Annual Report 1999-2000

Scientific Research

Himalayan Glaciology

With a view to understand the behaviour of glaciers and their interaction with climate and hydrological system and also to train manpower and create research and development related facilities in this vital area of societal relevance, the Himalayan Glaciology Programme was launched during the 7th plan. The programme is overseen by the Programme Advisory and Monitoring Committee. During the period under reference following major achievements/highlights are reported:

New Initiatives

• After gaining the basic research experience on small glaciers, it has been realised that attention should now be focussed on bigger glaciers to collect more representative data on the various glacial processes. Gangotri glacier has been identified to undertake long term systematic multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional studies. Major participants in this programme are DRDO, UP Remote Sensing Application Centre, BSIP, SASE, PRL, ITRC, NIH, GBPIHED, Garhwal University, and Lucknow University. The emphasis under the programme will be to determine the water and snow budget of the Glacier.
  
• Realising the need for continuous meteorological data at Gangotri, Snow & Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) will be establishing an automatic weather station at Gangotri glacier.
  
• Studies under Himalayan Glaciology require collection of field data on a long term basis. To sustain these studies, a need for providing an institutional base to Himalayan Glaciology has long been felt. Through the deliberations of an Expert Group, a proposal has now been formulated to set up a National Centre for Field Operations and Research on Himalayan Glaciology (NCFOR-HG). The proposal is now under active consideration with Planning Commission. To begin with, this Centre will provide administrative, infrastructural and technical support to glaciological studies in the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra basins. Establishment of NCFOR-HG will mark an important step forward for providing the required fillip to frontline research and development in Himalayan Glaciology in the country.
  
• Sufficient data has been generated on various aspects of the glaciers with some encouraging results. However, detailed mathematical analysis of these data is largely lacking. The detailed mathematical analysis of these data may provide further insight into the processes which are not otherwise apparent from the preliminary data analysis. This will not only help in understanding the processes at the glacier but also in managing the water resources in the Himalayas. Emphasis is now given on the need of identifying the mathematical problems that can be taken up by the experts. A brain-storming session is proposed to be organised under the aegis of the National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad.
  
• Application of new technologies, such as Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry, Global Positioning System (GPS), Ground Probing Radar, Deep Ice Core Drill and Clean Cold Laboratory is emphasised. Efforts have been made for initiating studies related to indigenous development of Ground Penetrating Radar.
  
• Efforts are being made for publication of bibliography and information brochure on Himalayan Glaciers and other popular books on the related subject.
  
• An essential component of the programnme is to provide support to initiatives directed towards manpower development. Geological Survey of India (GSI) has conducted a number of short term courses which have included training on the glacier sites. The fifth course in this series to be conducted by GSI. It is scheduled to be held in mid 2000.
  
• Two new research projects on "Monitoring and modelling of melt runoff from Gangotri glacier" by NIH Roorkee, and "Microbial-biodiversity and environmental quality studies at Gangotri glacier" by ITRC, Lucknow were sanctioned.

Ongoing Projects

• During the project "Temporal distribution of Dokriani glacier melt runoff and its relationship with meteorological parameters" hydrological investigations were carried out in order to understand the melting of the glacier and to estimate the water yield and its distribution with time. Discharge, suspended sediment, rainfall, air temperature, humidity, evaporation, wind speed and direction, sunshine hours and water temperature data were collected. Similar studies were also conducted from the glaciers in the Sind and Lidder Basin in the project "Snow-melt run off model studies of Sind and Lidder Basin" by Directorate of Environment and Remote Sensing, Government of J&K.
  
• The ongoing studies on the Dokriani glacier have indicated following important results:
  
• Dokriani glacier indicates a negative mass balance showing the retreat of glacier at a rate of about 17 m/year.
  
• Glacier ice thickness varies between 15 to 120 m.
  
• Erosion rate of 15.78 mm per year has been calculated for the glacier catchment area.
  
• Radiometric age for snout ice is calculated as 310 years.
  
• Climatic conditions, three centuries ago were cooler than the present.

