Global warming coupled with absence of a strong western disturbance reason for reduced snowfall in Himalayas: Experts
Thursday, 19 January 2023 | AFZAL FAUJI | NAINITAL
Absence of a strong system created by the western disturbance and global warming is manifested in reduction in snowfall in the Himalayan ranges. The data shows that the average temperature is on the rise in northern parts of India and the Himalayan region is also affected by this rise in temperature. The Nainital city is still waiting for the first snowfall of the season. The residents of the city recall the times when snowfall used to occur eight to ten times in a season, this frequency has reduced substantially in recent years. The absence of snowfall is having its bearing on the arrival of tourists and the tourism industry is suffering from it.
Senior scientist at Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Studies (ARIES), Nainital Manish Naja said that global warming is increasing its presence and its effect is visible in snowfall. There has been a reduction in snowfall in the areas such as Nainital, Mukteshwar, Ramgarh, Pangoth and places located at similar altitude. This pattern has been seen in the last three decades. There was a time when water and other liquid including oils used to freeze in winter and abundant snowfall used to make life difficult in these areas but now global warming has caused an overall increase in temperatures. The phenomenon of western disturbance plays a major role in snowfall in the Himalayan belt and it is dependent on its presence and intensity. It is seen that the western disturbance do arise but they are not very effective on a large scale which gets reflected in less snowfall in the mountainous areas. The scientists are of the view that one can witness changes in the weather phenomenon at the same speed at which increase in global warming is taking place. Naja said that in winters the fog in the plain area fails to ascend with air and become static due to higher levels of humidity. He said that the fog would continue in the plain areas till the temperature remains low.
