The results of trend analyses of the discharge data of four rivers in northwestern Himalaya, namely Beas, Chenab, Ravi and Satluj, are presented here and the impact of climate change in the last century is discussed. In the case of Satluj river, studies indicate an episodic variation in discharge in all three seasons on a longer timescale of about 82 years (1922

Book>> Becoming India

The antagonistic potential of seventeen fungal isolates (15 Trichoderma harzianum and 2 Fusarium solani isolates) indigenous to the western Himalayan region of India, was evaluated in vitro and in glasshouse against two important stages (sclerotia and mycelium) in the infection cycle of three plant pathogens (Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotina sclerotiorum and Sclerotium rolfsii).

Glaciers are the coolers of the planet earth and the lifeline of many of the world's major rivers. The interaction between glaciers and climate represents a particularly sensitive approach. 2006

The role of socio-cultural values in biodiversity conservation is an integral part of the people living in Uttarakhand, Central Himalaya, India. Due to a variety of reasons the area under traditional crops is declining very fast in the region but undoubtedly many of the crop varieties are still conserved in the region because of their socio-cultural and religious values. The traditional festival called "Harela' is one the festivals in Uttarakhand which encourages people to conserve and manage their traditional crop diversity.

The vegetation of India evolved in time and space due to geomorphologic changes and the interactions of climate and biotic changes. There is a close linkage between climate and biota. Jul-Dec 2007

The contemporary trend of global warming is aptly highlighted in the IPCC report 2007. There is a strong consensus amongst scientists and planners today that the earth's climate is entering a warm episode, nudged primarily by human activities of fossil fuel burning and land use changes that inject steadily increasing amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. It is also quite possible that the increased concentrations of atmospheric CO2 will also have a direct influence on productive systems of plant species in view of increasing rates of photosynthesis and improved water use efficiency.

Intense rainfall often leads to floods and landslides in the Himalayan region even with rainfall amounts that are considered comparatively moderate over the plains; for example, ‘cloudbursts’, which are devastating convective phenomena producing sudden high-intensity rainfall (∼10 cm per hour) over a small area. Early prediction and warning of such severe local weather systems is crucial to mitigate societal impact arising from the accompanying flash floods. We examine a cloudburst event in the Himalayan region at Shillagarh village in the early hours of 16 July 2003.

Two cases of intense western disturbances which affected the northwest India have been investigated using the India Meteorological Department’s operational limited area analysis and forecast system. The model results are compared with the synoptic observations, which have been enriched by additional stations installed under the national project ‘Parwat’. The analysis shows that the 24-hour model forecasts are in good agreement with the observations both in respect of western disturbance’s movement and intensification.

model town: Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, is likely to be the northeast region's first planned township. The move to prepare the city's master plan was actually triggered by fears about an

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