Climate and Weather

India has contributed immensely to the body of scientific research and analysis that underpins the understanding of the global impacts of climate change. There is, to a slightly lesser degree, an understanding of specific regional impacts. More needs to be done here, especially understinding micro-level impacts.

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The heat evaporates the moisture in the soil rapidly leading to widespread drought conditions. The changes in ocean temperatures are modifying the ocean currents, thus creating erratic and extreme weather conditions - creating more intense and frequent storms and cyclones; thus creating cycles of floods and drought.

Climate change is increasingly understood to be a human induced phenomenon, greatly accelerating natural cycles that have been discovered as scientific knowledge has extended the boundaries of our knowledge.

Global warming induces an increase in global precipitation through the augmentation of evaporation. According to the IPCC, rainfall patterns are likely to be modified with some regions becoming more arid and others experiencing more rainfall.

Sea level rise and decrease are ancient phenomena related to the geologic glacial/interglacial cycles. But since the 19th century and the industrial revolution, an acceleration of sea level rise has been observed through tide gauge measurements and satellite altimetry.

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ATREE invites applications for faculty positions in the broad theme of Environment and Development, specifically in areas of Land and Water Resources, Forests and Livelihoods, Energy and Climate Change.

Qualifications: Candidates must be dynamic and highly motivated scholars, Ph.D. with one or more years of post-doctoral experience, with a strong track record of academically rigorous but socially relevant research in the areas indicated above. They could be trained in any branch of the social sciences or of the natural/ physical/ engineering sciences, or both. Applicants must have a strong interest in applied research, working in multi-disciplinary teams, and teaching on environmental issues.

Interested and qualified candidates should submit detailed curriculum vitae, list of publications, copies of key publications, names and contact information of three references, and an outline of proposed future research. Please use 'Faculty position in E&D' in the subject head of your e-mail. There is no separate application form. The deadline for receiving applications is September 15, 2009.

As observed by the United Nations Environment Program (GRID-Arendal) ice and snow are major components of the climate system. That is why human induced climate change can be first observed in Polar Regions where most of Earth's snow and ice are concentrated. In these areas global warming induces the progressive melting of ice and snow.

Altered frequencies and intensities of extreme weather, together with sea level rise, are expected to have mostly adverse effects on natural and human systems.

The earth is currently warming rapidly. And this warming is bringing about massive changes. Our glaciers are melting rapidly. The artic ice-shelf is breaking apart into pieces and threatens to modify the salinity of the oceans.