NaMo, unleash an agricultural revolution in Bharat. Create a National Water Grid in 3 years' time using the roadmap laid out in a landmark judgement of Supreme Court (3 Judge bench headed by CJI) in Feb. 2012. The addl. 9 crore acres of wet land created by the Grid should be distributed to 9 crore landless families. Assuring 24x7 365 days of potable tap drinking water to every home in 6.5 lakh villages, irrigation water to every farm to triple, quadruple agricultural production and feed the world. Employ millions of youth by linking up with MNREGA to assure 365 days employment during the project implementation period ALL OVER the country.
Mitigate the recurrent floods in Brahmaputra and Kosi. Move Bharat away from dependence on monsoon which is unpredictable and causes uncertainties in the lives of agriculturists.
Bharat has the potential to reach to the level of contribution to World GDP that the country had in 1 CE.
Provide technical assistance to United Indian Ocean States to manage the Himalayan river flows (e.g. Mekong, Irawadi, Salween) using satellite technologies of Bharat for monitoring hydrological flows in smart Water Grids.
Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Research Centre
Rameshwaram Ramasetu Protection Movement
June 2, 2014
Water supply in Ganga, Brahmaputra will increase: Study
KOLKATA: Despite the retreating of glaciers in Himalayas, water supply in rivers like Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus will increase in the coming decades, a new study said.
The study was conducted jointly by research organization FutureWater, Netherlands' Utrecht University and the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.
"Our results show that the river flow will increase at least until 2050, despite retreating glaciers," researcher Arthur Lutz said in a statement on Monday.
"The glaciers feeding Indus river, although retreating, will generate increasing amounts of melt-water in the coming decades due to higher temperatures. For the other rivers, the increase in river flow is mainly caused by increasing precipitation," the researchers said.
Glacier and snowmelt contribute water to ten important river basins originating from the Himalayas and in the Tibetan plateau serving over 1.3 billion people.
The group of scientists assessed the importance of meltwater for Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Salween and Mekong rivers and discovered how climate change will alter river flow in the coming decades.
The findings of the study will be important in shaping climate change adaptation policy in the 12 riparian countries surrounding these river basins.
Co-researcher Walter Immerzeel said, "These results confirm on a larger scale what we already discovered last year for two small watersheds in the Indus and Ganga basins".
The scientists emphasize that their projections are only until 2050. Scenarios for the distant future, or until the end of the century, remain uncertain, in particular for Indus river where melt-water is most important.
The study was conducted jointly by research organization FutureWater, Netherlands' Utrecht University and the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.
"Our results show that the river flow will increase at least until 2050, despite retreating glaciers," researcher Arthur Lutz said in a statement on Monday.
"The glaciers feeding Indus river, although retreating, will generate increasing amounts of melt-water in the coming decades due to higher temperatures. For the other rivers, the increase in river flow is mainly caused by increasing precipitation," the researchers said.
Glacier and snowmelt contribute water to ten important river basins originating from the Himalayas and in the Tibetan plateau serving over 1.3 billion people.
The group of scientists assessed the importance of meltwater for Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Salween and Mekong rivers and discovered how climate change will alter river flow in the coming decades.
The findings of the study will be important in shaping climate change adaptation policy in the 12 riparian countries surrounding these river basins.
Co-researcher Walter Immerzeel said, "These results confirm on a larger scale what we already discovered last year for two small watersheds in the Indus and Ganga basins".
The scientists emphasize that their projections are only until 2050. Scenarios for the distant future, or until the end of the century, remain uncertain, in particular for Indus river where melt-water is most important.
Drones investigate glacier melt in the Himalayas
Scientists have used unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – also known as drones – for the first time to monitor melting glaciers in the Himalayas more accurately
Photo by Eduardo Soteras
A group of international scientists from the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Utrecht University in the Netherlands have used drones to map the Lirung glacier in the Lantang mountains of northern Nepal.
Scientists say this new technology will revolutionise our understanding of how glaciers are changing.
The Himalayan glaciers are known as Asia’s water tower because they feed the region’s major rivers, which supply water to a fifth of the world’s population. While scientists know the glaciers are melting, they do not understand how particular glaciers are affected, or how glacier melt will affect future river flow.
Himalayan glaciers remain relatively unstudied because of the remote and inaccessible terrain and hazardous conditions for fieldwork. Until now researchers have relied on data from satellite or aerial image, which is not very accurate.
“For years we have been using remote sensing to learn about hydrology of the Himalayas but the technology development around unmanned Ariel vehicles and the software to process the images has advanced so much that we can study the dynamics of the glaciers at unprecedented details by using these devices,” said Steven De Jong, a member of the research team from Utrecht university.
The scientists programmed drones to fly over the 3.5 kilometre-long Lirung glacier and take thousands of high-resolution photos, both before and after the monsoon season. The images were then processed to reveal detailed information about the glacier surface.
