CHANGING TEMPERATURE EXTREMES IN THE NORTHWEST HIMALAYAS

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CHANGING TEMPERATURE EXTREMES IN THE NORTHWEST HIMALAYAS

Journal Title: Revue Roumaine de Géographie/Romanian Journal of Geography - Year 2017, Vol 61, Issue 2

Abstract

Fluctuation in Earth’s climate occurs on different time-scales. The climate system is changing in response to both natural and human variables. The impacts of climate warming in mountainous regions are variable, because of large variations in altitude within small distances. The study focuses on a Himalayan region which is more susceptible to temperature fluctuations as has been reported by many studies. Moreover, the region is ecologically more sensitive to climatic fluctuations which could affect the eco-system services of the region. The entire water resource of the Kashmir Valley is a progeny of the Himalayas. The present paper aims to investigate the highest maximum temperature trend in the North Kashmir river catchment region from 1977 to 2011, using the Mann-Kendall and Sen Slope statistic which are robust statistical methods for calculating the trend in hydrometeorological parameters. The data have shown an upward trend for all the stations at α 0.001, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1. The Pahalgam Station, which happens to be the highest altitude station taken up for the study, shows a rise in temperature extremes for the entire season. The increasing temperature extremes have resulted in the reduction of the snow and glacial cover which, in turn, has affected the hydrological characteristics of the river network in the study-area. The trend is more intense in the eastern part of the study-area, which happens to be the abode of large glaciers and snow fields.

Authors and Affiliations

TALI PARVAIZ, TABASSUM NASRIN, KANTH T. A.

Keywords

Himalayan region; North Kashmir river catchment region; Climate variability; Trend detection; Kashmir Valley

EP ID EP289032
DOI -
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