Part of: Prelims and GS-I – Geographical phenomena and GS III – Sci and tech
Context CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) has launched an ‘Environmental Seismology’ group to develop a ‘Landslide and Flood Early Warning System’ for the Himalayan region based on real-time monitoring with dense seismological networks, coupled with satellite data, numerical modelling and geomorphic analysis.
This would enable a crucial warning several hours prior, which will save precious human lives and property in future during such events.
Climate change – Cause of landslides and floods
Landslides are common in India’s northern Himalayan region, particularly in the current monsoon season when heavy rains lead to subsidence of earth and rocks.
The situation is exacerbated by climate change making the monsoon more erratic and melting glaciers higher in the mountains.
Roads in the region are also often poorly maintained.
About landslide and flood
A landslide is defined as the movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope.
A high water level that overflows the natural banks along any portion of a stream is called a flood. Thus, Floods are commonly associated with a stream or river.
Do you know?
The National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) is a constituent research laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
It was established in 1961 with the mission to carry out research in multidisciplinary areas of the highly complex structure and processes of the Earth system and its extensively interlinked subsystems.
