This book analyzes the issues associated with climate change in the Himalayas. The purpose of choosing the Himalayas as a focus is because it is a particularly fragile mountain system, highly sensitive to climate change impacts, and it contains one of the largest human populations affected by climate change. The book provides extensive data and information regarding the climate history of the Himalayas, and the current effects of climate change on Himalayan weather systems, and on human and animal populations in the region. The book begins with an overview of global climate change with discussions of data trends and international initiatives, then segues into a history of climate changes and weather trends in the Himalayas. Weather systems of the Himalayas, both past and current, are analyzed and detailed through climate models, seasonal observations of weather fronts, and overviews of various climate scenarios. The book then discusses climate change impacts and signat ures specific to the Central Himalayan region, where the largest effects of impacts are observed. Readers will discover analysis presented on water resources, meteorological changes, biodiversity, agriculture and human health along with perspectives of management and policy. This book will appeal to researchers studying climate science, climatology, environmental scientists and policymakers.

This book analyzes the issues associated with climate change in the Himalayas. The purpose of choosing the Himalayas as a focus is because it is a particularly fragile mountain system, highly sensitive to climate change impacts, and it contains one of the largest human populations affected by climate change. The book provides extensive data and information regarding the climate history of the Himalayas, and the current effects of climate change on Himalayan weather systems, and on human and animal populations in the region. The book begins with an overview of global climate change with discussions of data trends and international initiatives, then segues into a history of climate changes and weather trends in the Himalayas. Weather systems of the Himalayas, both past and current, are analyzed and detailed through climate models, seasonal observations of weather fronts, and overviews of various climate scenarios. The book then discusses climate change impacts and signat ures specific to the Central Himalayan region, where the largest effects of impacts are observed. Readers will discover analysis presented on water resources, meteorological changes, biodiversity, agriculture and human health along with perspectives of management and policy. This book will appeal to researchers studying climate science, climatology, environmental scientists and policymakers.

This is a detailed and comprehensive study of the climates of Southern Asia, describing and interpreting the complex atmospheric dynamics of the region and explaining in depth the intricacies of the meteorology of the monsoon. To create this landmark study, the authors have made extensive and original use of the great wealth of primary data available, which has never previously been presented in such an integrated way. This book is organized in two parts. The first provides the essential meteorological background to understanding the South Asian climate. It places the regional circulation in the perspective of tropical general circulation and then describes the specific features that dominate the climate of South Asia, including characteristic features of the southwest monsoon. The second part deals with the climatological characteristics of South Asia; the mean climate of the region is described, followed by the specific features of individual countries. The spatial distribution and temporal variability of various climatic elements over the region forms an important aspect for this section. Climatological tables drawn from published data on climatic normals for selected stations in South Asia and an exhaustive bibliography are provided. The volume fulfils the long-felt need for a reference book on the climatology of South Asia, for use in research libraries and teaching programmes in atmospheric science, geography, agriculture, water resources and the other environmental sciences.