J&K beats global warming average

Strife-torn Jammu and Kashmir has attained a dubious distinction: the state is warming at a higher rate than the world average.

The average temperature of Jammu and Kashmir has increased by 1.2 degree Celsius over the last century, higher than the global average of 0.8 to 0.9 degree Celsius.

"If you look at the long-term change, we are seeing overall increase in the temperature. In the last 100 years, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed an increase of 1.2 degree Celcius in the temperature. For the same period, the average rise in temperature on earth has been 0.8 degree Celsius," Professor Shakil Ramshoo, Head, Department of Earth Sciences at University of Kashmir, told DNA.

Experts say though climate change and warming is a global trend, its impact on Kashmir is significant. "Our resources in Jammu and Kashmir are snow, water and glacier. We are seeing that the glaciers are melting faster," Prof Ramshoo said.

Falling in the Himalayan region, Jammu and Kashmir has a geographic area of 2,22,236 sq km.

Around 20,230 sq km, which comprises 19.95 per cent of the total geographical area of Jammu and Kashmir, is under the forest cover. The state is divided into three geographic regions — Ladakh, Kashmir Valley and Jammu. The higher regions of the state are covered by Pir Panjal, Karakoram and inner Himalayan ranges of mountains.

"The increase in temperatures in Jammu and Kashmir has to do with the topography and high altitude. We have seen that warming is higher in the Himalayas and other mountainous regions of the globe. Temperature varies from place to place and it is basically a function of location, longitude, latitude and altitude," said Prof Ramshoo.

Effects of climate change are already being felt on the ground. Erratic snowfall and rainfall pattern, and unusually warm winters are some of the characteristics of the climate change in Jammu and Kashmir.

"We went almost snowless in 2015. Constant depletion in snowfall is the characteristic of the climate change," he said.

For the last 10 years, the Kashmir valley has witnessed erratic snowfall during the Chila-e-Kalan (the 40-day harshest period of winter starting from December 21 to January 31).

"If you talk to parents or grandparents, they will tell you that they used to witness a metre of snow and more during winters. But there is continuous depletion of snowfall. For instance, we had sufficient snow in 2006, 2011 and 2017, but very scant or almost none in the years between," said Prof Ramshoo.