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Vol.6 Issue 1, January - April 2021
Newsletter of the
DIVECHA CENTRE FOR
CLIMATE CHANGE
Future Earth: Best practices: Deliberating on a way forward
Connecting crop productivity, residue fires, and air quality: Northern India
Uttarakhand tragedy: Possible reasons
Workshop on climate change and remote sensing
Indian Institute of Science
Bengaluru
www.iisc.ac.in
From the Chair
News and Events:
1. Cryosphere under warm climate: Effects on water security
2. Connecting crop productivity, residue fires, and air quality
3. Uttarakhand Tragedy: Possible reasons
4. Future Earth best practices: Deliberating on a way forward
5. Training program on glacier studies and remote sensing
6. Hindi quiz on environment and climate change
7. Workshop on campus decarbonization
8. COVID-19 Vaccines: Basics and FAQ’s
9. Environmental Issues in relation to developmental disability
10. Prevention of congenital and acquired heart diseases
11. Impact of environment in prevention and control of kidney diseases
12. Measures needed to build fairer and healthier world for survival
Research Highlights:
13. Impact of changes in discharge of Amazon on climate of the Atlantic Ocean
14. How aerosols influence the optical wireless communication links
Editors: S. K. Satheesh, J. Srinivasan and K. Krishnamoorthy
Contact: Chair, Divecha Centre for Climate Change,
Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru-560012
Tel: +91-80-22933070, Email: chair.dccc@iisc.ac.in
www.dccc.iisc.ac.in
FROM THE CHAIR
Greetings!
For the past couple of months, India is reeling under the second wave of the COVID-19
pandemic with several states under full or partial lock-down to combat the virus. We do
not know when the normalcy will be restored. We are carrying our outreach program
through online platforms. We hope to get out of this grim situation soon.
The vision of the South Asia Centre of “Future Earth” established under the Divecha
Centre hosts its South Asia office requires solutions-oriented research that responds to
the challenges faced by the society due to global environmental change. The Centre is
striving towards this by synergizing basic and applied research in frontier areas of
emerging societal applications with close interactions with stakeholders. In a remarkable
accomplishment in this directions, researchers of the Centre, jointly with academia have
characterized the impact of suspended particles in the atmosphere on the propagation
of optical communication signals through realistic atmospheres in the context of Free
Space Optical Communication, an emerging field for huge-volume data transfer for
terrestrial, ground to satellite and satellite to satellite communications. The results have
global implications in this emerging field of communication and is an important aspect to
be considered in the climate change perspective and technological advancement for
sustainability.
The current global secretariat leadership model of Future Earth though allows rapid
global coverage, but suffers from lack of coordination, geographic bias of the current
hubs, and a lack of any direct leadership from the global south, thereby creating
challenges for its maturity and transition into a truly global presence. Currently 4 of the 5
hubs are based in North America and Europe, which collectively represents only 15% of
the global population. Critical decisions that affect the global operation of the organization
are thus made without sufficient diversity of perspectives. In this context, the Divecha
Centre for Climate Change (DCCC) has recently proposed to establish a “Future Earth
Global Secretariat South Asia” in the spirit of enhancing and expanding the vision, reach
and impact around the world. The Centre engages with various climate change national
action plans and recommends various ecologically sustainable development suggestions
to a wide range of ministries throughout India. The Centre engages with national and
international programs, facilities exchange and carries out capacity building and
science–policy outreach activities. Its 18-member Governing Council, which comprises
of ministers, bureaucrats, scientists and NGOs from SAARC countries, Myanmar and the
Indian Ocean Island Countries, ensures that regional priorities are made part of the
strategic development of “Future Earth” activities. The Centre will continue to work
towards this endeavour to promote scientific cooperation between India and the
neighbouring countries in “Future Earth” and related activities.
S. K. Satheesh
1
CRYOSPHERE UNDER WARM CLIMATE: EFFECTS ON
WATER SECURITY
Divecha Centre for climate change comprehensive overview of the H.P
and State Centre on Climate Change state’s geographical characteristics and
Himachal Pradesh jointly organized a importance of cryosphere for freshwater
webinar on February 1, 2021, to help the ecosystem services, hydropower, and
officials and policymakers to understand impacts on mountain community. Prof.
changing cryosphere under a warm Satheesh highlighted the significance
climate. Around
The program conducted
170 officials online,
participated in of cryosphere studies in the climate
the program. change scenario and also discussed the
Cryosphere programs of Divecha Centre
Mr. Kamlesh Kumar Pant, IAS, for Climate Change.
