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Magnetotelluric (MT) and audio-magnetotelluric (AMT) studies are sensitive to the geothermal fluids filling the faults and/or fracture zones of the geothermal system. In India, MT/AMT studies have been carried out in NW Himalayas, central, eastern, and western India. In other areas, detailed MT/AMT studies need to be expedited. This review paper presents the art of geothermal exploration in India by using MT/AMT techniques and identifies potential zones that can be exploited for power generation and direct application. Reservoir characteristics, carbon emissions reduction methods, and levelised cost factor are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term experiments are essential in understanding the ecological consequences of global land use and climate change. Further, it is well established that longterm data sets are prerequisites for effective management of forest resources and biodiversity conservation. In view of this, the present study attempts to contribute to major global long-term ecological monitoring (LTEM) networks and the status of LTEM studies in India with a special focus on Indian Himalayan Region. Over the last 40 years, around 103 countries from the America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia have been engaged in LTEM studies on various aspects of biodiversity, monitoring and predicting climate change impacts in a range of ecosystems, including the mountains. The temporal distribution of past studies on the subject shows a gradual increasing pattern (3 papers in 1992) with a peak during 2021 (105 papers). The established LTEM networks across the globe provide a significant empirical basis for understanding ecosystem structure and dynamics. Literature indicates plenty of permanent monitoring plots from India, mostly from southern India, and their significant contribution to ecosystem understanding. Himalayan regions are important sites for monitoring biological and socio-ecological responses to environmental perturbations, including climate change. LTEM studies are lacking in the IHR; only a few sites have been established, mostly in alpine ecosystems. This review identifies research gaps, opportunities with respect to LTEM studies, and the possibilities for strengthening long-term research and observation in India in general and the Himalaya in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 Pandemic have caused severe impact on lives in various ways, but our environment has experienced a positive outcome due to the lockdown which was imposed all over world including Himalayan region of India. The worldwide spread of COVID 19 has reduced movement of vehicles, industries and all tourism activities. Due to shutdown of all the commercial activities and traffic has helped the environment to reclaim naturally. The Himalayas is one of the world's most fragile and sensitive hotspots to global climate change, with impacts manifesting at a particularly rapid rate. The Himalayan glaciers are the water towers of Asia, and the source of many of the world's great rivers. In this research paper, an attempt has been made to describe the improvement in physiochemical characteristics of surface water, all parameters were compared with BIS standard of drinking water quality during pre lockdown and lockdown period. The ambient air quality have also been significantly improved and noise level were also found under permissible limit of Ambient air quality Standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continental collision zones form at convergent plate boundaries after the negatively buoyant oceanic lithosphere subducts entirely into the Earth's mantle. Consequently, orogenesis commences, and the colliding continents are sutured together. During the collision, plate convergence and motion of the sutured boundary towards the overriding plate are manifest in its deformation, as is the case for the long-term (∼50 Ma) and nearly constant convergence rate at the India–Eurasia collisional zone that hosts the Himalaya. However, despite the long history of modelling subduction-collision systems, it remains unclear what drives this convergence, especially in models where subduction is driven solely by buoyancy forces. This paper presents dynamic self-consistent buoyancy-driven 2-D whole-mantle scale numerical models of subduction-and-collision processes to explore variations in density and rheological stratification of the colliding continent and overriding plate (OP) viscosity (a proxy for OP strength) that facilitate post-collisional convergence and collisional boundary migration. In models with a moderately buoyant indenting continent, the collisional boundary advance is comparatively low (0.1–0.6 cm yr–1), and convergence is driven by the dense continental lithospheric mantle that continues to subduct as it decouples from its deforming crust. Conversely, models with a highly buoyant indenting continent show sustained indentation at 0.5–1.5 cm yr–1 until the slab detaches. Furthermore, models with a weaker OP and lower backarc viscosity show an enhanced propensity for indentation by a positively buoyant continent. These models additionally highlight the role of whole mantle flow induced by the sinking of the detached slab in the lower mantle as it sustains slow convergence at an average rate of 0.36 cm yr–1 for ∼25 Myr after break-off as well as prevents the residual slab from educting. In previous buoyancy-driven partial mantle depth models such eduction does generally occur, given that free-sinking of the detached slab in the mantle is not modelled. Although these findings widen the understanding of the long-term convergence of indenting continents, the lower post-collisional advance rates (0.3–1.5 cm yr–1) compared to India's approximate 1000–2000 km of northward indentation during the last 50 Myr attest to the need for 3-D models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term =sacred grove' is used to denote an area of vegetation that is afforded special protection on religious grounds. In India, where sacred groves are known by a wide repertoire of local names, such places may be found right from the Himalayas up to the far South. Sacred groves host veneration of natural phenomena or elements of landscape, but also ancestral, local, folk or tribal gods and Sanskritised deities; the use of their resources is strictly regulated. Research studies on sacred groves in India often consider them to be a legacy of archaic economic forms, possibly harking back to the stage of hunters-gatherers, and an expression of a religiosity dating back to a remote, non-Aryan, pre-Vedic antiquity. However, main sources for our knowledge of Indian antiquity, namely the literary sources, provide no direct record of voices of such archaic societies. Nonetheless, the same sources allow us to highlight some important aspects of the sacredness anciently ascribed to vegetation, forest, and specific places therein. The present paper proposes to focus on the Brahmanical hermit's distinct relationship with the forest and examine some aspects related to food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a response to the publication by Ed Landing and Gerd Geyer (2020) which questioned several recent papers on trace fossils, depositional environments and paleogeography of the Cambro-Ordovician Upper Tal Group (Lesser Himalayan) by B.P. Singh and co-authors. However, the elaboration of Landing and Geyer contains misinformation and misquoting. Each point raised by these authors is rebutted, clarified and further elaborated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Drugs are used to treat cancer. Most drugs available in the market are chemosynthetic drugs and have side effects on the patient during and after the treatment, in addition to cancer itself. For instance, hair loss, loss of skin color and texture, loss of energy, nausea, infertility, etc. To overcome these side effects, naturally obtained drugs from medicinal plants are preferred. Our review paper aims to encourage the study of anticancer medicinal plants by giving detailed information on thirty-three medicinal plants and parts that constitute the phytochemicals responsible for the treatment of cancer. The development of plant-based drugs could be a game changer in treating cancer as well as boosting the immune system. Cancer is a serious and significantly progressive disease. Next to cardiovascular disease, cancer has become the most common cause of mortality in the entire world. Several factors, such as environmental factors, habitual activities, genetic factors, etc., are responsible for cancer. Many cancer patients seek alternative and/or complementary treatments because of the high death rate linked with cancer and the adverse side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Traditional medicine has a long history that begins with the hunt for botanicals to heal various diseases, including cancer. In the traditional medicinal system, several plants used to treat diseases have many bioactive compounds with curative capability, thereby also helping in disease prevention. Plants also significantly contributed to the modern pharmaceutical industry throughout the world. In the present review, we have listed 33 medicinal