Mean annual temperature in Himalayan region to rise by 2 degrees by 2030

NEW DELHI: The mean annual temperature in the Himalayan region is likely to rise by up to two degrees by 2030 while the rainfall would also rise by five to 13 per cent in the next two decades, said a study prepared by the Uttarakhand government.


Stating that the daily extremes in surface temperature may intensify in 2030s, the study said the spatial pattern of the change in the lowest minimum temperature and the highest maximum temperature suggest a warming by one to four degree towards 2030s.

The findings were disclosed in the Rajya Sabha today by science and technology minister S Jaipal Reddy in a written reply.

The study was done to address the possible adverse impacts of climate change.

According to the report, "the mean annual temperature is projected to increase from 0.9 (plus-minus) 0.6 to 2.6 degree (plus-minus) 0.7 degree in the 2030s."

It also said the frequency of rainy days is set to decrease in most parts of the country, except in the Himalays, the northwestern region and the souther plateau.

"The intensity of the rainy days are likely to increase by 2-12 per cent in the Himalayan region, northeastern region, western and northwestern region and souther eastern coastal region," it said.

It also said the water yield in the Himalayan region is likely to increase by five top 20 per cent in most of the area, with some areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand showing an increase of up to 50 per cent with respect to the 1970s.