Principal Secretary of Government
of Himachal Pradesh, and Prof. S. K. Dr. Anil V. Kulkarni, Distinguished
Satheesh, Chair, Divecha Centre for Scientist, Divecha Centre for Climate
Climate Change, gave opening remarks. Change, delivered a talk on “Water
Mr. Kamlesh Kumar Pant provided a Security of Himachal Pradesh Under
Warm Climate”. He described the The panelists answered numerous
current status and future changes of queries from participants on the societal
the glaciers in Himachal Pradesh. He implications of the changing cryosphere.
presented observational and modelled Mr. Nishant Thakur, Joint Member
results relating to Himalayan glaciers Secretary, HIMCOSTE, proposed a vote
and their societal impacts, and the of thanks.
lecture followed by panel discussions.
2
CONNECTING CROP PRODUCTIVITY, RESIDUE FIRES, AND
AIR QUALITY OVER NORTHERN INDIA
Divecha Centre for Climate Change rice as the principal crops grown under
organized a webinar on “Connecting the crop rotation system. Agricultural
Crop Productivity, Residue Fires, and data from India indicates a 25%
Air Quality over Northern India” on 5 increase in the post-monsoon rice crop
Feb 2021. Dr. Hiren Jethva, Universities production in Punjab during 2002–2016.
Space Research Association, Columbia, NASA’s A-train satellite sensors detect
Maryland, USAand NASAGoddard Space a consistent increase in the vegetation
Flight Center, Greenbelt, Marlyland, USA index (net 21%) and post-harvest
deliberated on agriculture burning and agricultural fire activity (net ~60%)
air quality over Northern India. leading to nearly 43% increase in aerosol
loading over the populous Indo-Gangetic
Northwestern India is known as the Plain in northern India. The ground-level
“breadbasket” of the country producing particulate matter (PM2.5) downwind
two-thirds of food grains, with wheat and over New Delhi shows a concurrent
uptrend of net 60%. The effectiveness burning. An efficient crop residue
of a robust satellite-based relationship management system is critically needed
between vegetation index—a proxy for towards eliminating open field burning to
crop amounts, and post-harvest fires—a mitigate episodic hazardous air quality
precursor of extreme air pollution over northern India.
events, has been further demonstrated Crop residue burning over northwestern
in predicting the seasonal agricultural India is a serious concern leading to
3
poor air quality and affecting the health Increasing agricultural fire activities
of millions living in one of the most imply greater availability of crop residue
densely populated regions of the world. to burn, and the generation of waste
The issue has received a great deal of is proportional to the crop production
attention after a consistent ranking of amounts. Dr. Hiren and his team verified
several major cities in the Indo-Gangetic this hypothesis by quantifying the link
Plain (IGP), including New Delhi, in the connecting the crop production followed
WHO reports having the poorest air by residue fires and air quality measures
quality related to particulate matter. A 15- using a suite of satellite and ground
year long record (2002–2016) of NASA’s observations. His study finds that rice
A-train satellite measurements have production in the northwestern state of
revealed a positive trend in the total fire Punjab has increased by 25%, and so
activity and resulting aerosol loads over has the vegetation index (NDVI) with a
IGP. This study investigates the probable net increase of 21% derived from the
cause of rising agricultural fires and MODIS sensor onboard Aqua satellite
deteriorating air quality over the region. during 2002–2016.
Particulate matter (PM) and trace gases health risk. Dr. Hiren concluded his
emitted from the open field agricultural talk by highlighting that using the long-
burning have a high potential to alter term measurements from satellites and
the radiation balance of Earth, trigger ground sensors, a strong connection
changes in atmospheric chemistry, and between the increasing crop production
can severely affect local and regional and thus residue amounts, fire activity,
air quality. The 2014 report of the World and resulting particulate matter pollution
Health Organization (WHO)1 states that over the entire breadth of IGP.
7 million deaths-one in eight of total
global deaths were linked to air pollution
in 2012 and confirmed that air pollution is
the world’s largest single environmental
4
UTTARAKHAND TRAGEDY: POSSIBLE REASONS
Divecha Centre for Climate Change, Secretary, Town official Language
under Rastrabhasha Samiti, hosted a Implementation Committee (TOLIC)
Hindi webinar on 10 March 2021. Dr. proposed a welcome to and introduced
Anil V. Kulkarni, Distinguished Scientist, the speaker. Around 90 people attended
Divecha Centre for Climate Change, IISc, the program.