plants with active and significant anticancer activity, as well as their anticancer compounds. This article will provide a basic set of information for researchers interested in developing a safe and nontoxic active medicinal plant-based treatment for cancer. The research will give a scientific foundation for the traditional usage of these medicinal herbs to treat cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrofungal forays in different parts of Himalaya made it possible to gather a couple of interesting species of agarics. Two of them belonging to Cortinarius subg. Telamonia are dealt with in this paper. Cortinarius dombangensis, a member of sect. Hinnulei is proposed here as a new species and C. longistipitatus, a member of sect. Uracei subsect. Bulliardii is reported for the first time from India. Both taxa are described and illustrated with morphological description, illustrations and phylogenetic estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive assessment of hydrological alteration due to anthropogenic interventions is a prerequisite for sustaining the native biological profile and integrity of river ecosystems. This paper proposes a novel strategy to measurably evaluate how the dams have modified the natural flow regime at a downstream site. The Bhagirathi Basin, a part of the Himalayan ranges of the Ganga River Basin in India, is studied to comprehend the impact of multiple dams on natural river flow at Devprayag. The methodology for estimating the River Flow Health Index (RFHI) consists of four steps: (1) segregation of the flow data based on preimpact and postimpact periods, (2) identification of important hydrological parameters, (3) assessment of the alterations, and (4) development of an index indicating the health of the river flow during the altered period on a 0–1 scale. Results show that the different components of the flow regime have changed due to construction of dams across the river, and the hydrological alterations could be seen at the downstream site, Devprayag. The RFHI increased after subsequent addition of dams, i.e., 0.328 after commissioning of Maneri Bhali I hydro-electric projects (HEP), 0.374 after Maneri Bhali I HEP, Maneri Bhali II HEP, and Tehri HEP were commissioned, and 0.411 after Koteshwar HEP was commissioned in 2011. Our results may help upgrade the design and implementation of reservoir operation policies that consider downstream hydrological alterations. Further studies can be made to consider the coordination of hydrological alterations with different river ecosystem services important for the sustainable management of water assets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes the recent devastating landslide of Kotrupi, Himachal Pradesh in India which had claimed many human lives and properties along its course on 13 August 2017. This event was the third reactivation of the slide as per data available. The study for this landslide involves a preliminary investigation of the site and comparison of pre- and post-event slope stability analysis. Other than rainfall, the combined effect of differential weathering rate of the debris and soil layers, low material strength, and the presence of a fault zone was found to be the primary cause of instability. The analysis was carried out with the geotechnical investigation and numerical modeling with the help of finite element model-based Phase 2 simulator. The significant findings of this paper include numerical simulation of pre- and post-event slide as stated under unsaturated and saturated condition. The study finds a low factor of safety of the present slope. The unstable condition of the slope may trigger another event of the same intensity shortly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we developed highly accurate ensemble machine learning models integrating Reduced Error Pruning Tree (REPT) as a base classifier with the Bagging (B), Decorate (D), and Random Subspace (RSS) ensemble learning techniques for spatial prediction of rainfall-induced landslides in the Uttarkashi district, located in the Himalayan range, India. To do so, a total of 103 historical landslide events were linked to twelve conditioning factors for generating training and validation datasets. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Area Under the receiver operating characteristic Curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the training and validation performances of the models. The results showed that the single REPT model and its derived ensembles provided a satisfactory accuracy for the prediction of landslides. The D-REPT model with RMSE = 0.351 and AUC = 0.907 was identified as the most accurate model, followed by RSS-REPT (RMSE = 0.353 and AUC = 0.898), B-REPT (RMSE = 0.396 and AUC = 0.876), and the single REPT model (RMSE = 0.398 and AUC = 0.836), respectively. The prominent ensemble models proposed and verified in this study provide engineers and modelers with insights for development of more advanced predictive models for different landslide-susceptible areas around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuzzy logic is, inter alia, a simple and flexible approach of modelling that can be used in river basins where adequate hydrological data are unavailable. In order to improve the real-time forecasting of floods, this paper proposes a Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy inference system termed as flood model Sugeno. A total of 12 input parameters were used to develop two fuzzy flood models—Mamdani and Sugeno. Whereas Sugeno FIS performed exceptionally well in predicting the river discharge, the Mamdani FIS failed to deliver the accurate results. The river Jhelum flowing through the Kashmir Valley in the northern Himalayas, India, was hit in September 2014 by a major flood and has been chosen as the case study to apply the fuzzy flood models. With a total of 24 rules in the rule base and five levels of linguistic variables, the flood model Sugeno predicted the river discharge with Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency of 0.887, coefficient of correlation (R2) of 90.74%, mean square error of 0.00122, root mean square error of 0.0349, mean absolute error of 0.0139 and combined accuracy of 0.0466. The efficiencies of the developed model show acceptable levels according to the tested performance indicators implying the potential of establishing a flood forecasting system using the developed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we report geomorphic signatures of neotectonic activity identified from the area around Nahan Salient along Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT), using remote sensing and field investigations. We document two newly discovered exposures of HFT fault zone and active fault traces along the mountain front at Khetpurali, Nahan Salient, NW Himalaya, India. We demonstrate that HFT fault zone at Khetpurali is not blind, instead it is exposed at the surface along with highly deformed, folded strata in the hanging wall and its geometry is quite variable with the possibility of along strike-segmentation. The geometry of fold and various deformational features preserved in the hanging wall indicate a process of fault-propagation-fold. This is in contrast to the previous observation of fault-bent-folding within the Nahan Salient. Two-three levels of river terraces are preserved and truncated in the hanging wall, along with the active fault scarps which are linked to uplift along HFT fault zone. The Khetpurali Anticline (KA), is a fault-propagating-fold formed due to displacement and shortening along HFT which dips 30° towards north and strike WNW-ESE. The uplift (U) along the KA is calculated to be ~73 m and accommodated 7.3% shortening of the original length, before the fault tip truncated the fold. Various deformational structures have been identified within the hanging wall around-tip damage zone of ~80 m perpendicular to HFT fault zone and in the core of KA. Northwest of Khetpurali, a south-facing hogback structure ~100 m high is formed due to erosion of forelimb of the anticline. At Khetpurali, tectonic control due to folding of strata and uplift of river terraces is evident as the Dudhgarh River forms V-shaped profile near the thrust, compared to the wide floodplain before and after crossing the HFT fault zone. Along strike segmentation of HFT and associated anticlines is observed as the surface trace of HFT is offset at Khetpurali, Trilokpur, and Sabilpur due to the strike-slip faults. The study reveals that HFT has been truncated by tear faults and has different subsurface geometries in study area which may have implication on seismic hazard in the Nahan Salient where three thrusts; Himalayan Frrontal Thrust (HFT), Nahan Thrust (NT) and Main Boundary Fault (MBF) are located at relatively shorter distance of ~6 km as compared to the surrounding recesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Srivastava and Jovane (2020) have made several comments on our assessment of proxy data and challenged the outcome of Shukla et al. (2020) based mainly on interpretation of environmental magnetic parameters. We respond to their criticisms and re-evaluate our paper, remove ambiguities and validate our conclusions through additional proxies (grain-size and