Rise In Atmospheric Temperature Research Articles

Relative importance of the mechanisms triggering the Eurasian ice sheet deglaciation in the GRISLI2.0 ice sheet model

Abstract. The last deglaciation (21 to 8 ka) of the Eurasian ice sheet (EIS) is thought to have been responsible for a sea level rise of about 20 m. While many studies have examined the timing and rate of the EIS retreat during this period, many questions remain about the key processes that triggered the EIS deglaciation 21 kyr ago. Due to its large marine-based parts in the Barents–Kara (BKIS) and British Isles sectors, the BKIS is often considered to be a potential analogue of the current West Antarctic ice sheet (WAIS). Identifying the mechanisms that drove the EIS evolution might provide a better understanding of the processes at play in the West Antarctic destabilization. To investigate the relative impact of key drivers on the EIS destabilization, we used the three-dimensional ice sheet model GRISLI (GRenoble Ice Shelf and Land Ice) (version 2.0) forced by climatic fields from five Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project phases 3 and 4 (PMIP3, PMIP4) Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) simulations. In this study, we performed sensitivity experiments to test the response of the simulated Eurasian ice sheets to surface climate, oceanic temperatures (and thus basal melting under floating ice tongues), and sea level perturbations. Our results highlight that the EIS retreat simulated with the GRISLI model is primarily triggered by atmospheric warming. Increased atmospheric temperatures further amplify the sensitivity of the ice sheets to sub-shelf melting. These results contradict those of previous modelling studies mentioning the central role of basal melting on the deglaciation of the marine-based Barents–Kara ice sheet. However, we argue that the differences with previous works are mainly related to differences in the methodology followed to generate the initial LGM ice sheet. Due to the strong sensitivity of EIS to the atmospheric forcing highlighted with the GRISLI model and the limited extent of the confined ice shelves during the LGM, we conclude by questioning the analogy between EIS and the current WAIS. However, because of the expected rise in atmospheric temperatures, the risk of hydrofracturing is increasing and could ultimately put the WAIS in a configuration similar to the past Eurasian ice sheet.

Identification of heat-tolerant mungbean genotypes through morpho-physiological evaluation and key gene expression analysis.

Mungbean plays a significant role in global food and nutritional security. However, the recent drastic rise in atmospheric temperature has posed an imminent threat to mungbean cultivation. Therefore, this study investigates the growth and physiological changes of 87 mungbean germplasm lines under heat stress. Genotypes were examined using parameters including leaf area, chlorophyll content, membrane stability index (MSI), stomatal conductance, pollen viability, number of pods per cluster, number of pods per plant, number of seeds/pod, 100-seed weight and grain yield/plant under heat stress and control environments. A wide range of variation was observed for these traits among genotypes under heat stress and control environments. Genotypes were also identified with variable responses under both environments. The phenotypic expression of selected promising accessions was also validated in control environment conditions at the National Phytotron facility. The selected promising genotypes viz., IC76475, IC418452 and IC489062 validated their heat tolerance behavior for key candidate genes revealed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). These mungbean genotypes can act as potential resources in the mungbean improvement programs for heat stress tolerance. This study also provides a comprehensive understanding of the key mechanisms underlying heat tolerance in mungbean.

Multi-responsive poly-catecholamine nanomembranes.