The Seismicity Programme has been evolved with a view to understand the Earthquake processes and the related field manifestations. In the initial phase of the programme, Northwest and Northeast Himalayas has been taken up for intensive multi-disciplinary studies. Over the years, a good infrastructure has been set up at various identified locations and lab facilities have been created at different institutions. In addition, several new groups at various institutions have been encouraged and are engaged in earthquake related studies. Several projects were funded on different aspects of seismology, namely, observational seismology, collateral geophysical studies and other R&D porojects on various "stand-alone" scientific themes in Seismology. With the increased interest of the scientific community in the programme, new geographical areas like Delhi region and Bihar plains were also taken up for carrying out integrated studies. Special initiatives were launched for Northeast region and Modern seismological observatories have been set up at Gangtok (Sikkim) and Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh). Seismological observatories are also set up at Kohima (Nagaland) and Guwahati (Assam).

Ongoing Activities

The activities initiated under the World Bank assisted project, have been subsumed in the Seismicity Programme. Presently, 32 seismological observatories are functional at the selected locations in northern India. In addition, 200 strong motion instruments have been set up in NW and NE Himalayas and Delhi area. These instruments have generated valuable data sets on the recent major earthquakes including the latest event at Chamoli (March 1999). Various research groups have analyzed data generated. Strong motion data, generated from the Himalayan region, have been used for designing earthquake resistant structures. The strong motion instruments deployed in Delhi region have also proved their efficacy by recording the acceleration data due to Chamoli earthquake.

A project database is being set up at WIHG, Dehradun on the lines of the one existing at RRL, Jorhat. The data sets emanating from the project observatories will be collated at WIHG so that it is made available to interested Scientists. In addition, a strong motion Atlas is being prepared at Department of Earthquake Engineering, University of Roorkee. TL dating facility is being set up at Manipur University. A 5-element digital telemetry system has recently become operational in Kumaon region.

New Initiatives

A proposal related to providing V-SAT based communication facility to link the seismological observatories and National Seismological Data Centre (NSDC) at IMD is under approval. Upgradation of Shake Table Facility at Department of Earthquake Engineering, University of Roorkee has been taken up for earthquake disaster mitigation research related activities. A proposal has been evolved for integrated geophysical studies for Ladakh area. Structural response studies for a few selected tall buildings in Delhi area and other metro-cities of India have also been initiated. The programme evolved on Microzonation studies of Delhi area, which is progressing slowly, is proposed to be taken up in project mode.

Procurement of 4 UHF based seismic cluster for Tejpur, Khandwa, Latur and Koyan-warna region has been initiated. Also, a proposal for indigenous development of seismic instruments like multi-element telemetry system in collaboration of BARC and stand-alone digital seismic recording units with CSIO, Chandigarh is being formulated.

An Expert Group set up to draw an action plan for strengthening of observational network in Himalayan region has submitted its report. It has been recommended that in addition to 15 observatories of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), 40 new observatories need to be established in NW and NE Himalayan region for detection and location of an earthquake of Magnitude 3 and more. Also a Task Force, constituted to work out the modalities for setting up an Earthquake Risk Evaluation Center in Northern part of India, has finalized its report. Action on implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force will be initiated.
Natural Disaster Mitigation In Himalayas (A Technology Mission Project)

A proposal on natural disaster mitigation in Himalayas has been drawn up to give a specific thrust to the study of earthquakes and landslides. The Department has ongoing programmes on these themes. The proposed Technology Mission Project will draw upon these strengths and provide a sharper focus to some selected aspects of study of earthquakes and landslides. Considering the earthquake vulnerability of the Himalayan terrain, priority is proposed to be given to upgrading the database on weak and strong ground motions. This effort with interface with developing earthquake resistant design and construction codes for civil engineering structures specific to the Himalayan terrain. Demonstration houses based on improved building designs are proposed to be constructed in three villages with the help of a local NGO. The associated activities on landslide studies will concentrate on geo-technical investigations and designing of scientific control and mitigation measures. An effort will also be made to develop indigenous geo-instruments required for earthquake and landslide monitoring. It is also proposed to activate the recently established Geophysical Research Laboratory of IIG, Mumbai and conduct studies on different earthquake precursors.