geochemistry). We welcome their comments and do not entirely rule out their interpretation for magnetic mineralogy. We highlight the importance of proxy validation for high-energy environments like Chorabari lake. However, single proxy data correlation is likely to produce biased results with no relevant meaning. The objective of our study was to understand complexities in the glacial-climate system by reconstructing late-Holocene climate variations using the glacial lake sediment records from the Mandakini River Basin, Central Himalaya, India. We presented the complexities in Shukla et al. (2020), and this was also highlighted by Srivastava and Jovane (2020). In response, we provide additional justification of proxy response and substantiate our results with present-day estimates from the Chorabari glacier valley. We disagree with the thesis put forward by Srivastava and Jovane (2020) in their conclusion as they overemphasize the interpretation of a single proxy. We maintain that the investigation of present-day glacial settings is an important precursor of paleoclimatic data interpretation and that this supports our conclusions. We will try to incorporate the important suggestions of Srivastava and Jovne (2020) relating to the interpretation of magnetic data in future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first uniformly processed comprehensive database on strong motion acceleration records for the extensive regions of western Himalaya, northeast India, and the alluvial plains juxtaposing the Himalaya. This includes 146 three components of old analog records corrected for the instrument response and baseline distortions and 471 three components of recent digital records corrected for baseline errors. The paper first provides a background of the evolution of strong motion data in India and the seismotectonics of the areas of recording, then describes the details of the recording stations and the contributing earthquakes, which is finally followed by the methodology used to obtain baseline corrected data in a uniform and consistent manner. Two different schemes in common use for baseline correction are based on the application of the Ormsby filter without zero pads (Trifunac 1971) and that on the Butterworth filter with zero pads at the start as well as at the end (Converse and Brady 1992). To integrate the advantages of both the schemes, Ormsby filter with zero pads at the start only is used in the present study. A large number of typical example results are presented to illustrate that the methodology adopted is able to provide realistic velocity and displacement records with much smaller number of zero pads. The present strong motion database of corrected acceleration records will be useful for analyzing the ground motion characteristics of engineering importance, developing prediction equations for various strong motion parameters, and calibrating the seismological source model approach for ground motion simulation for seismically active and risk prone areas of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A palynological assay of the studies carried out from the Western and the Eastern Himalaya (India) during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene is presented here. The Western Himalaya is affected by both the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) and Western Disturbances, whereas the Eastern Himalaya receives precipitation only from the ISM. During the Late Pleistocene (~77 ka), a cold and arid climate supported steppe vegetation in the Western Himalaya. In the Eastern Himalaya, around 66 ka, a cool and dry climate supported the savannah vegetation with few scattered trees of Pinus and Tsuga. A number of warm-moist fluctuations are also perceptible during the Late Pleistocene. The impacts of Last Glacial Maximum, Holocene Climatic Optimum, Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age are well discernible in the vegetation in both the regions. Within a broad similarity, the climate change and associated vegetation succession varied from region to region; as the palynological records are characterized by the evidences of prolonged humid phases in the eastern sector, whereas the arid events are better marked in the western part. The similarities and incompatibilities in the climate and vegetation between the Western and Eastern Himalaya during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene are discussed in the present paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, more than a billion rural dwellers live without electricity. Billions more endure awfully intermittent service even when connected to the grid. Most of these access challenged communities are in the Global South and may benefit from surging spread of distributed energy resources. However, associated investment necessity is large and so is the time required to address infrastructural bottlenecks. Recognising criticality of universal access to affordable, eco-friendly and reliable electricity in inclusive human development, the United Nations adopted 'affordable and clean energy' as one of the Sustainable Development Goals. To treasure electricity access, measurement of the same is important. The evolution of electricity access measurement has given rise to multi-tier, multi-parameter matrix. This improved measurement framework has facilitated researchers and policymakers in capturing various electricity access parameters in order to script focused energy strategy for the common man. This paper studies electricity availability, consumer aspiration and prevailing consumption in an impoverished, isolated, high-altitude valley, nestled in the Himalayas in India. It outlines evolving technology-aided, access measurement supported innovative access tier advancement opportunities in the valley. The result underscores the importance of consumer-focused approach for improving infrastructure utilisation. Consumer collaboration may result in fast, economical access advancement. Supply reliability may transform from abrupt complete disruption to gradual, cognisant decay. Such transition may encourage consumers to avoid costly, individual backup and instead use available resources sensibly. Embedding aspiration-supporting nudge in electricity regulation may promote co-operation, helping empowered consumers in scaling access tier affordably. • Electricity metering has advanced since comprehensive consumption reporting. • Metering advances can at present support inexpensive consumer Collaboration. • Collaborative consumption may help consumers scale access tier inexpensively. • Improved resource use may favourably impact affordability and consumer utility. • Participative consumption may promote equity, inclusivity and empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional knowledge has been used throughout the world including India as a practice of using local herbal drugs. Majority of the locals living in the district Uttarkashi of Uttarakhand state have poor connectivity and socio-economic status. These people are known to have indigenous experience about the medicinal plants of the area and use their age-old experiences and perceptions in the treatment and prevention of various ailments. Present paper documents the ethnobotanical information and conservation status of 82 medicinal herbs from the hilly district of Uttarakhand. Information gathered include, local name, plant parts used, mode of preparations, medium of administration, ailments cured along with distribution and conservation status. Majority of these plants were used for their roots and leaves. Most of them are herbs while trees and climbers were less frequently used. People living in remote areas have a vast treasure of knowledge, but they do not disclose it easily to outsiders. During surveys and interactions, it has been noticed that due to over exploitation, some medicinal herbs are at the verge of extinction which need to be conserved at the earliest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kumaun region of India in the northwestern Himalaya experiences complex rainfall patterns, receiving precipitation both during the summer monsoon (June to September) as well as during winter months dominated by westerlies (October to March). In this paper, we present a multi-proxy palaeoclimate record spanning the last ∼1500 years from Tadag Taal, an intermontane lake in Kumaun, India. Our dataset (stable isotope ratios, grain size, trace element ratios) suggests the occurrence of four long-term precipitation cycles of high and low rainfall coinciding with the Dark Ages Cold Period (DACP, ∼475–850 CE), Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA ∼900–1300 CE), Little Ice Age (LIA, ∼1450–1800 CE) and Current Warm Period (CWP, ∼1850 CE to Present). We infer multi-decadal to centennial-scale shifts in the Indian summer monsoon co-varying with changes in El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) activity superimposed by changes in solar insolation. To correlate our time-series from the northwestern Himalaya with the Core Monsoon Zone and understand coherency in precipitation between the two regions, we applied the Wavelength Coherency Test. Our data suggest wet conditions during the early phase of the LIA (∼1450–1640 CE) and dry conditions in the later phase of