The contraction of nanomaterials triggered by stimuli can be harnessed for micro- and nanoscale energy harvesting, sensing, and artificial muscles toward manipulation and directional motion. The search for these materials is dictated by optimizing several factors, such as stimulus type, conversion efficiency, kinetics and dynamics, mechanical strength, compatibility with other materials, production cost and environmental impact. Here, we report the results of studies on bio-inspired nanomembranes made of poly-catecholamines such as polydopamine, polynorepinephrine, and polydextrodopa. Our findings reveal robust mechanical features and remarkable multi-responsive properties of these materials. In particular, their immediate contraction can be triggered globally by atmospheric moisture reduction and temperature rise and locally by laser or white light irradiation. For each scenario, the process is fully reversible, i.e., membranes spontaneously expand upon removing the stimulus. Our results unveil the universal multi-responsive nature of the considered polycatecholamine membranes, albeit with distinct differences in their mechanical features and response times to light stimulus. We attribute the light-triggered contraction to photothermal heating, leading to water desorption and subsequent contraction of the membranes. The combination of multi-responsiveness, mechanical robustness, remote control via light, low-cost and large-scale fabrication, biocompatibility, and low-environment impact makes polycatecholamine materials promising candidates for advancing technologies.

Batteries or silos: Optimizing storage capacity in direct air capture plants to maximize renewable energy use

Direct air capture (DAC) of carbon dioxide is among the technologies that is forecast to play a major role in achieving the global ambition to constrain atmospheric temperature rise to below two degrees Celsius by 2100. However, DAC is an energy intensive chemical process, whose designs are currently incompatible with intermittent renewable energy (RE) sources. This research develops a model to enable the flexible operation of DAC, to maximize RE usage. A new model of the chemical process flow of a liquid solvent DAC that includes silos to store CaCO3 and CaO is developed. A linear programming optimization model that minimizes energy costs while achieving the CO2 capture targets of the DAC plant is developed. Scenario analysis establishes the storage silo size and battery storage size needed to reduce renewable energy curtailment to zero for a given RE profile. Simulations with a representative 336-hour RE profile reveal that two silos of sizes 660 tons and 370 tons would be needed to support flexible DAC plant operations and reduce RE curtailment to zero. For the same profile, a 355 MWh/65 MW battery would be required to achieve zero renewable curtailment. The results demonstrate that flexible operation of DAC is achievable, and DAC plants can adapt to variable RE without the need for battery energy storage. Furthermore, considering the scale of storage needed to minimize RE curtailment in a commercial-scale DAC plant, the results suggest that using physical storage silos could be more cost-effective than using battery energy storage.

Effects of global warming, time delay and chaos control on the dynamics of a chaotic atmospheric propagation model within the frame of Caputo fractional operator

The Lorenz-84 climate model is a simplified mathematical model that describes the chaotic behavior of atmospheric convection and its impact on global climate patterns. It captures the presence of chaotic behavior in the motion of westerly wind and helps understand the concept of sensitivity to initial conditions. But as observed over the years, the westerlies are gaining more strength due to the rise in atmospheric temperature. In this work, we have modified the old model to observe the changes in the behavior of the system due to global warming and time delay. The modified model has been generalized using Caputo fractional derivative to provide a more accurate representation of the system with memory effect and non-local behavior. The stability of the new model has been tested at all the equilibrium points. Using Picard’s operator and Banach’s Fixed Point theorem, it has been shown that there exists a unique and bounded solution for the new model. It has been observed that the sole effect of global warming makes the system gradually unstable from chaotic as the fractional order α is decreased from 0.80 to 0.50. Also, a shift in the bifurcation point has been noticed for the new model. All three Lyapunov exponents have been calculated for different fractional orders to confirm the presence of chaos in the modified model as well. A chaos control law has been constructed for the modified chaotic model using the sliding mode control theory. Interestingly, the chaos disappears completely when the effect of time-delay is considered in the modified model. Since our proposed time-delayed modified model shows an asymptotically stable nature for all fractional orders α less than 0.85, it is better suited to make more accurate predictions about the strength of the westerlies.

