Himalayan Ranges: India's Natural Shield The towering mountain ranges of the Himalayas forms one of the greatest armor, protecting India from the extreme weather conditions. With its topography, geopolitics and location, it is responsible for a huge proportion of the country’s eco-climate and ecologRead more
Himalayan Ranges: India’s Natural Shield
The towering mountain ranges of the Himalayas forms one of the greatest armor, protecting India from the extreme weather conditions. With its topography, geopolitics and location, it is responsible for a huge proportion of the country’s eco-climate and ecology.
A Natural Barrier Against Cold Winds
-Wind Barrier: The Himalayan mountain ranges act as an effective needless spending for Central Asia lose dry cold winds. The Siberian High as a result does not penetrate the Indian region.
Temperature Regulation: The Himalayas are known to alleviate very high and very low temperatures experienced. In winter, they restrict the movement of warm air hence India is not very cold. In the summer season however, they help to limit the hot and dry winds that are usually present in the Indian subcontinent.
Impact of Monsoons on Water Security
Diversion of Monsoons: The himalkayan range of mountains becomes very important for the Indian monsoon. Most of the winds that come in and are expressed as the monsoon winds in con dryict ‘sea winds’ come from the Indian ocean and interact with the landong activity of the adjoining mountains. This results in rainfall and thanks to the dense clouds, sufficient rains fall on the Indian continent.
-River Systems: The chain of mountains in the Himalayas houses major rivers like Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra and Yamuna. These rivers help in the sustenance of agriculture and some industries as well as household uses. Hence, In terms of water security, the importance of the Himalayas for India is enormous.
Development of Soil: Weathering of Himalayan range ensures that Indian soils receive certain minerals and nutrients which are eventually beneficial in enhancing agricultural productivity.
Thus, not Himalayas is a mere geographical landform, but it also acts as a barrier which protects the country from harsh climatic extremes, controls the rainfall pattern, and helps maintain the ecosystem of the country. This natural wonder to the people and to the ecology of India is precious and needs to be protected.
Ecological Importance
-Biodiversity Hotspot: The Himalayas are highly regarded as biodiversity hotspots owing to their rich vegetation as well as wildlife. The unique habitats-incuding the biodiversity-rich alpine meadows and even the tropical rain forest protection is important in the ecosystem.
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Indian cities struggle with monsoon preparedness due to a combination of factors. *Outdated Drainage Systems* are a major issue, with many cities' drainage systems designed decades ago, unable to handle the increasing intensity of rainfall . For instance, Delhi's drainage system, built nearly 50 yeaRead more
Indian cities struggle with monsoon preparedness due to a combination of factors. *Outdated Drainage Systems* are a major issue, with many cities’ drainage systems designed decades ago, unable to handle the increasing intensity of rainfall . For instance, Delhi’s drainage system, built nearly 50 years ago, struggles with even 50 mm of rain.
*Climate Change Impact* is another significant factor, with intense, localized rainfall becoming more common . This is evident in the changing monsoon patterns, where 55% of India’s tehsils saw an increase in southwest monsoon rainfall between June and September in the past decade .
*Poor Urban Planning* also plays a role, with cities not considering natural water flow, leading to water accumulation and flooding . Historical areas, like Minto underpass in Delhi, are particularly vulnerable due to their low-lying location.
Additionally, *Vulnerable Populations* are disproportionately affected, with the poor and lower-middle-class bearing the brunt of these failures . Informal settlements, often ignored in city planning, experience significant disruptions and health risks due to ineffective handling of stormwater mixed with sewage.
Lastly, *Historical Neglect* of natural water channels has contributed to the problem, with many channels covered or polluted over time . To improve monsoon preparedness, cities can learn from historical water management practices, integrate natural hydrology into urban planning, regulate urban infrastructure, prioritize vulnerable populations, and regularly desilt drains .
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