the LIA from ∼1640–1800 CE. The wet conditions in the early LIA were perhaps driven by increased winter precipitation. This is in contrast to Central India that witnessed dry conditions during the entire duration of the LIA. This study thus suggests that monsoon strength was different during earlier and later phase of the LIA. Further, the LIA did not witness uniform climate variability through its duration as has been reported in some European and Chinese proxy records. • Study of proxy record from Tadag Taal lake, northwestern Himalaya since CE 475. • Both dry and wet events have been reported during the MCA and LIA. • The early part of LIA (∼1450–1640 CE) was wet and later LIA (∼1640–1800 CE) was dry. • During the MCA, C 3 -type vegetation was predominant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vast amount of knowledge and experience on coping with climatic variability and extreme weather events exists within local communities, and indigenous coping strategies are important elements of successful adaptation plans. Traditional knowledge can help to provide efficient, appropriate and time-tested ways of responding to climate change especially in far-flung communities. However, little is known about how traditional coping strategies translate into adaptation to long-term changes, and to what degree they prevent pro-active, transformational responses to climate change. This paper assesses the use of climate related information for communities in the Himalayan foothills of rural India, and reports on the barriers to adaptation planning and actions. Surveys have been carried out to analyze the current practices and the role of information in planning for climate change adaptation in the rural areas of the Nainital region of India located in Western Himalaya. Respondents perceive the local climate change, the intensity of change, and the negative impacts on the community and landscape. Decreases in water quantity and changes in precipitation patterns are among the major concerns for respondents, however, communities have begun to use traditional knowledge and historical climate information for developing strategies suitable to cope with impacts of climate change. Going forward, additional information is needed to match the high priority community needs with viable adaptation strategies. Lack of money, lack of access to information, and lack of awareness or understanding are considered the three largest hurdles besides low priority for adaptation, recognized by community members as barriers to adaptation planning and actions. Adaptation plans must be integrated into both top-down and bottom-up approaches to plan for enabling sustainable development and the efficient use of information for adaptation. Finally, traditional knowledge seems to be useful not only in contrasting climate change impacts, but also in recovering several ecosystem services that work all together for enanching the quality of life of villagers at local scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Siwalik foreland deposit was earlier considered as freshwater continental megafan deposit, formed by southward flowing transverse drainages, analogous to modern Kosi-like megafans. However, this analogy remained incomplete due to lack of evidence of a regionally persistent axial stream system or marginal marine depositional system, like the Ganga-Brahmaputra River and Ganga Delta, as in the present-day foreland basin. In this paper, we report the abundant wave-generated structures and marine trace fossils from the Siwalik succession of the Tista valley and infer that they represent the deltaic part of the Neogene foreland basin. This interpretation provides the link between upland fluvial deposits of the western Himalaya and deep marine sediments of the Bengal Fan and is more consistent with available data from the Siwaliks of the eastern Himalaya. It also implies that a marine embayment existed in the eastern part of the Siwalik foreland basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we evaluate the impact of changing land use/land cover (LULC) on the hydrological processes in Dal lake catchment of Kashmir Himalayas by integrating remote sensing, simulation modelling and extensive field observations. Over the years, various anthropogenic pressures in the lake catchment have significantly altered the land system, impairing, inter-alia, sustained biotic communities and water quality of the lake. The primary objective of this paper was to help a better understanding of the LULC change, its driving forces and the overall impact on the hydrological response patterns. Multi-sensor and multi-temporal satellite data for 1992 and 2005 was used for determining the spatio-temporal dynamics of the lake catchment. Geographic Information System (GIS) based simulation model namely Generalized Watershed Loading Function (GWLF) was used to model the hydrological processes under the LULC conditions. We discuss spatio-temporal variations in LULC and identify factors contributing to these variations and analyze the corresponding impacts of the change on the hydrological processes like runoff, erosion and sedimentation. The simulated results on the hydrological responses reveal that depletion of the vegetation cover in the study area and increase in impervious and bare surface cover due to anthropogenic interventions are the primary reasons for the increased runoff, erosion and sediment discharges in the Dal lake catchment. This study concludes that LULC change in the catchment is a major concern that has disrupted the ecological stability and functioning of the Dal lake ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals with the morphological diversity of seedling establishment in different populations of Scaligeria stewartiana (Nasir) Nasir, inhabiting in North-West Himalayas. The seedling at different stages in the population of the species revealed marked variability. Seed treatments for germination resulted in understanding of seed dormancy and time required for the seedling establishment. The species develops variability in the genetic level that is transmitted and reflected in the form of morphology in order to adapt itself in the extremes of biotic and abiotic variables. Photographs of the seedling and data compiled in tables catch the specific stages of their seedling development after germination as well variability of the chromosomes. The initiation of tuber formation under the ground level in the soil and allocation of resources perform indispensable role in the life span as well as in paving the way for survival, conservation and distribution of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snow- and glacier melt are important contributors to river discharge in high-elevated areas of the Himalayan region. Thus, it is important that the key processes controlling snow and glacier accumulation and melting, are well represented in hydrological models. In this study, the sensitivity of modelled discharge to different snowmelt parameterizations was evaluated. A distributed hydrological model that operated on a 1 × 1 km2 grid at a daily time resolution was applied to a high-elevated mountainous basin, the Upper Beas basin in Indian Himalaya, including several sub-basins with a varying degree of glacier covered areas. The snowmelt was calculated using (i) a temperature-index method, (ii) an enhanced temperature-index method including a shortwave radiation term, and (iii) an energy balance method. All model configurations showed similar performance at daily, seasonal, and annual timescales and a lower performance for the validation period than for the calibration period; a main reason being the failure to capture the observed negative trend in annual discharge in the validation period. The results suggest that model performance is more sensitive to the precipitation input, i.e. interpolation method than to the choice of snowmelt routine. The paper highlights the challenges related to the lack of high quality data sets in mountainous regions, which are those areas globally with most water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Water-fluxed melting leads to the development of amphibole + biotite migmatite. • Muscovite dehydration melting leads to formation of sillimanite-bearing migmatite. • Peak P–T conditions of 770–790 °C, 9.3–10.5 kbar for the amphibole + biotite migmatite. • Necking, hook, and stretching inclusions developed during isothermal decompression. • Selective leakage of the H 2 O phase from the H 2 O-CO 2 inclusions. Migmatites exposed within the North Himalayan Domes result from the reworking and partial melting of different structural levels of the Indian continental crust during a major Himalayan tectonic event. Although their petrologic investigation is potentially a powerful method to unravel the anatectic and tectono-thermal processes related to the Himalayan orogeny, petrological studies of the migmatites from North Himalayan Domes are virtually lacking. This paper presents the results of a petrological and fluid inclusion study in order to understand the partial melting processes, the P–T conditions of migmatitization, and the fluid evolution of the migmatites from one of the North Himalayan Domes, the Leo Pargil Dome, exposed in central Himalaya. Phase