“It’s tough and time consuming to do a field survey of such large glaciers so these devices can help to get more accurate images. The result is better predictions of glacier changes,” said Dr. Arun Bhakta Shrestha, team member from ICIMOD.
Their findings show the glacier is losing mass, but that melting is higher around thesmall lakes that form on top of the ice and along ice cliffs within the glacier, according to a research paper published last month.
The team used drones along with other devices to measure temperature and rainfall around Lirung in order to better understand the water system of the Himalayas. ““We’ve shown it is possible in one catchment but given the variety in the region we need to extend this to other areas of the Himalayas,” said Dr Walter Imerzeel from Utrecht University.
A recent study, based on satellite data, revealed about a quarter of glaciers in Nepal and Bhutan have disappeared over the last 30 years.
This is not the first time that the drones have been used for environmental purposes in Nepal. In 2012, drones were used in Chitwan National Park to monitor tiger and rhino populations and catch illegal poachers operating in protected areas. Drones are also being used in other areas of the region. China, for example, is using drones to collect meteorological information and monitor herds of rare wild yaks.
This documentary shows the results of an international research programme in the Nepalese Himalayas by Utrecht University, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and ETH Zurich.
An international team collaborates to understand the Himalayan water cycle using innovative high altitude measurements of snow and rain and unmanned aerial vehicles over debris covered glaciers.
An international team collaborates to understand the Himalayan water cycle using innovative high altitude measurements of snow and rain and unmanned aerial vehicles over debris covered glaciers.
Melting glaciers, more rain to swell Himalayan rivers
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As the climate warms, increased melting of glaciers and more rain along the Himalayas is likely to enhance the flow of water into the big rivers that arise in this vast mountain range, according to research just published.
Researchers in The Netherlands and Nepal used high-resolution modelling to study how a warmer climate would affect run-off in the Himalayas into the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Salween and Mekong rivers in the coming decades. These five rivers sustain agriculture and 1.3 billion people in a dozen countries.
There would be increased run-off into the five rivers at least until 2050, Arthur F. Lutz and his colleagues noted in a paper carried in Nature Climate Change .
As a result of rising temperature, “a decrease in glacier extent is projected for all basins.” However, the decrease in glacier area would be compensated by a higher rate of melting. Consequently, the contribution from melting glaciers to the five rivers would not change much till 2050, they noted.
“If glaciers continue to retreat, at some point in time there will be a net decrease in melt water,” remarked Mr. Lutz in a press release issued by the Utrecht University in The Netherlands.
The Indus, however, was likely to see increased run-off from accelerated melting of glaciers in the period up to 2050, according to the paper.
In the case of the other four rivers, it would be more rain along the Himalayas that swell their flow. The upper Ganges basin could see its yearly run-off growing by up to 27 per cent. In the press release from Utrecht University, the scientists emphasised that their projections were only until 2050.
New research points to how warmer climate affects run-off
Five rivers to get more water at least until 2050
Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Salween and Mekong rivers sustain agriculture and 1.3 billion people in a dozen countries
How long before the glacial lakes swell?
By Navin Singh Khadka, BBC News
IN PERSPECTIVE 2 June 2014
It has been almost two decades since the first few field studies were done on the Himalayas.
After a long gap, scientists in Nepal have embarked on the first field studies of Himalayan glacial lakes, some of which are feared to be swelling dangerously due to global warming. In May, they completed the field visit to the first location, a lake in the Everest region. They plan to conduct similar surveys of two other glacial lakes in the central and western part of the Nepalese Himalayas later in the year.
“We have started with Nepal, but we intend to extend studies to other Hindu Kush Himalayan countries,” says Dr Arun Bhakta Shrestha, a climate change specialist with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), which is carrying out the research alongside a number of government agencies.
The Hindu Kush Himalayan region stretches between Burma to Afghanistan, showcasing snow-clad mountains, some of which are the world's highest. Having returned from their first field visit, the scientists are now grappling with the data they collected on the body of water, known as Imja lake. It will take some time before they release their final conclusions. But, sharing his initial observations, Pradeep Mool, a remote sensing specialist with the ICIMOD, said there was an air of change in and around Lake Imja. “The area of the lake has become bigger and there are some changes in its end moraines.” But, he added, “I would not call it alarming.”
Witnessing change
While scientists are cautious when speaking about the changes, mountaineers have been more vocal. There is talk among Sherpa climbers about what they say is fast glacial retreat and snow meltdown. Appa Sherpa, who has climbed Everest a record number of times said that he had seen fresh water at the height of above 8,000 metres on Everest.
“I was shocked to see fresh water at that altitude, where I had seen nothing but snow and ice before,” he said on his return last month from his 19th climb. This time he was on the Everest as a ‘climate witness’, for green group WWF's campaign to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on the Himalayas.
