SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, June 6: A research by the IIT Indian School of Mines (ISM) Dhanbad faculty revealed that the rising tendency of global warming and emission of greenhouse gases have triggered a significant decline in snow cover in low altitudinal areas of Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region.
The research was conducted by PhD scholar Nirasindhu Desinayak under the guidance of Dr Anup Krishna Prasad, Associate Professor of Applied Geology Department IIT ISM.
The report observed that if the melting trend in snow cover continues in the HKH region, it will influence the monsoon rainfall distribution across India and the rise of water levels in major rivers of Asia.
The report of the research team has calculated around 5 to15% decline in snow cover in the central zone of the Hindu Kush Himalayan Region.
Dr Anup Krishna Prasad said though the western zone (above 6000 meters) of Hindu Kush Himalayan exhibits no significant loss in snow cover from 2000 to 2017, in the same period the central zone witnessed a major decline.
“Such large changes in snow cover of HKH region particularly in the central region at 2000-6000 meter altitude indicates an immediate impact on river discharge and is anticipated to raise the water level of major rivers of Asia,” said Dr Prasad.
He further added that the decline of snow cover in low altitude regions (2000- 6000 meters) which can reach as high as 15% in some regions, necessitates the monitoring of all such zones.
In wake of the danger of snow cover decline, the research stressed on the urgent need for implementing carbon-capturing technologies in the oil and gas sector and thermal power plants. It also suggested the use of low carbon energy sources, development of hydro, solar and wind power and capturing of carbon through afforestation and algal farming (biofuels).
PhD scholar Nirasindhu Desinayak completed the research in 5 years of study since 2015 with the additional guidance of three USA based experts including Professor Hesham El Askary of Centre of Excellence in Earth Systems Modelling and Observations, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Professor Menas Kafatos, director of the same institute at Chapman University and Ghassem R Arsar, senior vice -president for Science, Universities Space Research Association (USRA), Columbia.
Elaborating on the challenges posed by the depleting snow cover in the low altitudinal areas of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, Dr Prasad said it is likely to increase the number of natural snowmelt lakes in the Himalayas which poses a risk to the downstream settlements due to the possibility of rapid bursting.
However, he said that “the losses due to glacial melt lakes can be minimised through mapping of these melt lakes.”