equilibria calculated in the MnO–Na 2 O–CaO–K 2 O–FeO–MgO–Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 –TiO 2 –H 2 O (MnNCKFMASTH) system suggest peak P–T conditions of 770–790 °C, 9.3–10.5 kbar for the amphibole + biotite migmatite and of 780–820 °C, 9.3–9.8 kbar for the sillimanite-bearing migmatite, followed by an early nearly isothermal decompression. The formation of these migmatites was related to water-fluxed melting and muscovite dehydration melting. At peak metamorphic conditions, aqueous-carbonic (H 2 O-CO 2) fluids were present in the system. Subsequently, the H 2 O phase was preferentially leached out from the biphase aqueous-carbonic inclusions to form primary CO 2 inclusions and directly went into the anatectic melt during migmatization. The exhumation of LPD followed an early nearly isothermal decompression path and a later isochoric cooling driven by the Kaurik-Chango normal fault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seismic slope stability analysis of the right abutment of a railway bridge proposed at about 350 m above the ground level, crossing a river and connecting two huge hillocks in the Himalayas, India, is presented in this paper. The rock slopes are composed of highly jointed rock mass and the joint spacing and orientation are varying at different locations. Seismic slope stability analysis of the slope under consideration is carried out using both pseudo-static approach and time response approach as the site is located in seismic zone V as per the earth quake zonation maps of India. Stability of the slope is studied numerically using program FLAC. The results obtained from the pseudo-static analysis are presented in the form of Factor of Safety (FOS) and the results obtained from the time response analysis of the slope are presented in terms of horizontal and vertical displacements along the slope. The results obtained from both the analyses confirmed the global stability of the slope as the FOS in case of pseudo-static analysis is above 1.0 and the displacements observed in case of time response analysis are within the permissible limits. This paper also presents the results obtained from the parametric analysis performed in the case of time response analysis in order to understand the effect of individual parameters on the overall stability of the slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at the key resource interactions driving the current trend in intramontane mobility as a traditional subsistence practice in the Garhwal Himalaya region of Uttaranchal, India. For hundreds of years, the natural resource based mid-altitude villages in the Pindar River basin hinged on the annual summer migration to highland pastures. Where self-sufficiency has been obtained through an environmentally embedded tradition of crop and livestock farming, highland forests and alpine pastures continue to provide the human and animal requirements of fuelwood and fodder, as well as the forest products defining traditional diets and cottage industry. The paper reports the data from a rapid appraisal survey of resources obtained by households in selected mid-altitude villages from the seven highland locations that have sustained the centuries-old subsistence culture of the Pindar basin. While livestock have been the crucial link in a forest/fodder–manure–cultivation chain that has necessitated households' dependence on highland pastures and forests, over the last four decades there has been a decline in the numbers engaged in livestock raising and, concomitantly, the annual migration to summer pastures. Instead, there is a trend towards increased cultivation of cash crops and forest resource collection in the traditional highland encampment areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper poses a theoretical question: how, !f at all, can 'critical medical anthropology' and 'performance theory' be combined? More specifically, the author discusses the relative advantages and disadvantages of each, with respect to a healing cult in the Central Himalayas of North India. The paper has four parts: first, an ethnographic description of the cult itself second, a brief introduction to critical medical anthropology; third, a short discussion of the performative approach to healing rituals; and finally, an attempt to combine the two approaches. The author concludes that the two approaches can indeed combined, so long as one recognizes (1) that caste and gender are also appropriate objects for critical medical anthropology; and (2) that aesthetics is always already political. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the monsoonal climate in the Indian Himalayan region remains poorly understood due to the sparse coverage of paleoclimatic datasets. In the present paper, elemental concentrations and grain size parameters are measured for a radiocarbon-dated sediment core retrieved from Shilloi Lake (Nagaland, India) to understand climate variability over north-eastern India during the past two thousand years. The end-member modeling of grain-size distribution along with the elemental composition and ratios (Mg/Al, Sr/Al, Ti/Al) are used to identify changes in clastic input and authigenic carbonate precipitation as well as lake level changes. In addition, the REE distribution pattern and elemental ratios (U/Th, Europium anomaly – Eu*) are evaluated to understand provenance and redox conditions. We identify two main hydrological events: (i) wet conditions during ~1900 to ~1000 cal yrs. BP characterised by high clastic sediment input (as indicated by increased Mg, Al, Mg/Al) and dominant contribution of fine-grained sediments as represented by end member (EM) 1 in zone 1, and (ii) an increase in aridity as signified by decreasing detrital content and increased coarse-grained sediments (EM3) in zone 2 (~1000 cal yrs. BP to present). The regional comparison of paleoclimatic records from NE Himalaya and central India shows an opposing trend in precipitation patterns. However, a synthesis of hydrological proxy records from the tropical Pacific region does not point to an active role of ENSO in the study region. Comparative analysis of modern precipitation data and paleo-records shows that the opposing behaviour resembles an "active-break" pattern that produces an east-west precipitation dipole in central and northeast India. • Lacustrine record of last two millennia from northeast India (Shilloi Lake). • Geochemical and sedimentological data revealed weakening in precipitation since ~1900 cal yrs. BP. • Contrasting precipitation pattern in NEI as compared to central and peninsular India. • Possible role of active-break spell have been evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, daily modulating behaviors of Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) has been evaluated over eight important sub-zones of India viz Northwest India (NWI); Northcentral India (NCI); West Peninsular India (WPI); Eastern Peninsular India (EPI); Southern Peninsular India (SoPI); Central India (CI), Northeast India (NEI) and Western Ghat (WG) using latest SA-CORDEX simulated climate data during 1981–2015. The climate extreme indices, standardized precipitation index (SPI) and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) have been utilized to uncover substantial regional spatial patterns and temporal variability of monsoon precipitation over India and its sub regions to understand the regional modulation of these events based on duration, frequency and severity. The comprehensive assessment of ISMR modulated characteristics (intensity, spell, and frequency) were showing significant decreasing trend over NEI and NCI which can be leading factors for demarcating major hotspots for land degradation, effective management and adaptation towards water resources and hazards related to the flood/drought events. India has received flood events (1983, 1988, 1994, 2005, 2011, 2013) and drought event (1982, 1987, 2002, 2004 and 2009) during 1981–2015, which have been verified with SA-CORDEX RCMs (RegCM4.7, COSMO & REMO2015) using SPI. The first mode of EOF(IMD), explained 17% of the total SPI variability on the interannual scale, shows anomalous large positive values concentrated over the western peninsular region and extending towards central India as well as the NWI region of India. On the other hand, high anomalous negative values dominated over the NEI and eastern parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Therefore, this study underscores the importance to uncover the prevalent dynamics and climate change variability on changing trend variability of the precipitation indices, drought and flood characteristics. As moderate to severe drought variability portrays a diversity over regional scale viz northwest India, north central India, eastern ghat of the southern peninsular region and northeast India while the occurrence of moderate to severe flood are dominated towards Himalaya region (26°N-35°N; 70°E-80°E), western peninsular region and western ghat. • Modulating behavior of regionalized daily ISMR shows a significant decreasing trend over northeast and north-central India. • Moderate to severe drought portrays significant variability over regional scale viz. NWI, NCI, eastern ghat of SPI and NEI. • Occurrence of moderate to severe flood