Design, performance, and techno‐economic analysis of a rooftop grid‐tied PV system for a remotely located building

AbstractThe utilization of fossil fuel leads to excessive CO2 emissions that have negative impacts on the environment. The continued trend of this practice may result in an increase in the occurrence of storms, cyclones, starvation, and floods, as well as a rise in atmospheric temperature. Therefore, the focus should be on renewable energy sources, as they emit less CO2. This study presents the design and modeling of a 135‐kW solar PV grid‐connected power generation system for a university's remotely located building. The system is designed to function optimally in an area with an average solar radiation of 585.8 W/m2. The technical, financial, and annual performance of the system is demonstrated, which includes fixed‐mounted racking with 26° fixed‐tilt angle structures and monofacial PV panels. The design is validated and simulated using the PVsyst for designing a PV On‐Grid design and SketchUp for shadow analysis tools to determine the system's ideal size, technical requirements, and electrical power output. Moreover, two different inverters (Company A and Company B inverters) were used to compare and analyse the system's performance with the same PV panel. This project's results may impact the university's choice to install a solar PV system to minimize power consumption.

Patterns and determinants of soil CO2 efflux in major forest types of Central Himalayas, India.

Soil CO2 efflux (Fsoil) is a significant contributor of labile CO2 to the atmosphere. The Himalayas, a global climate hotspot, condense several climate zones on account of their elevational gradients, thus, creating an opportunity to investigate the Fsoil trends in different climate zones. Presently, the studies in the Indian Himalayan region are localized to a particular forest type, climate zone, or area of interest, such as seasonal variation. We used a portable infrared gas analyzer to investigate the Fsoil rates in Himalayan tropical to alpine scrub forest along a 3100-m elevational gradient. Several study parameters such as seasons, forest types, tree species identity, age of trees, distance from tree base, elevation, climatic factors, and soil physico-chemical and enzymatic parameters were investigated to infer their impact on Fsoil regulation. Our results indicate the warm and wet rainy season Fsoil rates to be 3.8 times higher than the cold and relatively dry winter season. The tropical forest types showed up to 11 times higher Fsoil rates than the alpine scrub forest. The temperate Himalayan blue pine and tropical dipterocarp sal showed significant Fsoil rates, while the alpine Rhododendron shrubs the least. Temperature and moisture together regulate the rainy season Fsoil maxima. Spatially, Fsoil rates decreased with distance from the tree base (ρ = - 0.301; p < 0.0001). Nepalese alder showed a significant positive increase in Fsoil with stem girth (R2 = 0.7771; p = 0.048). Species richness (r, 0.81) and diversity (r, 0.77) were significantly associated with Fsoil, while elevation and major edaphic properties showed a negative association. Surface litter inclusion presented an elevation-modulated impact. Temperature sensitivity was exorbitantly higher in the sub-tropical pine (Q10, 11.80) and the alpine scrub (Q10, 9.08) forests. We conclude that the rise in atmospheric temperature and the reduction in stand density could enhance the Fsoil rates on account of increased temperature sensitivity.

Non-linear response of glacier melting to Holocene warming in Svalbard recorded by sedimentary iron (oxyhydr)oxides

The recent acceleration of ice-sheet loss with its direct impact on sea-level rise and coastal ecosystems is of major environmental and societal concern. However, the effect of atmospheric temperature increases on long-term glacier retreat remains poorly defined due to limited historical observations and uncertainties in numerical ice-sheet models, which challenges climate change adaptation planning. Here, we present a novel approach for investigating the time-transgressive response of Arctic glaciers since the last deglaciation, using glacially-derived Fe-(oxyhydr)oxide layers preserved in glacimarine sediments from a large fjord system in Svalbard. Glacial weathering releases large amounts of Fe, resulting in the deposition of Fe-(oxyhydr)oxide particulates in nearby marine sediments, which can serve as fossil indicators of past glacial melting events. Our results indicate that Svalbard glaciers retreated at a rate of 18 to 41 m/yr between 16.3 and 10.8 kyr BP, synchronously with the progressive rise in atmospheric and oceanic temperatures. From 10.8 kyr BP, glacier retreat markedly accelerated (up to ∼116 m/yr) when regional atmospheric temperatures exceeded modern values. Coupled with field observations, this finding directly supports a non-linear response of glacial melting to summer air temperature increases. In addition to suggesting that ice-sheet loss and sea-level rise may further accelerate in the near future, this study paves the way for the use of sedimentary Fe-(oxyhydr)oxide layers in subarctic environments for reconstructing past glacial dynamics.

