First observation of atmospheric electric field at Kashmir valley North Western Himalayas, Srinagar (India)

The following paper is intended as a contribution towards a knowledge of the structure and biology of Archotermopsis wroughtoni , Desn., one of the most primitive of living Termites. Included herewith are also observations and deductions bearing upon some of the more important general biological problems which are associated with the Isoptera. Archotermopsis wroughtoni was described 12 years ago by Desneux from examples taken by Wroughton in June, 1903. They were discovered in old stumps of trees, chiefly Pinus excelsa , in the Kashmir Valley. Since its discovery, this species has remained a great rarity, and practically nothing had been ascertained concerning its biology. In June, 1910, I first came across this insect in a decaying fallen trunk of Pinus excelsa , in a forest area situated between the Kuari Pass and Ramni, at an altitude of about 8,500 feet, in the Himalayas of British Garwhal. In the same month during 1912 I had the good fortune to meet with it in great abundance in a dead fallen trunk of Pinus longifolia near Dharmoti, in the Ranikhet District. This locality is situated at an altitude of about 4,000 feet in the Kumaon Himalaya. Being aware of the biological and phylogenetic interest likely to be afforded by a study of this species, I made a prolonged search in many other likely localities in the North Western Himalayas during the years 1912-13. It was subsequently found plentifully at Bhowali, near Naini Tal, at an elevation of 5,800 feet, near Nadh in the Ohakrata District of Jaunsar, and I have also been able to procure examples from near Gulmerg in Kashmir. It seems probable, therefore, that it will eventually be found to be generally distributed in the lower-level coniferous forests of the North Western Himalayas, up to an elevation of about 9,000 feet.

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Analysis and Farmers Perception of Climate Change Trends in Kashmir Region of Union Territory-Jammu & Kashmir, India: North Western Himalayas

10.21203/rs.3.rs-283366/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

S. Sheraz Mahdi ◽

Bhagyashree Shankarao Dhekale ◽

Ashaq Hussain ◽

Intikhab Aalum Jehangir ◽

Rukhsana Jan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Temperature Management ◽

Maximum Temperature ◽

Mountainous Area ◽

Western Himalayas ◽

Kashmir Valley ◽

Ground Water Recharge ◽

North Western ◽

Union Territory ◽

Precipitation And Temperature

Abstract Analysis of climatic variables is important for detection and attribution of climate change trends and has received a considerable attention from researchers across the globe including India. Kashmir valley of newly formed Union Territory Jammu & Kashmir situated in north western part of India is having a rich repository of glaciers, a small change in the precipitation and temperature management could introduce about environmental, agricultural and economic penalties. To this end, current study aims to analyse changing patterns in precipitation and temperature variables over the various elevation zones of the Kashmir Valley using long term precipitation and temperature data obtained from National Data Centre, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune for the period of 40 years (1980–2019). The results revealed that average mean minimum and maximum temperature of the Kashmir valley has increased substantially at a rate of 0.02oC/year. Warming trends has been observed in all seasons, however, winter and spring season temperatures have shown statistically significant increasing trends. In addition, mean maximum and minimum temperature in plain and mountain areas have reported higher rates of increase in comparison to Karewah’s and foothill areas of Kashmir. Study of annual precipitation results for the same period indicates a diminishing pattern with a rate of -5.01 mm/year. Seasonal precipitation was also found decreasing at rate of -4.95, -0.30, -0.28 and − 0.06 mm/year for the spring, winter, autumn and summer seasons respectively and at different elevation zones, higher rates of precipitation decline have been observed in the mountainous area, which can be very detrimental to the agricultural crops of the Kashmir valley through water supply, climate regulation and ground water recharge. Further, the above statistical test results of increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation over different topographical zones of Kashmir were corroborated with the information attained from interview and involvement of the small farmer holders of 06 different locations representing the whole Kashmir and has been discussed in this paper to get a clearer understanding of climate change related instability and patterns in weather variables in the Kashmir Valley.

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