delivered a Hindi talk on” Uttarakhand
Tragedy: Possible reasons”. The special Initially, Dr. Kulkarni gave a brief
invitees were from the Town Official introduction to the state of the Himalayan
Language Implementation Committee. cryosphere. He explained the Rishi
Shri. Mohan Choudhury, Member Ganga valley’s geographical location
and the events’ sequence, which led The fissure was expanded and leading
to the loss of human life and damage to landslide and ice avalanched. The
to the Rishi Ganga and Topovan estimates on the volume of the hanging
power projects. Dr. Kulkarni explained glacier and rockfall also discussed.
the various possible reasons for the Besides, Dr. Kulkarni also gave estimates
formation of flash flood over glaciated of existing and potential glacier lakes
terrain and its impacts on the ecosystem and how further work needed to assess
as a disaster. The available satellite data risks. Prof. Rajeev Ranjan, Chairperson,
and field investigations suggest forming a Official Language Unit, IISc, proposed a
deep fissure at the Trishul Peak’s foothill. vote of thanks.
5
FUTURE EARTH BEST PRACTICES: DELIBERATING ON A
WAY FORWARD
The Future Earth South Asia Regional South Asia, introduced the structure
Office, Divecha Centre for Climate of Future Earth South Asia Regional
Change, Indian Institute of Science, Office and its various working group.
organized a webinar on “Best Practices: Guest speaker, Dr. M. Rajeevan,
Deliberating on a Way Forward” on 11- Chair, National Committee, Future
12 Mar 2021. Earth India, and Secretary, Ministry of
Earth Sciences, Government of India,
The Inaugural session was opened by discussed the effects of climate change
Prof. S. K. Satheesh, Director, Future especially on developing and least
Earth South Asia and Chair, Divecha developed countries. Guest speaker, Dr.
Centre for Climate Change. Dr. Smriti K. VijayaRaghavan, Principal Scientific
Basnett, Co-director, Future Earth Advisor to the Government of India,
Attendees of the Future Earth Webinar: First Row: Dr. M. N. Rajeevan, Dr. K.
VijayaRaghavan, Dr. Josh Tewksbury, Mr. Jagadeesh Rao Puppala, Mr. Egam Basar
Second Row: Prof. S. K. Satheesh, Dr. Smriti Basnett, Ms. Kanupriya Harish, Ms.
Priyadarshinee Shrestha, Dr. Paramesh
Third Row: Ms. Ulka Kelkar, Dr. Veena Srinivasan, Dr. Purnima Menon, Dr. Tapas
Chakma, Dr. Ashok Ghosh
argued that sustainability is dependent pastures community) in India. Mr. Egam
on three components namely availability Basar, Director, Arunachal Pradesh
of green energy, change in nature of Horticulture Research and Development
manufacturing and data analysis. Mission (APHRDM), and Founder of EB-
Project (Egam Basar Project), presented
Mr. Jagadeesh Rao Puppala, Anchor a case study of Integrated Springshed
and Curator, Foundation for Ecological Development and Biodiversity
Security (FES), shared his experiences Conservation at Soi Village (Arunachal
with village commons (forests and Pradesh). This was followed by panel
6
discussions to bridge the gap between mountains. She emphasized that food
science, policy makers and practice. security was very crucial in these parts
irrespective of quality. Ms. Seno Tsuhah,
a community development worker in
the North East Network (NEN) spoke
about the practices of ecological farming
and sustainable livelihoods in mountain
regions. She said that bringing in farmers
from different communities to form a
network will promote Agro-ecology,
strengthen biodiversity. She concluded
her talk by highlighting on the pathways
On the second day, Ms. Kanupriya for building resilient future. Mr. Amba
Harish, Executive Director, Jal Bhagirathi Jamir, Environmental lawyer spoke on
Foundation, Rajasthan, presented a traditional upland farming systems.
case study in Thar Desert where her He spoke on the institutional and
NGO implements projects to create water cultural linkages to traditional farming.
availability for distressed communities in Resilience building along with long term
Western Rajasthan. Each village has set sustainability of mountain farming is
up water associations to manage water important.
storage, consumption, and sanitization.
The project has reached 500 villages,
20000 water harvesting structures have
been revived, 4000 million liters are being
harvested each year. Ms. Priyadarshinee
Shrestha, Team Lead, WWF India,
Kanchendzonga Landscape, deliberated
on the issues of nature conservation and
zero waste management in mountain
states. She highlighted on some
mountain specific challenges faced in
In Session 3 on “The Air We Breathe;
these states such as plastic strewn across
The Water We Drink: Health Risks
mountainous terrain. She concluded her
associated with Air and Water Pollution.”
talk by laying out a road map for future of
Dr. H. Paramesh, visiting Professor,
Indian Himalayan States.
