Chandigarh, February 7
In the backdrop of global warming and climatic changes, a recent study has projected that the monthly mean precipitation in the Jhelum basin is expected to increase by 20-25 per cent towards the end of the 21st century, while the monthly mean temperature may go up 2-3°C.
Investigation of the future projections revealed an average increase of 17-25 per cent in the mean annual precipitation. The mean seasonal temperature of the projected period was found to be increasing for all the four seasons in most parts of the basin.
Using future prediction models, the study examined the spatio-temporal variations of precipitation and temperature for the 2011-2100 period in the Jhelum basin that lies across the mountainous regions of Kashmir and adjoining parts of north-east Pakistan. It has a total catchment area of 33,342 sq km and forms part of the Indus basin, which is among the largest basins in the world.