Dr. J.C. Kuniyal

 

Brief Details:

Dr. J.C. Kuniyal joined G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE), Kosi-Katarmal, Almora as Scientist-B on November 1993. At present, Dr. Kuniyal is Scientist-G and has been acting as Head since more than 15 years in the Centre- Environmental Assessment & Climate Change Centre (CEA&CC) of the Institute.

As a Principal Investigator, he generated about 32 crores fund from externally funded projects and has so far completed R&D projects on ‘aerosols climatology under Radiative Forcing over India (ARFI)’ ISRO SPL, Trivandrum, and ‘gaseous air pollution’ under Atmospheric Chemistry, Transport and Modelling (AT-CTM) from ISRO PRL, Ahmedabad, ‘black carbon and other aerosol loading over the Parbati Glacier’ from DST, New Delhi, ‘Fostering climate Smart communities in the Himalayan Region’, ‘natural resource management,’ ‘forest resources and plant biodiversity’, ‘Carrying capacity of tourism’, ‘EIA of hydropower projects’, ‘solid waste management’, ‘surface ozone behaviour’ and ‘ambient air quality and its sources’,.

He has published so far 217 research papers (cumulative impact factor 284.316) in international, national, books in chapters and proceedings. He got published three popular books, namely, ‘Climate Change Adaptation, Risk Management and Sustainable Practices in the Himalaya’ (Springer), ‘Tourism in Kullu Valley: An Environmental Assessment’, and  ‘Shrub diversity in the north-western Himalaya’. He developed four policy documents on ‘Sustainable development in the Himalaya: opportunities, strategies and policy recommendations’, ‘Adaptation and resilience building due to climate change’, ‘Himalaya matters for ecological and economic security’, and ‘Accelerating Change: Engaging Local Communities in Disaster Risk Reduction in the Indian Himalayan Region’.

So far, he produced 15 Ph.D. students in multidisciplinary areas like Atmospheric Physics, Atmospheric Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Geography, and 02 have just submitted their Ph.D. Thesis under his supervision in Environmental Science and Geography. He worked as a Mentor for International Students for the American Geophysical Union (AGU), Bath Spa University, United Kingdom, etc.

He established two major Environmental Observatories, one at Mohal-Kullu in Himachal Pradesh and second at Kosi-Katarmal, Almora. Recently, he completed 13 District Environment Plans and 01 State Environment Plans for the Uttarakhand Government.

He has been a High Power Committee Member in Chardham Pariyojna (All weather Road), worked/working in solving different Environmental Issues raised by Hon’ble NGT (i.e. Rohtang Pass, Carrying capacity of Tourism in the Himalaya, etc. and High Court Matters (Gupta Bandhu’s Auli Joshimath Isssue, etc.), member in Namame Gange, etc.).

He has very good R&D collaboration with National as well as International organizations. Among national, these are ISRO PRL Ahmedabad, ISRO VSSC SPL Trivandrum, CSIR NPL, New Delhi, while overseas include Bath Spa University UK, Cumbria University UK, Kwa-Zulu University South Africa, Cornell University, USA, American Geophysical Union, USA, etc.

He made eight academic overseas visits in different countries like Nepal, China, Thailand & United Kingdom. As an impact of all these efforts, he has been conferred ‘Prof. P.N. Mehra Young Scientist Award 2005’, ‘State Gurukul Award 2008’, ‘Appreciation Award 2008’ and ‘A Lifetime Achievement Award 2015’ and declared to confer an award of Honorary Fellowship by Bath Spa University, United Kingdom on 24^th July. 24.

Research: Aerosols, Radiative forcing and Temperature Rise in the Himalayan Ecosystem

