Large Snow Deficit Over Himalayas May Disturb Eco Balance: Monsoon Inclusive Too
Key Takeaways
- Himalayan ranges are facing an unprecedented snow deficit during peak winter.
- January has seen 100% snowfall deficit across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
- Irregular and weak western disturbances are the main reason behind snow drought.
- Poor snow cover may affect water resources and even the upcoming monsoon season.
There has been an unusual, unparalleled and unpredicted snow deficit across the entire Himalayan ranges during the current peak winter season. The misery has rolled over from December to January as well, aggravating the dimensions of the impending crisis. A lot more will be at stake with the lopsided and inadequate snowfall distribution. Barren slopes of the mountains will run the risk of depleting forest greenery, raising chances of devastating high-altitude wildfires. Glaciers will have to dive deeper to find mounds of ice. Tall mountains of stacked snow will tarnish their typical lustre. And mind you, debilitated storage of water bodies will trigger the scare of drought over the otherwise sparkling white hills.
The month of December was terrific for the entire mountain ranges of North India. The trail did not end there and the snow deficit remains 100% across the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in January too. It has been a painfully dry season, leaving the traditionally glowing peaks rather dark and exposed. The scarcity of snow has impacted multiple sectors without any hope of visible reprieve.
The snowfall activity is a direct outcome of the mischievous behaviour of infamous western disturbances. The passage of these systems has been rather irregular, infrequent and non-delivering. The deviation from the stipulated path and persistently failing tracks have led to snow droughts, endangering climate variability and disturbing the survivability of many sectors: environment, adventure, power, tourism, sports, agriculture, glacial lakes and water management.
It is not a one-off event exclusively this time. Such scenarios have come up earlier also. Quite often, human-induced global warming is blamed for rising greenhouse gas emissions, warming the atmosphere and shrinking the snowline at lower elevations. At the same time, the atmosphere always remains in a dynamic state and is susceptible to natural climate variability. It can induce large fluctuations in weather patterns, including changes in the strength, frequency and path of western disturbances. The winter snow cover over the mountains, irrespective of Eurasian or Himalayan region, has close and direct linkages with the build-up and sustenance of monsoon circulation. Inadequate snow on the slopes and peaks, lacking endurance, may adversely impact the upcoming season. Though the forthcoming wet spell over the plains and mountains looks promising to mitigate the adverse impact of the failing season so far.
