Research Papers

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Assessing the health of river Ganga
How are dams affecting the river Ganga? What are phytoplankton and how can they help assess health of rivers? What is the connection between dams, barrages, river flows and phytoplankton growth? Read this recent study to know more. Posted on 08 Dec, 2022 07:07 PM

Dams can bind and gag rivers 

Structures such as locks, dams, barrages, and weirs are known to drastically reduce the longitudinal connectivity of rivers, impact downstream flow, and alter riverine ecosystems.

The polluted Ganges (Image Source: Lane Rasberry via Wikimedia Commons)
Small scale inland open water fisheries of India
What is the status of inland fisheries in India? Read these situational analysis reports to know about inland fisheries, the life of the fisherfolk, governance and tenure in inland fisheries and threats to the sustainability of inland fisheries. Posted on 04 Dec, 2022 11:24 AM

What are inland waters 

Fishing in an irrigation canal in Kerala (Image Source: Martin Pilkinton via Wikimedia Commons)
The Cauvery - dammed and fractured
Inspite of the realisation that minimum flows are essential for rivers to maintain their health and biodiversity, water released from various dams in India continues to disregard minimum environmental flow requirements. Posted on 23 Nov, 2022 03:58 PM

India is a dammed country. According to the National Registry for Large Dams (NRLD), in 2016 a total of 4877 dams were built in India and 313 dams were still under construction.

Cauvery river at Hogenakal, Karnataka. (Source: IWP Flickr Photos via Claire Arni and Oriole Henri)
Improving community resilience in ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction in India
Adoption of hybrid solutions - grey and green structures appropriate for resilience building Posted on 16 Nov, 2022 10:54 PM

Since 2019, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in-collaboration with Partners for Resilience (PfR) have developed and implemented scalable Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) models, working a

Healthy wetland ecosystems help in reducing disaster risks and managing climate risks (Image: Pxhere)
Wheat sowing dates influences yields in Eastern Gangetic Plains
Study indicates that better management of the annual cropping calendar can pay dividends for food security Posted on 02 Nov, 2022 07:51 PM

Wheat is a principal crop staple in South Asia with current cultivation extending across 36.1 million ha; around 73% of this area is in India where wheat provides approximately 21% of the aggregate food energy and 17% o

Greater adjustments to the annual cropping calendar are anticipated to increase wheat yield potential by an average of 0.84 t/ha (Image: Pixnio)
Assessing Udaipur’s groundwater reserves
A study using geospatial techniques suggests the need to regulate groundwater abstraction for long-term sustainability of groundwater use Posted on 29 Oct, 2022 03:21 PM

Population increase has placed ever-increasing demands on the available groundwater resources, particularly for intensive agricultural activities.

here are various methodologies involved in evaluating groundwater reserves. (Image: Needpix)
Groundwater policy affects stubble burning in the north west
Shifting from monoculture to diversified crop pattern a solution to stubble burning Posted on 29 Oct, 2022 11:20 AM

An estimated 620 million tons of crop residue is generated annually in India, of which 16% is burnt in field. The major contribution in stubble burning is paddy straw (43%), wheat straw (21%) followed by sugarcane (19%).

Burning of rice residues in south east Punjab, prior to the wheat season(Image: CIAT/NeilPalmer via Flickr Commons)
Groundwater prospective zones in Bundelkhand
Integrating geographical information systems and remote sensing for delineation of groundwater potential zones in Bundelkhand region Posted on 22 Oct, 2022 08:07 PM

In the Bundelkhand craton region, groundwater is the primary source of drinking water. Due to low rainfall, agriculture mainly depends on the goundwater supply, which comes through bore wells. Most of the time, the region faces a water crisis during the summer season as the wells and tube wells go dry.

Numerous studies have been performed worldwide in which remote sensing data is used to delineate the groundwater potential zones (Image: India Water Portal Flickr)
What causes tropical cyclone driven floods in India?
In the Indian region, landfalling tropical cyclones have the potential to cause floods in the river basins. Both tropical cyclone rainfall and antecedent soil moisture of the basin controls the severity of floods. Posted on 22 Oct, 2022 07:10 PM

Tropical cyclones are intense circular storms that originate over tropical oceans and are among the most significant threats to human life and property in the world. Tropical cyclones are associated with heavy rainfall and strong winds, which cause hazards such as storm surges and inland flooding.

Tropical Cyclone Phailin made its way over the Bay of Bengal towards the eastern Indian coast in 2013, with winds recorded at over 200kmph (Image: EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid, CC BY-ND 2.0)
Minimising the impact of floods: The role of income and governmental response
This study finds that higher income states are better placed to invest in flood precautionary measures as compared to low income states. Government expenditure on flood risk mitigation continues to be inadequate in India and needs to increase. Posted on 20 Oct, 2022 02:28 PM

India is one of the most flood-affected country following China and floods account for 53 percent of the disasters followed by cyclones (21 percent), landslides (10 percent), cold waves (6.4 percent), earthquakes (4.2 percent), and droughts (2 percent).

Floods, a frequent occurance in India (Image Source: India Water Portal)
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