Aerosols are a colloidal system of molecules that are particulate, gaseous, and volatile. They have a negative impact on local temperatures, long-term climate change, and even the melting rates of glaciers. Also, these pollutants if remain beyond permissible limits may harm the health status of living organisms in an ecosystem, decrease the visibility, and overall deteriorate air quality. In view of the same, the present study after establishing environmental observatories at two Himalayan experimental sites; one at Mohal-Kullu (Himachal Pradesh) in 2005 onward and second at Kosi-Katarmal, Almora (Uttarakhand) in 2018 onward, attempts to measure continuously aerosol loading using ground-based monitoring systems at these two semi-tourist destinations. Mohal-Kullu (31.9°N, 77.12°E; 1,154 m amsl) had higher levels of PM₁₀ (54.74 μg m^-³), PM_2.5 (33.3 μg m^-³), NO₂ at (7.4 μg m^-³), and SO₂ (3.4 μg m^-³), while compared to Kosi-Katarmal (29.64°N, 79.62°E; 1,225 m amsl). Here, PM₁₀ PM_2.5, NO₂, and SO₂ values showed 45.5 μg m^-³, 40.7 μg m^-³, 6.6 μg m^-³, and 1.0 μg m^-³ respectively. Black Carbon (BC), one of the most heat-absorbing pollutants, was found to be 1.5 ± 1.0 µgm⁻³ at Mohal and 1.1 ± 1.4 µgm⁻³ at Katarmal, respectively. Annual mean BC exhibited a strong seasonal variability with a maximum during post-monsoon (2.6 ± 1.0 μgm⁻³) and pre-monsoon (1.8 ± 0.5 μgm⁻³) over Mohal and Katarmal, respectively. In case of BC concentration over the glacier, it was about 0.217 μgm⁻³ in Parbati Glacier during 2018 and 2019. Diurnal BC variation displayed bimodal peaks throughout seasons.The Aerosol optical depth was observed with higher values at shorter (380-500 nm) and lower values at longer wavelengths (500-1080 nm).The mean (±SE) composite AOD at 500nm over Mohal during the overall period of observation was found to be 0.32 ± 0.07 (ranging from 0.24± 0.03 to 0.47± 0.04), while 0.30 ± 0.09 (ranging from 0.14± 0.08 to 0.56± 0.07) was found at Katarmal. At Mohal from 2006-2023, AOD₅₀₀ has increased by 57.4% while BC from 2009-2023 has increased by 31.3%.During pre-monsoon, both the locations experience high mean AOD₅₀₀ (0.30 ± 0.06 to 0.54 ± 0.08) along with a small Ångström exponent (0.67 ± 0.10 to 0.95 ± 0.30), indicating the dominance of large aerosol particles while small AOD₅₀₀ (0.21 ± 0.07 to 0.25 ± 0.03) during post-monsoon and winter periods associated with the large Ångström exponent (1.05 ± 0.74 to 1.13 ± 0.11), indicating the presence of smaller particles.The short-wave aerosol radiative forcing (SWARF) is estimated to be negative at the surface (SUR) and top of the atmosphere (TOA), whereas positive at the atmosphere (ATM) indicating significant cooling at SUR and warming at ATM leading to high atmospheric heating rates. The annual mean atmospheric ARF over Mohal was estimated to be +27.4 Wm⁻² (heating rate 0.7 K / day), while +21.9 Wm⁻² (heating rate 0.6 K/day) was obtained over Katarmal.The substantial and regionally consistent warming induced by aerosols in the Himalayan region significantly contributes to rising air temperatures, the accelerated retreat of glaciers, and changes in the hydrological cycle and precipitation patterns in this area.

Keywords: Particulate matter, Black carbon, Aerosol optical depth, radiative forcing, temperature rise, Himalaya.

Teaching: Sustainable Strategies for Mitigating Climate-Induced Disasters in the Indian Himalayan Region: Community-Led Disaster Risk Reduction and Ecosystem Conservation

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) has been experiencing intensified climate change impacts, with more frequent extreme weather events like cloudbursts and flash floods. Rising temperatures are causing glacial retreat and increased vulnerability to disasters. Notable events include the  Kedarnath tragedy (16^th June 2013) and the  Raini flash flood (7^th February 2021) in Chamoli district, both resulting in significant casualties and infrastructure damage. Cloud burst is a geo-hydrological hazard that takes place all of sudden with unprecedented heavy rainfall through cumulonimbus clouds over 100 mm hr^-1 and confines its occurrence within a geographical area between 20 to 30 km^-2. Cloud bursts are local in nature ranging at an elevation of 1000 to 2500 m asl. These sudden, and intense rainfall events rapidly fill glacial lakes and trigger catastrophic flooding in narrow mountain valleys. The consequences are far-reaching, affecting water resources, agriculture, and local livelihoods. Communities face immediate dangers and long-term challenges such as food and water insecurity and forced migration. Addressing these issues requires improved early warning systems, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development approaches to enhance regional resilience against climate-induced disasters.

Well-preserved ecosystems enhance the overall resilience of mountain landscapes to climate change-induced extreme weather events. Understanding the underlying reasons of cloud bursts is crucial, but it's also necessary to investigate the ecological factors that primarily regulate the atmospheric warming in these regions.Therefore, prioritizing ecosystem conservation and restoration in mountain areas is an essential nature-based solution for reducing the destructive potential of cloudbursts and protecting vulnerable communities. The ecological engineering measures like reducing waste pollution load through a practice of  waste to energy initiatives, reducing vehicular emissions through maintaining vehicular entry numbers, air pollutants and minimization in forest fires through bio-briquettes and other uses, managing degradation  through eco-engineering stratigies, sustainable approach to regulate high influx of tourists within carrying capacity, increasing afforestation through  introducing native species (e.g. Cedrus deodara),  etc. could bring under control the increasing local temperature and a balance between low pressure and high pressure areas to be established at local levels.

In addition, Doppler's radar can be used to identify and weather forecasting for potential cloudbursts. Although it is possible to forecast the likelihood of a cloudburst six hours in advance, the cost of doing so is also a factor. Avoiding the risk and reducing the damage due to cloud burst may be possible to a large extent by analyzing at least a century's historical data and identifying regions with high rainfall. Inhabitation in low-lying areas need to be avoided as minimum as possible. A constant update on the accuracy of weather is highly recommended with early warning and decision support systems. Weather warnings in hilly regions can provide enough time for mitigation, making it feasible to move to a safe places.

Suggested strategies will contribute to sustainable mountain development and climate adaptation in this vulnerable area. These strategies align with broader sustainable development goals (SDGs)  by addressing multiple SDGs in view of  enhancing early warning systems and disaster preparedness (SDGs 11 & 13), tackling community vulnerabilities to climate disasters and food/water insecurity (SDG 1), and promoting ecosystem conservation for landscape resilience (SDG 15).

Key words: Sustainable Strategies, Climate-Induced Disasters, Disaster Risk Reduction, Ecosystem Conservation,  Community, Himalaya

Google Scholar Link: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=XKsAuQgAAAAJ&hl=en