IHG (Institute of Himalayan Glaciology):-
About the Institute
The unprecedented winter snowfall of the year
2005, in northern regions of India, is intriguing to
geoscientists, in general, and scientists working in
the field of glaciology and climatology, in
particular. The oscillations in climate follow
certain rhythmic cycle and indications of any such
oscillations are available in the nature that
scientists must be able to read and accordingly
forewarn the society before oscillations get
translated into disasters. Uninterrupted and close
monitoring of meteorological parameters over a long
period of time in the high altitude areas that are
reasonably less or not affected by the anthropogenic
factors, provide an insight to the gradual change in
natural phenomenon. Gangotri, Chhota Shingri,
Dokriani Bamak, Naradu etc. in Himachal Pradesh,
western Uttar Pradesh and Uttranchal are some of the
glacier basins that have been studied under the
Himalayan Glaciology Programme of Department of
Science and Technology (hereafter DST), Ministry of
Science & Technology, New Delhi , to decipher the
climatic oscillations. The Departments of Geography
and Geology, University of Jammu also participated in
the Programme and made a humble beginning in this
direction by undertaking the study of Naradu Glacier
in Himachal Pradesh from 1994 to 2004. The inter- and
intra-annual variation in the weather parameters for
Naradu glacier basin was computed to infer the
possible future variation in climate. Applying the
fact that past is key to the present and present is
key to the future, geological deposits were studied
to extrapolate the palaeoclimatic history of the area
to 12,000 years BP (before present) and unravel the
climatic oscillations in the background of GCM
(Global Climate Model). Thrust of the study of
glaciers or glacier basins is to understand the
variation in meteorological parameters and unfold the
climatic history of immediate past that provides base
to future climate model and to estimate water present
in solid form within the glacier. The solid water is
constantly and regularly released as melt water that
is lifeline of almost all the rivers in north India,
The water thus released is not used to the optimum
for humankind. The large cities growing on the banks
of the rivers, fed by melt water, have a growing
demand of clean drinking/potable water,
hydroelectricity, and water for irrigation. The melt
water released from glaciers is sufficient enough to
meet the demands. The glaciers, under various
conditions, are under the effect of retreat at an
alarming rate. It is the needs of time to make
maximum use of melt water from these glaciers, before
the glaciers vanish from the face of the earth. The
DST, realizing the significance of glaciers in
today's world identified the Himalayan Glaciology
Studies as an thrust area in 1986 and provided
substantial research grant to various institutes and
universities for the conduct of study on Himalayan
glaciers. The Himalayas in Jammu & Kashmir State
is a storehouse of 3136 glaciers that makes 60% of
the total glaciers in Indian Himalaya and covers 13%
of land area of the State. Such a large number of
glaciers, in J&K State, make extensive banks of
water that needs to be exploited for the growth of
state's economy and future development. This is
possible only if proper direction to glaciological
studies is provided through an integrated effort. The
University of Jammu, realizing this fact, authorized
the setting up of Regional Centre for Field
Operations and Research on Himalayan Glaciology (RCFOR-HG)
in the University of Jammu, Jammu vide its
notification no. F.Acd/II/197/05/3033-93 dated
29-7-2005 after getting it approved by the University
Syndicate in its meeting held on April 23, 2005 (Item
No. 20 of the Syndicate Minutes). The nomenclature RCFOR-HG
has recently been changed to IHG (Institute of Himalayan
Glaciology),
undertakes studies related to climatic variation,
building of climate model for future predictions,
estimation of melt water run off for various
engineering purposes, avalanche studies, etc. Trained
scientists in the field of Himalayan Glaciology are
already available with the University of Jammu who
are actively engaged in research on glaciers through
DST sponsored research projects for past two decades.
Recently, the DST has provided research grant to the
Departments of Geology and Geography to the tune of Rs. 40 lakh to undertake study on Durung Drung
Glacier, Zanskar, District Kargil (J&K State),
whereas another research project on Kangriz Glacier,
Zanskar, District Kargil (J&K State) worth Rs. 50
lakh has been sanctioned by Department of Science
& Technology, New Delhi and awaits release of the
grant. The University of Jammu has the pride
privilege to be self-sufficient in the field of
glaciology, climatology, and remote sensing & GIS
studies to provide initial momentum to the IHG.
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