Climate Change Projection In Kashmir Valley ( J & K )

The decision support tool viz. SDSM (Statistical Downscaling Model) was used to downscale climate data of future years for Kashmir province of Jammu & Kashmir state. The 21st century projected data for the A1B scenario was adjusted by using observed climatic data recorded during the period 19852015 for the region. The data from the same period was taken as the baseline for the analysis. This data was thereon analyzed for monthly, seasonal, cropping season and annual periods to enumerate the variation of maximum temperature, minimum temperature and precipitation in Kashmir valley of Jammu & Kashmir state in the 21st century. The modelled data obtained exhibited no significant change in maximum and minimum temperature for the period 2021-2050 but for the same period increase in annual precipitation was exhibited. For the period2051-2100, decreasing trend of annual temperature was exhibited whereas for annual precipitation, an increasing trend was exhibited.


IntrOdUCtIOn
Throughout the previous century, rise in temperature and surge in CO 2 concentration because of innumerable factors comprising alteration land usage pattern 4 and greenhouse gas (GHG) emanations fromagricultural and industrial zone 8 , have caused variations in the earth's climate.This surge in the GHG's emanationis expected to impact the earth's temperature, precipitation, pattern of storms and sea levels 3,1,6 .The noticeable impacts of the variabilities in climate have been previously seen with regard tooccurrence of extreme events like floods, drought, heat wave, cold wave, etc 5 .
Global temperatures have shown a warming up tendency of 0.87°C during 1880-2015 owing to rise in anthropogenic activities.A parallel warming up tendency of similar scale in annualsurface air temperatures has been also perceived in India during the period 1901-2015.2015was observed to bethewarmest year during the period.High temperaturefor the period of monsoon (+0.72°C above average)and for the post monsoon period (+1.1°C aboveaverage) was the main contributor to the high annual temperature 7 .
The state of Jammu and Kashmir has also been presumed to suffer the consequences of global climate change.The state is expected to have a surge in the number of rainy days by 2030.Similarly, annual temperature is likely to increase in the next century compared to the base period of 1970 10 .An increasing trend in annual maximum and minimum temperature as well as precipitation has also been predicted for the region under SRES A2 Scenario 9 .
In this study, the decision support tool viz.SDSM (Statistical Downscaling Model) was used to downscale climate data of future years from the SRES A1B scenario for Kashmir province of Jammu & Kashmir state.The A1B scenario characterizes an up and coming world of exceptionally expedient economic advance, low populace development, and the quick establishment of novel and more proficient innovations, with an adjusted accentuation on all energy sources.Major topics are convergence among locales, capacitycreation, and expanded social and cultural associations, with a significant decrease in territorial variations in per capita income.

StUdY area
The Kashmir valley is the principal valley among the numerous valleys located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.The valley is surrounded by the Pir Panjal Range on the southwest side and the Himalayan range on the northeast.The valley covers an area of about 15,948 sq.km. and has analtitude of about 1730 m above msl.Climate in the valley is moderate due to its geographic location.The normal annual precipitation in the valley 823.9 mm and the normal annual maximum and minimum temperatures are 19.6 ºC and 6.8 ºC respectively.The valley has been witnessing an increased annual precipitation and relative humidity in the past few years.
The species diversity,habitats, forests, wildlife, fisheries and thewater resources of the valley face a severe threat from climate change.Wetlands that support 20% of the known biodiversity of the region will face adverse effects due to climate change.Change in climate is expectedto affect some horticultural crops.Climate change is also expected to considerablyinfluence the agricultural sectorand increase its vulnerability.Reduction in precipitation,will affect the rain-fed agriculture as well ashorticultural crops like apple leading toreduction in production.

fig. 1: Study area through satellite view materIaLS and methOdS
Observed climatic data comprising of maximum temperature, minimum temperature and precipitation for the reference period 1985-2015 and predicted climatic data (2021-2100) form the SRES A1B scenario for the study area were downscaled using SDSM (Statistical Downscaling Model).The SDSM predictors were downloaded for the study area from the CanadianClimate Impacts Scenarios Group (CCISC).
Once downscaling finished, the correction factor was calculated from the daily modelled data and observed climatic data for the same period i.e. 1985-2015.The calculated correction factor was further applied to the modelled data for the period 2021-2100 to correct it.This corrected modelled climatic data was the studied on monthly, seasonal, cropping season and yearly basis to measure the variations in maximum temperature, minimum temperature and precipitation as compared to reference period.

Change anomalies in maximum temperature
The predictions point towards the fact that annual maximum temperature will increase by 0.1 ºC for the period 2021-2050 which is not quite significant.For the period 2051-2100, an overall decreasing trendin the annual maximum temperature will be observed with the annual maximum temperature plunging by 3ºC and 3.

Change anomalies in minimum temperature
The predictions point towards the fact that annual minimum temperature will not vary for the period 2021-2050.For the period 2051-2100, an overall decreasing trend in the annual minimum temperature will be observed with the annual

Change anomalies in Precipitation
The predictions point towards the fact that annual precipitation will increase by 35.During last few decades the maximum and minimum temperatures of the region have shown no significant increasing or decreasing trends.The amount of rainfall has however shown an increase in quantity during this period [2] .The results obtained from the present study are therefore in agreement with the current conditions prevailing in the valley.

COnCLUSIOnS
The results obtained from SDSM (Statistical Downscaling Model) of A1B scenario indicates that the maximum and minimum temperature would decrease towards the end of 21st century while as precipitation would increase but with an uneven distribution with respect to baseline period of 1985-2015.Furthermore, the changes in maximum and minimum temperature during 2021-2050 would not be significant whereas precipitation variation would be quite significant.Correspondingly, for the period between 2051-2100, the change in all these three parameters would be quite significant.

aCKnOWLedGement
We would like to thank AgriMet. field Unit, Srinagar, Division of Agronomy, SKUAST-K for providing us with the data required for the study and their valuable guidance and advice.They inspired us greatly to work in the research.Their willingness to motivate us contributed tremendously to our research.The source of finance for the research is mutual contribution by the authors without any external support.

fig. 2 :
fig. 2: deviations in monthly maximum temperature (ºC) for different periods from the baseline period fig. 6: deviations in monthly minimum temperature (ºC) for different periods from the baseline period

fig. 11 :
fig. 11: deviations in seasonal precipitation (mm) for different periods from the baseline period fig. 13: deviations in annual precipitation (mm) for different periods from the baseline period