events are more dominated in the Himalaya region, WPI and WGs. • Critically regionalized hotspots susceptible to drought and flood have been demarcated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrary to most of the earlier theories that great earthquakes (Mw8.5 or even larger) may occur anywhere along the Indian plate boundary assuming uniform strain accumulation, this paper proposes two types of gaps with discriminatory characteristics. The new gaps were initially identified from earthquakes of magnitude 6, whose return periods in Himalaya vary between 20 and 30 years and are well within the period of reliable instrumental data of about 100 years. These gaps were then integrated with the largest magnitude event in instrumental era and historical times; information on paleoseismicity, micro-seismicity data, GPS-based geodetic observations and the tectonic features. The regions where great/major earthquakes (Mw 8 or larger) have occurred in the past are classified as seismic gap of category 1, namely Kashmir, west Himachal Pradesh (Kangra), Uttarakhand to Dharachulla, central Nepal to Bihar, Shillong, Arunachal gap including Assam–Tibet–Myanmar syntaxis. On the other hand, the second category of seismic gap includes Jammu–Kishtwar block, east Himachal Pradesh, western Nepal (excluding Dharachulla region) and Sikkim–Bhutan where history of large earthquakes is not available. In these gaps, the largest earthquake magnitude is smaller (7–7.5) and the recurrence interval for earthquakes of same magnitude is larger as compared to category 1 gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Matiali fan is a coarse-grained, small alluvial fan in the eastern Himalayan foothills. It co-exists side by side with the large Tista megafan and other Quaternary fluvial deposits, and has been affected by a number of young thrust faults. It is generally believed that tectonics is the main control in the deposition of these proximal fan–terrace systems. In this paper, geomorphologic and sedimentologic study of the Matiali fan and associated river terraces are combined with five OSL dates from these deposits to understand the succession of events and the forcing mechanism that shaped the geomorphology in the study area during late Quaternary time. Two aggradational terraces (T1 and T2; T2 > T1) occur within the river valleys incised on the Matiali fan. Three E–W scarps cross the fan surface, and they represent the steeper limb of the asymmetric fault-propagation folds formed over blind thrusts. These folds have deformed the fan (T3) and T2 terrace sediments, but the youngest T1 terrace deposits have remained undeformed. Sedimentological studies indicate continuous gradation from the coarsening-upwards mass-flow megagravel in the proximal part to the traction transported finer sheetflood gravels in the distal part, implying a continuous sedimentation history across the fan, uninterrupted by any evidence of syn-depositional tectonic movement. Poorly consolidated sandy gravels of the terraces indicate deposition through braided fluvial processes during a later period of sediment aggradation that filled up the incised river valleys. Previously published 14 C dates indicate that deposition of the Matiali fan started around 34 ka coinciding with a period of the intensified Indian summer monsoon of MIS-3. It is suggested that the fan was abandoned and river valleys incised during the LGM between 24 and 18 ka when the discharge decreased substantially. Increased rainfall and sediment supply, with their inherent fluctuations, during wetter periods of MIS-2 and MIS-1 since 12 ka probably resulted in the aggradation of T2 and T1 as shown by our OSL dates. OSL dates from the top of deformed T2 and base of undeformed T1 indicate that the Chalsa fold formed between ~ 11 and ~ 6 ka. Succession of geomorphic and deformational events reconstructed from this study and available age data indicate that the Matiali fan and terrace aggradation coincides with periods of increased monsoonal precipitation, whereas tectonic movements along blind thrusts of Chalsa and Matiali took place later, deforming the fan and older terrace deposits. The evidence unequivocally indicates, contrary to the prevalent notion of tectonic control of geomorphic features in the proximal mountain-front setting, that the deposition of the fan–terrace system was primarily controlled by the fluctuation of the Asian summer monsoon rather than Himalayan tectonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change has numerous implications for members of mountain communities who feel the impacts in both physical and social dimensions. In the Western Himalayas of India, a majority of residents maintain a livelihood strategy that includes a combination of subsistence or small-scale agriculture, seasonal pastoral migration, male out-migration, and localized natural resource extraction. Particularly under conditions of heavy male outmigration, but throughout the region, mountain women play a key role in providing labor and knowledge related to the management of local natural resources, yet often lack authority in related political and economic decision-making processes. This gap has important implications for addressing the impacts of climate change: while warming temperatures, irregular patterns of precipitation and snowmelt, and changing biological systems present challenges to the viability of these traditional livelihood portfolios throughout the region, mountain women increasingly face new challenges in their roles as household managers that have not adequately been emphasized in larger scale planning for climate change adaptation and mitigation. These challenges are complex in nature, and are shaped not only by gender issues but also interacting factors such as class, caste, ethnicity, and age (among others). In this paper, we review the main arguments behind the discursive gender/climate change nexus, discuss the implications for gendered vulnerabilities and transformation of adaptive capacities in the region, and suggest ways that researchers and policymakers seeking to promote "climate justice" can benefit from the incorporation of gender-based perspectives and frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest fires due to pine needles in the northwestern Himalayas during summers are a very common phenomenon every year causing major harm to flora and fauna. They are a major contributor to climate change as forest fires destroy hectares of land covered by forest and emit greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. One possible solution to this problem is to generate energy from the bio residue of pine tree. This paper intends to identify, categorize and prioritize the major factors that hinders and are barriers to energy generation using pine needles in the state of Uttarakhand, India. This paper adopts a multi-criteria decision-making approach based on the technique of fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process. Sensitivity analysis is also used to test the robustness of this technique. The study finds that Legal and regulatory factors are the most critical and categorized as major influences of such renewable energy generation project, which includes government policy, project guidelines, financial support, technical support, and government clearances. The second barrier is economic which majorly includes cost factor associated with the development and sustenance of such energy generation projects. Technological and market related factors are next on the priority to energy generation using pine needles through limitations such as topography, hilly terrain, seasonal availability, supply chain, poor marketing. Human resource barriers stands at the fifth place and has less influence on such energy generation initiatives. This paper will help the policy makers to understand the priorities while solving energy generation issues to reduce forest fires and contribute to mitigate climate change. • To categorize the major factors negatively affecting energy generation using Pine needles. • To assess and prioritize these barriers. • To deliver managerial and practical implications for these barriers. • Legal and regulatory most critical barrier to pine needle based energy generation. • Lack of proper marketing has topmost global ranking as barrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silene vulgaris is an important ethnobotanical species, but so far no thorough meiotic analysis has been performed, despite its wide occurrence in temperate and alpine Himalayas, this prompted us to undertake present study. We investigated original meiotic chromosome number and effect of cytomixis on meiotic course, microsporogenesis and pollen grain size and fertility. The paper also summarizes the previously published chromosome counts in the species and cytogeography of 2 x and 4 x cytotypes in the Indian Himalayas and elsewhere. Meiocytes preparations were made through standard squashed technique in 1 % acetocarmine. Two ploidy levels have been determined during the cytomorphological surveys, diploid (2 n = 2 x = 24) and tetraploid (2 n = 4 x = 48). Most of the presently scored populations were found to be diploid (2 n = 2 x = 24). Morphologically 2 x and 4 x individuals were indistinguishable from each