Impacts of climate change on animal welfare

Abstract Climate change has a significant impact on domesticated and wildlife animals globally. Projections for a 2°C rise in atmospheric temperature will result in catastrophic impacts globally. Animal welfare is an integral component of human-animal interaction and it is of paramount importance for wildlife rehabilitation and domestic animals. Animal welfare can be assessed using the five domains model, which includes nutrition, environment, physical health, behaviour, and mental attributes of an animal’s response to environmental change. Researchers use some of these domain attributes to evaluate the effects of stress on their animals and to improve the management and welfare of animals. Although there are variations in how animals respond biologically to stress, in general, the five domains model provides a robust tool for research use, and to evaluate the proximate effects of climatic variability on animals. In this review, our research group (The Stress Lab; www.edwardstresslab.org ) presents a series of wildlife and domesticated animal examples to showcase how climate change impacts animal welfare. We provide examples of animals from various countries, across both aquatic and terrestrial systems, and provide an overview of the impacts of climate change on each of the five domains of animal welfare. We hope that future researchers will apply the animal welfare domains to evaluate how climate change impacts animals, and further research will pave the way to the protection of animals from the catastrophic impacts of climate change.

Greenhouse-temperature induced manure driven low carbon footprint in aquaculture mesocosm

In an aquaculture system, estimates were made of soil organic carbon content, carbon burial rate, soil structure and algal productivity with the intention of examining the synergistic effects of both greenhouse gas (GHG) induced temperature and manure-driven carbon reduction potentials in sediments that depend on productivity as well as tilapia spawning responses under greenhouse mimicking conditions during winter. Different manure treatments such as cattle manure and saw dust (T1); poultry droppings and saw dust (T2); vermi-compost and saw dust (T3); mixture of cattle manure, poultry droppings, vermi-compost and saw dust (T4); iso-carbonic states maintained with vermi-compost (T5); and with poultry droppings (T6) were applied three times (frequency of application) in the tank during the course of investigation. Different parameters like soil organic carbon, carbon burial rate, algal productivity and water quality were examined in aquaculture system. GHG effect impacted on the enhanced carbon reduction potential (44.36-62.36%) which was directly related with soil organic carbon (38.16-56.40 mg C/g) dependent carbon burial rate (0.0033-0.0118 g/cm2 per 100 days). Average carbon burial rates for different manure treatments at GHG impacted temperature (0.0071 g/cm2 per 100 days) was as high as 27.90% than at ambient air temperature (0.0054 g/cm2 per 100 days). Residual carbon or sink in soils has been increased by 8.49 to 43.11% in different treatments or 23%, on an average attributed to almost 6 °C rise in GHG mediated atmospheric temperature. The low carbon footprint potential in different treatments was conspicuous inside the polyhouse (maximum 62.36%) due to greenhouse driven temperature compared. As a positive impact of the study, breeding of tilapia occurred where in T3 100% survival occurred in close polyhouse and also exhibited maximum carbon burial rate. In this study it has been observed that one degree rise in atmospheric temperature resulted in a ~ 4% rise in residual carbon in the experimental tank. However, future work can be conducted on other different treatments and large scale application.Graphical Graphical representation of greenhouse-temperature induced manure driven carbon accumulation in aquaculture mesocosm.

