Current Scenario
- Rise in temperature in the NW Himalayan region by about 1.60C in the last century. (Bhutiyani et.al. 2007)
- Warming rate of Shimla was higher than Leh & Sringar during the period from 1991-2002 as compared to the earlier decades and the gross rise in the mean air temperature during 1980-2002 periods in north western Himalayas as a whole was about 2.20C. (Bhutiyani et.al. 2007)
- Climate change and precipitation variation in the NW Himalaya based on precipitation data from 1866-2006, no change in winter precipitation was observed but significant decreasing trend in the monsoon precipitation was captured. (Bhutiyani et.al. 2009)
- About 17% decrease in rainfall in Shimla was observed from 1996-2000 onwards till 2007.(Verma et. al.,2009)
- In Shimla and Solan the total snowfall received during 1973-75 period was 190.53 cm which in 1981-85 increased to 827.38 cm, declined to 101.9 cm in 1986-1990 further reduced to 78 cm in 2006-07, and it was only 15 cm in the year 2009.(Verma et.al.,2009)
- The decreasing trend in seasonal snowfall at Shimla is very conspicuous since 1990 and it was lowest in 2009.(Verma et.al.,2009)
- Baspa, a tributary of the Satluj river have reported that due to warmer winters melting and retreat of snow cover was observed even in the months of Dec. and Jan. at altitude of 5400 mts above sea level and average stream run-off of Baspa river in the month of Dec. from 1966-1992 had gone up by almost 75%. Steady rise in stream run-off of Baspa from 1980 onwards matches with average global temperature rise during the same period. (Kulkarni et.al.,2004)
- The population of light demanding species like Dalbergia sisoo and Acacia nilotica in sub tropical areas will decline on account of non-availability of adequate light during winter and prevalence of cold waves at the time of new leaves emergence.(Verma,2006,2010)
The proportion of climax species-Quercus will decrease and that of conifers will increase. (Verma,2006,2010)
Source: State Centre on Climate Change, Himachal Pradesh