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Shekhar, Mayank

Indian Himalayan Capacity and Adaptation Programme: Capacity-Building in Himalayan Glaciology

Climate Science

Himalayan Cryosphere

Dendrogeomorphic Potential of the Himalaya – Case Studies of Process Dating of Natural Hazards in Kullu Valley, Himachal Pradesh

Abstract Views :418 | PDF Views:79

Authors

Amalava Bhattacharyya ¹, Markus Stoffel ², Mayank Shekhar ¹, Juan Antonio Ballesteros Canovas ², Daniel Trappmann ²

Affiliations
1 Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53 University Road, Lucknow 226 007, IN
2 Climatic Change Impacts and Risks in the Anthropocene (C-C1A), Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 66 Bvd Carl-Vogt CH-1205 Geneva, CH

Source

Current Science, Vol 113, No 12 (2017), Pagination: 2317-2324

Abstract

Trees impacted by the forces of natural processes such as flash floods, snow avalanches, landslides, rockfalls or earthquakes, record these events and exhibit growth disturbances in their growth-ring series. As a consequence, these disturbances provide an excellent signal for the spatio-temporal reconstruction of past natural hazard activity and a means to date and document past disasters. In the context of the Indian Himalayas Climate Change Adaptation Programme (IHCAP; http://www.ihcap.in/), a field trip was carried out in May 2014 to define suitable sites for dendrogeomorphic research in Kullu valley, Himachal Pradesh. Several tree species and sites where recent and past process activity can be reconstructed were inventoried, namely flash floods in the Beas and Sainj rivers as well as snow avalanches in Solang valley. Through this exploratory analysis, we ascertain that tree-ring techniques have wide applicability in the analysis of natural hazards, not only in the Kullu region but also in other geographical contexts of the Himalayas.

Keywords

Dendrogeomorphology, Flash Flood, Himachal Pradesh, Snow Avalanche, Tree-Ring.

Full Text

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Indian Himalayan Timberline Ecotone in Response to Climate Change – Initial Findings

Abstract Views :224 | PDF Views:80

Authors

S. P. Singh ¹, A. Bhattacharyya ², Amit Mittal ³, Aseesh Pandey ⁴, Ashish Tewari ³, Avantika Latwal ⁵, Bency David ², Bhupendra S. Adhikari ⁶, Devendra Kumar ⁴, G. C. S. Negi ¹, Ishfaq Ahmad Mir ⁷, Krishna Kumar Tamta ³, Kumar Sambhav ⁵, Mayank Shekhar ², Mohit Phulara ⁵, Munisa Manzoor ⁷, Nandan Singh ³, Pankaj Tewari ¹, Parminder S. Ranhotra ², Pradeep Singh ⁵, Pratap Dhaila ¹, Priyanka Sah ⁵, Rahul Kumar ⁶, Rajesh Joshi ⁵, Ranbeer S. Rawal ⁵, Renu Rawal ⁵, Ripu Daman Singh ¹, Shruti Shah ³, Subrat Sharma ⁵, Subzar Ahmad Nanda ⁷, Surabhi Gumber ¹, Utsa Singh ¹, Zafar Reshi ⁷

Affiliations
1 Central Himalayan Environment Association, 6 Waldorf Compound, Mallital, Nainital 263 001, IN
2 Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226 007, IN
3 Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263 001, IN
4 G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Sikkim Regional Centre, Pangthang, Gangtok 737 101, IN
5 G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Kosi-Katramal, Almora 263 643, IN
6 Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001, IN
7 Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190 006, IN

Source

Current Science, Vol 120, No 5 (2021), Pagination: 859-871

Abstract

This article enumerates the findings of a team research on the Indian Himalayan timberline ecotone, with focus on three sites (located in Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Sikkim). Timberline elevation increased from west to east, was higher in the warmer south aspect than the cooler north aspect, and was generally depressed. Betula, Abies, Rhododendron and Juniperus were important treeline genera. The Himalaya has not only the highest treelines (Juniperus tibetica, at 4900 m), but also the widest elevational range (>1700 m). Remotely sensed data revealed that the timberline is a long, twisting and turning ecotone, traversing a length of 8–10 km per km horizontal distance. Surface temperature lapse rate in the monsoonal regions was lower (–0.53°C/100 m elevation) than generally perceived and varied considerably with season, being the lowest in December. The Himalayan treeline species are not water-stressed at least in monsoonal regions, predawn tree water potential seldom getting below –1 MPa. The upward advance of Rhododendron campanulatum (a krummholz species) may deplete alpine meadows with climatic warming. Tree-ring chronology indicated that winter warming may be favouring Abies spectabilis. Early snowmelt increased growth period and species richness. Treelines generally are stable in spite of decades of warming. Dependence of people on timberline was still high; so economic interventions are required to reduce the same.

Keywords

Climate Change, Temperature Lapse Rate, Timberline Ecotone And Elevation, Tree Water Relation, Treeline Genera.

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