The evolution of the geothermal potential of a subsurface urban heat island

Meeting the rising energy demands of cities is a global challenge. Exploitation of the additional heat in the subsurface associated with the subsurface urban heat island (SUHI) has been proposed to address the heating demands. For the sustainable use of this heat it is crucial to understand how SUHIs evolve. To date, there have been no comprehensive studies showing how temperature anomalies beneath cities change over time scales of decades. Here, we reveal the long-term increase of temperatures in the groundwater beneath Cologne, Germany from 1973 to 2020. The rise in groundwater temperature trails atmospheric temperature rise in the rural areas and exceeds the rise in atmospheric temperature in the urban center. However, the amount of heat that is currently stored each year in the thin shallow aquifer reaches only 1% of the annual heating demand. The majority of the anthropogenic heat passes by the vertical extent of the aquifer or is discharged by the adjacent river. Overall the geothermal resource of the urban ground remains largely underused and heat extraction as well as combined heating and cooling could substantially raise the geothermal potential to supply the city’s demand.

Major, trace and rare earth elemental geochemistry of Santonian–Campanian onland‐offshore transition in a Gilbert‐type deltaic setting, Cauvery Basin, southern India

The spatially widely distributed and temporally protracted Santonian–Campanian stratigraphic records of the Sillakkudi Formation of the Ariyalur Group, Cauvery Basin, southern India represent an onland exposure of a Gilbert‐type delta. Here, we present geochemical, mineralogical, and petrographic analyses of two composite stratigraphic sections, and evaluate the climatic, tectonic, and other factors that contributed to the spatio‐emporal uniqueness of this formation. A range of low to intensive weathering, simultaneous exhumation/erosion, physical transport, and chemical weathering, prevalent at different parts of the source region and or the existence of multiple channels that drained varied source regions and hence varied lithologies at exhumation surfaces which in turn experienced seasonally varied flow conditions were interpreted. The prevalence of physical erosion during the initial stages of the deposition of the Sillakkudi Formation that progressed towards higher intensities of chemical weathering, in tune with the increase in atmospheric temperature and sea‐level rise during the later stages of the formation, is evidenced. Occurrences of positive and negative Eu anomalies and a progression from active to passive tectonic setting of samples, concomitant with change from tectonic control to relative sea‐level and the sediment influx controlled nature of deposition from Santonian–Campanian is recorded. Together, three sets of related factors namely, tectonics, increase of atmospheric temperature and sea‐level rise operated independently, and the enforced transience of transformation of the source terrain from active to passive margin, the transformation of depositional setting from fluvial to estuarine/intertidal to open marine, and shifting of principal loci of deposition from onland to offshore, are documented. The causal link between the progressive increase of sea‐level control over the depositional system during the Santonian–Campanian as recorded by this study could be due to the rise in atmospheric temperature that in turn might have been influenced by the movement of the Indian Plate from low latitudes towards the equatorial region. The second implication of the results is that the studies attempting to document tectonic setting, provenance, and weathering, with the help of geochemical discriminant diagrams, should also consider the spatial and temporal changes in the source area as well as depositional setting.

Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture and Its Allied Sectors: An Overview

Global climate change is one of the rising international issues of modern civilization. It has impacted the way of living of each and every organism. The agricultural sector is one such highly impaired sector that has been affected by climate change. With the rise of atmospheric temperature, soil conditions get worsened; the normal physiology of plants has also changed, ultimately resulting in lesser yield as compared to yield potential yield. The agricultural sector has a significant impact on the Economy of the country. The reduction in yield due to climate change has resulted in a decrease in monetary return. The impaired quality of the product in terms of nutrients, minerals, antioxidants, and other biochemical content has induced various diseases and deficiencies in plants and animals. The plant becomes highly susceptible to pests and pathogens. Other allied sectors like animal husbandry, fishery, poultry etc., also get affected due to the changes in weather parameters. Climate change has a clear and profound impact on the food web, health and Economy of every living being on the Earth. Researches and experiments should be conducted to find out future trends and mitigation techniques to cope with global climate change.

