 1989–2001”.
“However, variable decline in the glacial area of the Siachin glacier has been observed with the area reducing from 994.99 km2 in 1969 to 932.90 km2 in 1989. However, small change in the area (932.90 km2 to 930 km2) has been noticed during the following decade (1989–2001)”, the document said, adding “the impact of rising temperature and reducing snowfall on glacier mass require a sound long-term database for precise climate change assessment”.
The document has also deliberated on various factors associated with the climate change including vulnerability of agriculture and allied activities due to climate sensitivity, socio-economic factors contributing to the vulnerability and possible climate change impacts on the energy sector.
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