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Scientists Investigate Impact Of Climate Change On Indian Monsoon Season
Liverpool UK (SPX) Mar 09, 2007 Scientists at the University of Liverpool are investigating the anticipated effects of climate change on India's monsoon season and the impact that alterations in India's water cycle will have on the country's people, agriculture and wildlife. Changes to India's annual monsoon are expected to result in severe droughts and intense flooding in parts of India. Scientists predict that by the end of the century the country will experience a 3 to 5C temperature increase and a 20% rise in all summer monsoon rainfall. As part of the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI), Liverpool and Indian scientists have been awarded 150,000 pounds to develop key research methodologies and scientific monitoring procedures in collaboration to investigate how alterations in water resources may affect human health, agriculture, forests and wildlife. Climate change studies undertaken so far reveal that action is essential in order to prevent long term damage to India's water cycle. The livelihood of a vast population in India depends on agriculture, forestry, wetlands and fisheries and land use in these areas is strongly influenced by water-based ecosystems that depend on monsoon rains. Changes to the water cycle may also cause an increase in water borne diseases such as cholera and hepatitis, as well as diseases carried by insects such as malaria. Scientists, based at the University of Liverpool's Institute for Sustainable Water Integrated Management and Ecosystem Research (SWIMMER) and the School of Biological Sciences, are working in one of the largest river basins in India, the Godavari Basin in Andhra Pradesh, which displays a diversity of ecosystems and provides a good water model for other regions of India. The scientific approaches developed will be used to support local agencies in managing water resources more effectively. Professor Ed Malby, Director of SWIMMER, said: "To maximise expertise and knowledge in this area it is important that UK and Indian scientists meet and exchange ideas and research. Throughout this year we are holding workshops in India with the five project partners to showcase work conducted so far and to develop detailed activities to achieve the project's aims. "We are also developing Decision Support Frameworks (DSF) - computer based models by which scientists and policy makers can compare different climate change scenarios with alternative water and land management strategies. These frameworks will help Indian authorities with strategic decisions related to water management." The principle collaborators in the project include: Professor Ed Maltby, Institute for Sustainable Water, Integrated Management and Ecosystem Research (SWIMMER), University of Liverpool; Dr Martin Mortimer, School of Biological Sciences, University of Liverpool; Professor A.K. Gosain, Indian Institute of Techology, New Delhi; Dr R. Harding, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford; Professor N. Ravindranath Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Dr P Bhandari, The Energy Research Institute, New Delhi. Related Links University of Liverpool Making money out of watching earth from space today Learn about Climate Science at TerraDaily.com Water, Water Everywhere and Not A Drop To Drink... Water News - Science, Technology and Politics
Water Shortages Threaten Over A Million As Yangtze Water Level Dips
Chongqing, China (AFP) March 08, 2007More than a million people in one of China's biggest inland cities are facing water shortages after the level of the Yangtze river dropped to near historic lows, local authorities said Thursday. An official of the water agency for Chongqing, home to six million people, said the city had sounded alarm bells after the Yangtze reached its third-lowest level on record in late February. |
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