Heat Stress Acclimatization Interventions for Employee Productivity in ISO 14001certified Firms in Kenya in the Context of Climate Change

Globally, extreme temperature occurrences associated with climate change and rise in atmospheric temperature have been observed to be increasing in frequency, duration and intensity. These have negative effects on human health and safety, employee productivity and rate of economic growth. Some organizations have taken steps to address these heat related public health issues. There is however inadequate knowledge on the extent of implementation, effectiveness and acceptability of the existing heat adaptation intervention measures in many vulnerable communities. The general objective of this study therefore was to assess heat acclimatization interventions and implementation outcomes in ISO 14001 certified firms in Kenya. The study adopted descriptive research design. The unit of observation was 37 purposively selected senior executives in the identified firms. Mean responses received in a Likert scale of 1 – 5 for each of the tested items was calculated using descriptive statistics. The study recorded 75.68% response rate, with 42.9% of the respondents indicating that their firm has implemented infrastructural heat adaptation interventions such as cool-housing, shade and water provision, while 42.9% disagreed that the firm has in place technological intervention measures such as personal heat stress sensors and specialised material. When asked to indicate whether employees are aware about heat related mental health issues such as depression, suicide and substance abuse, 46.4% were not sure. When asked to comment on the appropriateness and wide acceptance of the current heat adaptation interventions in their respective firms, 42.9% of the study participants responded in the affirmative, while 21.4% were not sure. The study revealed that a substantial number of respondents were not sure or disagree with the current heat adaptation interventions. This implies that there is vulnerability to health threats associated with prolonged exposure to extreme heat events, hence negative social and economic outcomes such as hospitalization burden, low employee productivity and reduction in household income. The study recommends need for more studies in heat stress areas in Kenya, sensitization activities, review of heat adaptation measures and legal framework to mitigate effects of climate change. The expected study output is employee wellbeing and enhanced productivity for economic growth.

CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF THE MECHANISMS OF HEAT STRESS TOLERANCE IN RICE (Oryza sativa L.)

Various studies reported by scientific communities such as NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) indicated an increase in average global temperature by approx. 0.8 °C since 1880. Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a heat sensitive plant cereal crop could be greatly affected by heat stress due to global temperature rise. Thus, it is envisaged that rice productivity could markedly decrease due to a rise in mean atmospheric temperature. Different studies have been reported possible mechanisms of heat stress tolerance in Rice. The present review will therefore discuss the current fundamental understanding of heat tolerant mechanisms involving heat shock proteins, plant hormones, plant growth regulators, osmoprotectants, and the importance of membrane thermal stability in rice.

Autogenous Cross-Linking of Recycled Keratin from Poultry-Feather Waste to Hydrogels for Plant-Growth Media.

The global rise in atmospheric temperature is leading to an increasing spread of semi-arid and arid regions and is accompanied by a deterioration of arable land. Polymers can help in a number of ways, but they must not be a burden to the environment. In this context, we present herein a method by which goose feathers, representative of keratin waste in general, can be transformed into hydrogels for use as a plant growth medium. The treatment of shredded feathers in Na2S solution at ambient conditions dissolves approx. 80% of the keratin within 30 min. During evaporation, the thiol groups of cysteine reoxidise to disulphide bridges. Additionally, the protein chains form β-sheets. Both act as cross-links that enables the formation of gels. The drying conditions were found to be crucial as slower evaporation affords gels with higher degrees of swelling at the cost of reduced gel yields. The cress germination test indicated the absence of toxic substances in the gel, which strongly adheres to the roots. Thereby, the plants are protected from drought stress as long as the gel still contains moisture.