It has been almost two decades since the first few field studies were done on the Himalayas. This gap in data-gathering and dearth of local climate change information has earned it the name ‘white spot’. Most of the studies have been desk-based, with the help of satellite imagery and computer simulations. Such studies have shown that the average temperature in the Himalayas have been rising at the rate of 0.06C every year, fuelling fears that glaciers may be melting fast, and filling up glacial lakes. One such study by the UN Environment Programme and ICIMOD warned that 20 glacial lakes in Nepal and 24 in Bhutan were swelling so rapidly that they could burst by 2009. A burst lake would cause flash floods, which could sweep away buildings and roads or even whole communities in countries like Nepal and Bhutan. This has already happened more than 30 times in and around Nepal in the last 70 years.
Invisible threat
There are around 3,300 glaciers in the Nepalese Himalayas and early 2,300 of them contain glacial lakes. No one knows which of these are reaching breaching point. But these new field studies, starting with Imja, Thulagi and Tsho Rolpa glacial lakes, should begin to answer these important questions. The Tsho Rolpa caused panic among locals until some water was drained from it almost ten years ago. Ever since then, the threat from glacial lakes has lurked. But funding difficulties have meant that no field studies have taken place. Things appear to be changing now.
“We have attempted to go beyond desk-based assessments, which were largely hazard focused,” says Dr Shrestha. Mool says it was also about bringing specialists from different fields together. “Through the findings from these studies, we are trying to link science, policy making and public awareness so that what we find becomes practically useful for the society.”
Although the field studies are specific to glacial lakes, they could also indicate how rivers in the regions might change. Major local rivers, like the Ganges, Bramhaputra, Meghna and Indus, have most of their tributaries fed by snow melt from Himalayan glaciers.
Previous studies and computer simulations have already shown that these rivers are likely to swell significantly as glaciers melt rapidly due to global warming. But scientists say, in the long term, when the glaciers have retreated, the rivers could dry up almost entirely during the dry season. This could cause an unprecedented crisis in the water supply for millions of people in the region.
How soon could that happen is something these unique field studies will perhaps show.
While scientists are cautious when speaking about the changes, mountaineers have been more vocal. There is talk among Sherpa climbers about what they say is fast glacial retreat and snow meltdown. Appa Sherpa, who has climbed Everest a record number of times said that he had seen fresh water at the height of above 8,000 metres on Everest.
“I was shocked to see fresh water at that altitude, where I had seen nothing but snow and ice before,” he said on his return last month from his 19th climb. This time he was on the Everest as a ‘climate witness’, for green group WWF's campaign to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on the Himalayas.
It has been almost two decades since the first few field studies were done on the Himalayas. This gap in data-gathering and dearth of local climate change information has earned it the name ‘white spot’. Most of the studies have been desk-based, with the help of satellite imagery and computer simulations. Such studies have shown that the average temperature in the Himalayas have been rising at the rate of 0.06C every year, fuelling fears that glaciers may be melting fast, and filling up glacial lakes. One such study by the UN Environment Programme and ICIMOD warned that 20 glacial lakes in Nepal and 24 in Bhutan were swelling so rapidly that they could burst by 2009. A burst lake would cause flash floods, which could sweep away buildings and roads or even whole communities in countries like Nepal and Bhutan. This has already happened more than 30 times in and around Nepal in the last 70 years.
Invisible threat
There are around 3,300 glaciers in the Nepalese Himalayas and early 2,300 of them contain glacial lakes. No one knows which of these are reaching breaching point. But these new field studies, starting with Imja, Thulagi and Tsho Rolpa glacial lakes, should begin to answer these important questions. The Tsho Rolpa caused panic among locals until some water was drained from it almost ten years ago. Ever since then, the threat from glacial lakes has lurked. But funding difficulties have meant that no field studies have taken place. Things appear to be changing now.
“We have attempted to go beyond desk-based assessments, which were largely hazard focused,” says Dr Shrestha. Mool says it was also about bringing specialists from different fields together. “Through the findings from these studies, we are trying to link science, policy making and public awareness so that what we find becomes practically useful for the society.”
Although the field studies are specific to glacial lakes, they could also indicate how rivers in the regions might change. Major local rivers, like the Ganges, Bramhaputra, Meghna and Indus, have most of their tributaries fed by snow melt from Himalayan glaciers.
Previous studies and computer simulations have already shown that these rivers are likely to swell significantly as glaciers melt rapidly due to global warming. But scientists say, in the long term, when the glaciers have retreated, the rivers could dry up almost entirely during the dry season. This could cause an unprecedented crisis in the water supply for millions of people in the region.
How soon could that happen is something these unique field studies will perhaps show.