1216 | 189 | Dynamics of Precipitation, Temperature Processes and its Societal and Environmental Impacts in Himalayan Geosystem, India | Bindhy Wasini Pandey* and V. S. Negi**
Western Himalaya is one of the most fragile and remote mountain regions in South Asia where changes in precipitation and temperature patterns are influencing the livelihood security of the local people. Due to these significant alterations, snowfall is decreasing and the rate of snow melting is increasing consistently which is an alarming condition for the future livelihood and sustainability of the local indigenous communities. Climate Change Adaptation in a high altitudinal zone of the Himalaya has become the way of life as the communities living here have adapted to the local conditions for many centuries but recent years have witnessed that the changing climate and climate paradigms have influenced the lives and resources of the local inhabitants. Here the human habitat is totally dependent on glacial melt water. High range of temperature is altering precipitation patterns and glacial cover, which are generating disastrous situations in the Himalayan region. The aim of this study is to observe the spatiotemporal trends of climate change and to assess the indigenously adopted adjustment methods and government initiatives against it, which will be helpful in inclusive development programs for the local mountain community. The study found that the changing nature of climate is reshaping hydrometeorological processes, affecting local lifestyles and livelihoods. Historically the major source of livelihood has been agriculture, horticulture and animal rearing but in recent days the changing paradigm of climate has brought in a difficult challenge of water scarcity, hence local people are either forced to migrate or forced to change their traditional occupations. It is a fateful and established fact that the seasonal availability of water is the foundation for the vibrancy of life here; hence, public participation and government initiatives are needed for the adaptation, conservation and management of water resources in the Western Himalaya.
Bindhy Wasini Pandey* and V. S. Negi**
*Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, Delhi, India. ** Department of Geography, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
ID Abstract: 189