Effects of vegetation covers for outdoor thermal improvement: A Case Study at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria

Frequent increases in temperature and related consequences have been the trending phenomenon for over ten decades, with a general rise of about 0.740C. This study evaluates the effects of different percentage covers of tree canopies for outdoor thermal improvement of campus areas in Bauchi, Nigeria. Firstly, the study involves on-site measurement of existing features on the site and the climatic conditions. Secondly, performing simulation for evaluation of the plant-surface-atmosphere interactions with Envi-met Version 4.4.2. The vegetation effects were evaluated for outdoor air temperature and mean radiant temperature (MRT) reduction. It is found that the maximum air temperature reduction of 3.380C and 24.240C of MRT were achieved with up to 45% tree canopy coverage. The mean air temperature and MRT reduction of 0.630C and 4.800C were respectively achieved with the same percentage coverage of the canopies. However, it was found that the thermal reduction effects of vegetation do not apply to every hour of the day. In essence, proper planning and implementation of campus outdoor spaces is the key factor in improving its thermal conditions. Thus, adhering to the practical recommendations bring a significant improvement in ameliorating the rise in atmospheric temperature on campus outdoors.

A Review of Landfills, Waste and the Nearly Forgotten Nexus with Climate Change

Landfills have been considered the most convenient approach for dealing with waste from time immemorial, even though some have led to disasters of catastrophic proportions. Moreover, recent findings by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggest that the decomposing fraction of landfill waste that generates greenhouse gases (GHGs) may not be adequately accounted for and could become a critical issue in our effort to restrict atmospheric temperature increases to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. (According to the IPCC, the maximum atmospheric temperature rise is a factor of cumulative net CO2 emissions as well as net non-CO2 radiative forcing. These anthropogenic forcing agents include methane, nitrous oxide and other trace gases from landfill sites. In that sense, landfills can tip the balance from 1.5 towards 2 degrees of warming). This paper draws on data from a number of countries for review and is a timely reminder that society needs to develop a more environmentally and socially sensitive set of methods that could ultimately replace landfills. The paper first examines problems connected with landfills and evaluates alternatives such as incineration, biomass burning and mechanical biological treatment, which generally present their own problems. The paper then considers the range of materials conventionally dispatched to landfill, dealing with them in the context of a zero-waste philosophy. The conclusions propose more disciplined waste management to embrace collective accountability, wherein those who create the waste—chiefly, households and businesses—would be expected to deal with it responsibly. With attitudinal changes and education, supported by regulatory measures, it should be possible to reach the long-term objective of zero waste and the retirement of the traditional landfill.

Glacier-Fed Himalayan rivers of India

Whether scarcity of water is due to climate change or population explosion is a matter of debate among scientists. The demand for water resources will increase in the future. The depletion of resources in the Himalaya – the Third Pole, will have a serious effect on the major rivers of Asia that are fed from the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalaya. Scientific studies on the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau glaciers indicate that topography and local conditions favour the long sustenance of glaciers. In large parts of the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau, the rise in atmospheric temperature does not cause any serious impact on the glaciers, particularly in Karakorum Himalaya. The water supply from Upper Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers is likely to decrease by –8.4%, –17.6% and –19.6% respectively, and there is likelihood of an increase in mean upstream rainfall in the Indus (+25%), Ganges (+8%) and Brahmaputra (+25%), implying that the Himalayan rivers will continue to flow, with no substantial decrease in water budget and no fear of rivers to dry.

INVESTIGATING THE HISTORICAL CORRELATION BETWEEN ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE CONCENTRATION AND GLOBAL TEMPERATURE CHANGE

Understanding the fundamental relationship between atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration and temperature rise is essential for tackling the problem of climate change that faces us today. Misconceptions regarding the relationship are widespread due to media and political influences. This investigation aims to address the popular misconception that CO2 concentration directly and naturally leads to global temperature rise. While anthropogenic CO2 emissions seem to affect the rising global atmospheric temperature with a confidence of 95%, it falters when the historical relationship using ice core data is studied. This investigation uses two statistical approaches to determine an accurate range and direction for this important relationship. Through a combined approach, it was found that historically CO2 concentration in the last 650 000 years lags global temperature rise by 1020-1080 years with a maximum correlation coefficient of 0.8371-0.8372. This result is important for the investigation of climate change.