Climate Change: Increasing Vulnerability in Coastal and Himalayan India
Q: Does climate change make the coastal and Himalayan regions of India more vulnerable to disaster? Explain.
Climate Change acts as a Threat Multiplier for India, significantly increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. Due to their unique ecological sensitivity, the Coastal and Himalayan regions are the most susceptible to these climatic shifts.
1. Vulnerability of the Himalayan Region
The Himalayas, being young fold mountains, are geologically unstable. Climate change aggravates this through:
- GLOFs (Glacial Lake Outburst Floods): Rapid melting of glaciers creates unstable lakes. Example: The 2023 Sikkim floods caused by the South Lhonak Lake outburst.
- Cloudbursts and Landslides: Altered Western Disturbances lead to intense, short-duration rainfall, triggering massive landslides in fragile terrains.
2. Vulnerability of Coastal Regions
With a coastline of over 7,500 km, India faces grave maritime risks:
- Cyclonic Intensity: Warmer Sea Surface Temperatures (SST) in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea lead to Rapid Intensification of cyclones.
- Sea Level Rise (SLR): Coastal erosion and Saltwater Intrusion threaten agriculture. Example: Parts of Kendrapada in Odisha are facing severe coastal "sinking."
Definition of Key Term
Cryosphere: The portions of Earth's surface where water is in solid form (ice/snow). In the Himalayas, the melting cryosphere directly destabilizes the downstream ecosystem.
Conclusion
The Compounding Disasters in these regions require a transition from Relief-centric to Resilience-centric planning. Strengthening the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and investing in Early Warning Systems (EWS) are imperative to safeguard India’s Demographic and Ecological future.
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