other. Meiosis was perfectly normal in 4 x cytotype. However, some of the 2 x plants showed the phenomenon of cytomixis and associated meiotic abnormalities. Consequent to cytomixis, hypo-, hyperploid and enucleated pollen mother cells (PMCs) were resulted. Such PMCs combined with other meiotic abnormalities yielded sterile and variable sized pollen grains. On the basis of overall information, it is clear that 2 x cytotype is the most widely distributed cytotype in the Indian Himalayas as well as elsewhere. On the other hand, the 4 x cytotype seems to be less frequently present in the Indian Himalayas and outside of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamism of river bed morphology is continuous and an integrated process of mountain's natural outflow in Himalayan Foothill Rivers. In-stream seasonal sediment flux, bridge establishments, bridge scouring and railway-road construction have detrimental influence over the natural flow regime of the river thereby causing channel degradation in the piedmont zone of eastern Himalaya of India, specifically near the urban areas where river management strategies are very weak. Such extreme anthropogenic events have a distinctive influence in changing river bed morphology in the middle-lower part of river Chel in Darjeeling Himalayan piedmont zone of India. Huge sediment aggradation and transportation networks historically have affected River Chel and have caused channel avulsion which poses a serious threat to the physical and ecological environment of Chel. Aggradation and lifting of sediments from the river bed are fatal for the geomorphologic character of the river, though no studies have been undertaken yet, to analyse the situation quantitatively in this regard. This paper presents evidence that suggests the changing river bed morphology, the dynamic nature of the river, the poor health of the river which is principally the impact of the seasonal sediment flux and bridge construction and thus some methods of river restoration in the middle-lower part of the river have been explained. Agglomeration of sediment, flow bifurcation, the volume of seasonal water mass, bed elevation changes and scouring are a major dynamic disposition for change of river bed morphology. Point bar, sidebar, braided active channel, ripples, and rise in the bed elevation are rapid changes in upper to lower part of bridges that are examined in the present study. In the dry season (December to February), a huge amount of sediment lifting makes incommodious man-made holes and a number of emergent channels which principally control the formation of a new active channel in the next monsoon season. The avulsion of major intra-active channels and morphological changes of the river bed for the last 85 years have also been observed in this study. Unlabelled Image • This paper presents evidence that suggests that the changing river bed morphology, the dynamic nature of the river, the poor health of the river is principally the impact of the huge sediment aggradation and bridge construction and thus some methods of river restoration in the middle-lower part of river Chel. • Suspended sediment, aggradation and degradation, Scouring calculation for boulder agglomeration, Compare of satellite images and Topographical map for braided channel shifting are major methods for understanding of outcome results. • Agglomeration of sediment, flow bifurcation, volume of seasonal water mass, bed elevation change and scouring are major dynamic disposition for change of river bed morphology by bridge construction scouring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind caused snow drifting plays a dominant role in the redistribution of snow mass that restructures a snowpack. Strong wind activity at the mountain tops results in uneven distribution of snow with erosion on windward side and deposition on leeward areas. Such snowdrift events are responsible for the formation of cornices, increase in the loading of avalanche release zones on the leeward side and consequent increase in the level of avalanche hazard. In this paper, we present the results of snowdrift measurement using an acoustic snow-drift meter, the FlowCapt, built by IAV Engineering, which was used during winter seasons of 2007-2010 at a field research station of Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) in the western Himalayas. The aim of the study was to evaluate the suitability of the instrument in measuring snowdrift in the Himalayan weather conditions. Results proved the utility of the instrument as a useful tool to study drifting snow in remote areas. However, in the absence of conventional snow gauges for validation, the quality of the absolute snow flux data could not be ascertained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslide risk assessment is based on spatially integrating landslide hazard with exposed elements-at-risk to determine their vulnerability and to express the expected direct and indirect losses. There are three components that are relevant for expressing landslide hazard: spatial, temporal, and magnitude probabilities. At a medium-scale analysis, this is often done by first deriving a landslide susceptibility map, and to determine the three types of probabilities on the basis of landslide inventories linked to particular triggering events. The determination of spatial, temporal, and magnitude probabilities depend mainly on the availability of sufficiently complete historical records of past landslides, which in general are rare in most countries (e.g., India, etc.). In this paper, we presented an approach to use available historical information on landslide inventories for landslide hazard and risk analysis on a medium scale (1:25,000) in a perennially typical data-scarce environment in Darjeeling Himalayas (India). We demonstrate how the incompleteness in the resulting landslide database influences the various components in the calculation of specific risk of elements-at-risk (e.g., buildings, population, roads, etc.). We incorporate the uncertainties involved in the risk estimation and illustrate the range of expected losses in the form of maximum and minimum loss curves. The study demonstrates that even in data-scarce environments, quantitative landslide risk assessment is a viable option, as long as the uncertainties involved are expressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of seismicity and seismotectonics of Delhi and adjoining areas is essential as these areas lie in the seismic zone IV and are geologically confined to the Delhi Fold Belt (DFB), juxtaposed to the Himalayan Frontal Thrust Fold Belt. Owing to the set-up, seismicity in this area is ascribed to the Himalayan Thrust System and activation of DFB Fault Systems. Considerably improved instrumental seismic monitoring in this area and data analysis had resolved three regions of pronounced seismicity that lie close to Sonepat, Rohtak and western part of the NCT Delhi, attributed to activation of various portions of the fault systems of the DFB. Based on seismic telemetry network data, the seismicity pattern analysis revealed that the Mahendragarh Dehradun Sub-Surface Fault (MDSSF) and Delhi Sargodha Ridge (DSR) are the two major zones of structural importance for the nucleation of seismicity in this region. These revelations were corroborated with the fault plane solution of the earthquakes. The dominant mechanism in nucleation of seismicity in DFB is the thrust with minor strike slip. The seismicity and seismotectonics of Delhi and adjoining areas endemic to activation of DFB is reviewed and presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India, is planning for large-scale sustainable mountain tourism. However, current tourism practices have resulted in waste accumulation and vegetation loss. This paper explores the possibility of increasing the role of whitewater rafting and adventure tour guides to reduce tourists’ environmental impacts. Earlier studies on guides acquiescent with this role have found it to be effective in altering client behavior and minimizing environmentally destructive behavior. However, only limited research focuses on guides from developing countries outside an ecotourism context. This exploratory research in Garhwal, India, helps explain adventure guide intentions to perform pro-environmental behavior. The theory of planned behavior was applied to identify factors leading to a sample of 68 whitewater and trekking guides to perform three environmentally significant behaviors – packing out rubbish, burying their human waste and cutting living trees for firewood. Results suggest that the theoretical antecedents of the theory of planned behavior can predict intentions to perform pro-environmental behavior among non-western guides. Possible impediments to consistent performance of pro-environmental behavior among guides were noted, including lack of social pressure to change, abhorrence of contact with excreta, caste issues, effort expended to dig burial holes, etc. Managerial possibilities to encourage change are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The High Altitude GAmma-Ray (HAGAR) array is a wavefront sampling array of 7 telescopes, set-up at Hanle, at 4270mamsl, in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas (Northern