Current Science

G. Bala ¹

Affiliations
1 Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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G. Bala ¹

Affiliations
1 Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Center for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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G. Bala ¹

Affiliations
1 Divecha Center for Climate Change, Center for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Interdisciplinary Centre for Water Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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G. Bala ¹, J. Srinivasan ¹

Affiliations
1 Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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Tashina Esteves ¹, Darshini Ravindranath ², Satyasiba Beddamatta ³, K. V. Raju ³, Jagmohan Sharma ¹, G. Bala ⁴, Indu K. Murthy ¹

Affiliations
1 Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, IN
2 University College London, GB
3 Institute for Social and Economic Change, Nagarabhavi, Bengaluru 560 072, IN
4 Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and Interdisciplinary, Centre for Water Research, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, IN

Abstract

Vulnerability of communities and natural ecosystems, to potential impacts of climate change in developing countries like India, and the need for adaptation are rapidly emerging as central issues in the debate around policy responses to climate change. The present study presents an approach to identify and prioritize the most vulnerable districts, villages and households in Karnataka State, through a multi-scale assessment of inherent vulnerability to current climate variability. It also identifies the drivers of inherent vulnerability, thereby providing a tool for developing and mainstreaming adaptation strategies, in ongoing developmental or dedicated adaptation programmes. The multi-scale assessment was made for all 30 districts at the state level in Karnataka, about 1220 villages in Chikballapur district, and at the household level for two villages - Gundlapalli and Saddapalli - in Bagepalli taluk of Chikballapur district. At the district, village and household levels, low levels of education and skills are the dominant factors contributing to vulnerability. At the village and household level, the lack of income diversification and livelihood support institutions are key drivers of vulnerability. The approach of multi-scale vulnerability assessment facilitates identification and prioritization of the drivers of vulnerability at different scales, to focus adaptation interventions to address these drivers.

Keywords

Adaptation, Climate Variability, Coping Strategies, Inherent Vulnerability, Multi-Scale Assessment.

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S. A. Tawde ¹, A. V. Kulkarni ², G. Bala ¹

Affiliations
1 Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, IN
2 Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, IN

Abstract

Mass balance is an important metric to assess the growth or decline of water stored in a glacier. The Accumulation Area Ratio (AAR) method where mass balance is proportional to AAR has been used to estimate glacier mass balance by several studies in the past. Since field estimates of AAR are not feasible on every glacier, it is usually estimated by identifying the snowline at the end of ablation season as a proxy of Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) on satellite images. However, locating ELA on satellite images is challenging due to temporal gaps, cloud cover and fresh snowfall on glaciers. Hence, the highest observed snowline has been traditionally used to estimate AAR, which usually leads to an underestimate of mass loss. To rectify this problem we propose a method to estimate the position of ELA by combining satellite images with in situ meteorological observations and a snowmelt model. The main advantage of this method is that it can be used to estimate the mass balance of individual glaciers and basins. Application of the method to eight glaciers in the Chandra basin, Western Himalaya is found to reduce the bias in mass balance estimates compared to the traditional AAR technique and the modelled estimates are in good agreement with the geodetic method. When applied to 12 selected glaciers in the Chandra basin, the modelled cumulative mass balance is -1.67 ± 0.72 Gt (-0.79 ± 0.34 m w.e. a^-1) during 1999/2000-2008/09. This method can also be used to estimate the future deviations in mass balance using climate change projections of temperature and precipitation.

Keywords

Accumulation Area Ratio, Equilibrium Line Altitude, Glacier Mass Balance, Temperature Index Model, Transient Snowline.

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G. Bala ¹

Affiliations
1 Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, IN

Abstract

'Earth's 2016 surface temperatures were the warmest since modern record keeping began in 1880, according to independent analyses by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)' declares the 18 January 2017 NASA news release. Estimates show that the global mean surface temperature in 2016 was 1.1°C above the pre-industrial levels. Further, 2016 was the third year in a row to set a new record for global average surface temperatures.

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G. Bala ¹, Akhilesh Gupta ²

Affiliations
1 Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, IN
2 Climate Change Programme, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi 110 016, IN

Abstract

The national roundtable discussion on geoengineering was held recently in Delhi. While research on geoengineering is fairly advanced in the international arena, very little R&D efforts have been undertaken in India. Hence, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has recently launched a Major R&D project (MRDP) at Centre for Amospheric and Oceanic Sciences (CAOS), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to undertake climate modelling experiments in order to generate strategic knowledge on stratospheric aerosol geoengineering. The primary objective of convening the roundtable discussion on geoengineering was to seek views of the experts and policy makers on the issue of whether and how geoengineering is likely to impact India.

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G. Bala ¹, Thejna Tharammal ¹

Affiliations
1 Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru-560 012, IN

Abstract

The adverse effect of anthropogenic climate change on human health, especially for populations in the low-income agricultural regions is a topic of grave concern for scientists and policy makers. A new study warns that fatal heat waves in the future may cause high human mortality in the hugely populated and economically vulnerable South Asia, unless measures are taken to mitigate climate change.

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G. Bala ¹

Affiliations
1 Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560 012, IN

Abstract

‘Global warming’ is in the news almost daily these days, but rarely do we hear about its ‘evil twin’ or ‘the other carbon dioxide (CO₂) problem’, viz. ocean acidification. Global warming, caused mainly by anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, is apparently accompanied by ocean acidification, which is another major growing global problem with continued increase in atmospheric CO₂ levels. While there is large uncertainty in the detection and attribution of climate warming because of the large natural variability in surface temperatures, ocean acidification is relatively a certain and straight forward consequence of rising atmospheric CO₂.

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