The European Union (EU) recently launched the ?HighNoon? research project in India, which aims at assessing the impact of Himalayan glaciers retreat and possible changes of the Indian summer monsoon on the distribution of water resources in northern India. The project further aims to provide recommendations for appropriate and efficient adaptation strategies to hydrological extreme events through a participatory process.
The EU has earmarked 3 million euros (approximately Rs 19.5 crore) for this 3-year project, bringing together leading research institutions in Europe, Netherlands, UK, Switzerland and India (Teri, IIT-Delhi & Kharagpur). The participation of Japan in this project is adding an international dimension.
Commenting on the occasion, HE Dani?le Smadja, European Commission?s Ambassador to India said, ?EU and India enjoy strategic cooperation in the field of science & technology, with co-investment of resources from both the players. This current project in the field of climate change, research & glaciology takes this well established partnership to new heights.?
?HighNoon? will work towards integrating available climate and hydrological data and state-of-the-art regional models. The basic approach of the project is to link the results of improved climate modelling to estimation of practical and applicable adaptation measures. The main aspects of this project would include developing scenarios for snowmelt and monsoon patterns, based on improved regional climate simulations; developing realistic regional socio-economic scenarios and asses the changing water resources using regional models; providing new methods for prioritisation of adaptation measures to be used as a design tool in the selection of adaptation options; participative development of specific multi-sector adaptation measures in consultation with stakeholders.
It aims to identify and quantify issues related to changing water resources availability in northern India at present and in the future. And provide policy makers, water managers and water users in Ganga river basin with applicable strategies to cope with current and potential future water-related problems. The project is a direct result of a continuous dialogue and interaction with the Indian research community, which began with the first EU-India Strategic Workshop on ?Climate Change Research Needs?, organised in New Delhi in February 2007. This lead to a competitive process, leading to the selection of the ?HighNoon? project in view of its excellence.
The endeavour was to provide recommendations to improve scenarios of demography, land use change, irrigation and other water demands in relation to technological development by exchanging expertise and data. The seminar provided a platform for establishing synergies amongst different research projects and initiatives dealing with climate change impacts on glacier retreat in India.
The Global Water Cycle is an integral part of the earth system. Water resources and hydrological extremes (namely floods and droughts) are important issues affecting India and its economic development, security and social well being. Improvements in understanding the climate-water cycle will benefit adaptive planning of infrastructure and efforts to mitigate climate change in India, Asia and globally.
Increasing CO2 levels and temperature are intensifying the global water cycle, with an overall net increase of rainfall, runoff and evapotranspiration. The predictions of future rainfall regionally are fairly uncertain: there are indications that, for example, the Indian region will see changes of rainfall while a decrease is expected in the Mediterranean.
Seasonality may also change, causing new and, sometimes, unexpected vulnerabilities. Intensification of the water cycle is likely to cause an increase in extremes events, such as floods and droughts.