India). It constitutes the first phase of the HImalayan Gamma-Ray Observatory (HIGRO) project. HAGAR is the first array of atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes established at a so high altitude, and was designed to reach a relatively low threshold (currently around 200 GeV) with quite a low mirror area (31m²). Regular source observations are running since September 2008. Estimation of the sensitivity of the experiment is undergoing using several hours of data from the direction of Crab nebula, the standard candle source of TeV gamma-ray astronomy, and from dark regions. Data were acquired using the On-source/Off-source tracking mode, and by comparing these sky regions the strength of the gamma-ray signal could be estimated. Gamma-ray events arrive close to telescope axis direction while the cosmic-ray background events arrive from the whole field of view. We discuss our analysis procedures for the estimate of arrival direction, estimate of gamma ray flux from Crab nebula, and the sensitivity of the HAGAR system, in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust storm events are annual phenomena observed over the Indo-Gangetic plain (IGP) during the pre-monsoon period (May–June). These dust storms affect the air quality, weather conditions and radiation budget of the region. In this paper we characterize the aerosol optical parameters associated with a rare dust storm event that hit the IGP during early April 2005. This event was considered rare as it occurred much earlier than the general occurrence of dust storms in India (May–June), and in the year 2005, the warmest year in the span of the previous hundred years. In this study we considered the optical aerosol parameters for two places in the IGP: Delhi (28.5° N, 77.2° E, 325 m asl) and the high altitude station, Manora Peak (29.4° N, 79.5° E, 1958 m asl). Of the two selected stations, Delhi represents a highly populated and polluted location whereas Manora Peak represents a cleaner location in the central Himalayan region. During this dust storm event, the aerosol optical depth (AOD) was observed to increase considerably. The increment was 2.6–4.6 times over Delhi and 1.6–3.2 times over Manora Peak at wavelengths 380 and 1020 nm, respectively, with respect to the background values, whereas the Ångström exponent (α) for both the stations remained close to zero during the event. The effect shows a considerable increase in direct dust radiative forcing in terms of a reduction in the broadband global irradiance for Delhi as well as for Manora Peak stations. The direct aerosol radiative forcing thus obtained was about 34% in the 400–1100 nm wavelength band at Manora Peak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northeast region of India is one of the world's most significant biodiversity hotspots. One of the richest bird areas in India, it is an important route for migratory birds and home to many endemic bird species. This paper describes a literature-based dataset of species occurrences of birds of northeast India. The occurrence records documented in the dataset are distributed across eleven provinces of India, viz.: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The geospatial scope of the dataset represents 24 to 29 degree North latitude and 78 to 94 degree East longitude, and it comprises over 2400 occurrence records. These records have been collated from scholarly literature published between1915 and 2008, especially from the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (JBNHS). The temporal scale of the dataset represents bird observations recorded between 1909 and 2007. The dataset has been developed by employing MS Excel. The key elements in the database are scientific name, taxonomic classification, temporal and geospatial details including geo-coordinate precision, data collector, basis of record and primary source of the data record. The temporal and geospatial quality of more than 50% of the data records has been enhanced retrospectively. Where possible, data records are annotated with geospatial coordinate precision to the nearest minute. This dataset is being constantly updated with the addition of new data records, and quality enhancement of documented occurrences. The dataset can be used in species distribution and niche modeling studies. It is planned to expand the scope of the dataset to collate bird species occurrences across the Indian peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little statistical evidence exists on the effects of forest management regimes and wealth on forest access rates in South Asia. To determine the magnitude and significance of these effects, this paper analyzes a dataset of communities from Himachal Pradesh, India, with a fractional logit model. The investigation considers three specific forest management regimes including a regime under complete state control, traditional community regime and a co-management regime known as Joint Forest Management. Communities with higher incidence of land poverty have lower forest access rates for grazing and fodder extraction, whereas communities with a higher incidence of land-rich households have higher forest access rates for fodder extraction. Forest access rates for fuelwood collection are lower under traditional and co-management regimes. However, the interaction between land-poverty and co-management regime increases forest access rates for fodder collection and livestock grazing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper deciphers the late stress systems involved in the development of kink bands in the perspective of thrust regime. In kink bands, the correlation coefficient for α- β plots is positive near thrusts and negative away from thrusts. The plots show nearly linear relationship near thrusts and non-linear relationship away from thrusts. The rotation was prominent mechanism of kink band formation near thrusts and rotation coupled with shearing, along the kink planes away from thrusts. Along thrusts σ is horizontal E-W trend and it rotates to horizontal N-S trend away from the thrust. The proposed model establishes that (1) the shearing along kink planes led to angular relationship, β < α and (2) the kink planes of conjugate kinks could be used for paleostress analysis even in those cases where shearing along these planes has occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we created predictive models for assessing the susceptibility to shallow translational rocksliding and debris sliding in the Darjeeling Himalayas (India) by empirically selecting and weighting spatial predictors of landslides. We demonstrate a two-stage methodology: (1) quantifying associations of individual spatial factors with landslides of different types using bivariate analysis to select predictors; and (2) pairwise comparisons of the quantified associations using an analytical hierarchy process to assign predictor weights. We integrate the weighted spatial predictors through multi-class index overlay to derive predictive models of landslide susceptibility. The resultant model for shallow translational landsliding based on selected and weighted predictors outperforms those based on all weighted predictors or selected and unweighted predictors. Therefore, spatial factors with negative associations with landslides and unweighted predictors are ineffective in predictive modeling of landslide susceptibility. We also applied logistic regression to model landslide susceptibility, but some of the selected predictors are less realistic than those from our methodology, and our methodology gives better prediction rates. Although previous predictive models of landslide susceptibility indicate that multivariate analyses are superior to bivariate analyses, we demonstrate the benefit of the proposed methodology including bivariate analyses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Biomass is one of the key energy sources in rural India and constitutes 75% of the total energy consumption. In the tough mountain terrain, the consumption pattern depends on the availability of the resources as well as socio-economic conditions of the people. The present study is conducted at Fakot micro-watershed in Garhwal district of Uttarakhand, India. The present paper explores the variations in fuelwood consumption pattern in the watershed level at different altitudes with respect to family size. In the present study, the fuelwood consumption in the watershed is in the range of 455–2388 gm/person/day. Absence of serial autocorrelation in the seasonal fuel consumption data is observed. Season specific models for fuel consumption are proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Owing to its awesome beauty and rich biodiversity coupled with a sense of spirituality the Himalaya has always been one of the most desired destinations for people around the world. For India, the Himalaya is the home of god Shiva and considered as the sacred place where many saints and sages did meditation to realize the Ultimate Truth and for salvation. Being an Indian Forest Service officer, the author shares his experiences of divine serenity on his trip to various parts of the great Himalayas. The paper also describes about the flora and faunal diversity of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]