Divecha Centre for Climate Change
spoke about health risks associated with
In Session 2 on “Sustainable Agro-
air pollution. He shared recent study data
Ecology in the Indian Himalayan Region
on health impacts and number of people
(IHR): Experiences, Challenges, and
affected due to air pollution. According
Solutions.” Ms. Binita Shah, Founder,
to this study 24,60,000 premature deaths
Supa Agricultural Research Group
are recorded in India on account of air
(SARG), Uttarakhand, spoke about
pollution. He detailed the measures to be
the challenges in agricultural systems
taken to mitigate air pollution. Dr. Ashok
in the mountains. She said that Agro
Ghosh, Chairman, Bihar State Pollution
Eco-diversity is the major building
Control Board spoke about Arsenic
blocks of agricultural landscapes in the
7
poisoning and health risks associated with In Session 4 on “Turning Challenges
it. Arsenic exposure is linked to cancer, into Opportunities: Working the Water-
heart, and developmental problems. He Energy-Food Nexus.” Dr. Purnima
concluded by listing priorities that need to Menon, Senior Research Fellow from
be addressed to answer arsenic issues, International Food Policy Research
from ground to water to food chain to Institute (IFPRI), New Delhi, discussed
health impacts. Dr. Tapas Chakma, the food and nutrition sector’s
Scientist, National Institute for Research challenges. She highlighted that to
in Tribal Health spoke about Health handle India’s nutrition challenge, there
Effects of Fluoride Contamination and is a basic need to formulate a policy that
ways to mitigate Fluorosis. He showed addresses poverty and social inequality.
that about 66million people in the country Dr. Veena Srinivasan, Senior Fellow
are at risk. He highlighted the use of and Director from Centre for Social
Cassia Tora as nutritional supplement and Environmental Innovation, Ashoka
for aid in reversal of fluorosis. Trust for Research in Ecology & The
Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, sector’s challenges. Ms. Ulka explained
spoke about immense groundwater use that agriculture accounts for 20-25% of
in agriculture in India. There is a need total electricity consumption in India.
to treat ground and surface water as an Next, she highlighted the climate change
integrated resource. Surface water flows aspects of the challenges being faced in
also get affected by heavy groundwater the energy sector. She also discussed
abstraction. Ms. Ulka Kelkar, Director, that agroforestry could help in carbon
Climate Program, World Resources sequestration while providing healthy
Institute - India, spoke about the energy fruits for children having malnutrition.
8TRAINING PROGRAM ON GLACIER STUDIES AND REMOTE
SENSING
A Training on “Glacier studies and Indian students and three from foreign
Remote sensing” was organized by universities. Since the program organized
Divecha Centre for Climate Change, online, we selected 230 applicants
Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, for the training, depending upon their
from March 16 to 26, 2021. The DST- educational qualification and research
Centre for Excellence in Climate Change interest.
funded the program.
The participants were from all parts
The program received an overwhelming of India. Prof. S.K Satheesh, Chair,
response from the student community. Divecha Centre for Climate Change,
We received 265 applications from inaugurated the program. He described
the importance of glaciological training various aspects of glacier studies. These
to create high-quality human resources. specially designed practicals at Divecha
He thanked the glaciology team for Centre for Climate Change provide
organizing the program consistently for basic scientific idea behind glaciological
almost a decade. research. Prof. J. Srinivasan and Dr. Anil
V. Kulkarni, Distinguished Scientists at
The training covered numerous topics DCCC, delivered the lectures. Students
such as climate change, remote sensing, and project associates conducted the
glaciology, remote sensing applications practicals.
for snow monitoring, glacier studies, and
mass balance. Besides, recent issues
such as the Flash flood in Rishi Ganga
valley also discussed. Highlights of
the training were hands-on training on
9HINDI QUIZ ON ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE
The Divecha Centre for Climate Karnataka also participated.
Change, IISc, along with the Official
Language Unit of IISc, conducted the The online quiz generated a lot of
first online Hindi quiz on the topic, interest amongst TOLIC members from
“Environment and Climate Change”. The across Public Sector Units (PSUs), banks
online event was for the Town Official and the student community. In all over
Language Implementation Unit members 180 participants registered for the quiz,
(TOLIC) members from TOLIC 1 and 2, with over 100 participants logging on to
TOLIC PSUs and TOLIC banks and was participate in the online. The quiz was
held on 18 March 2021. Students from conducted in Hindi, by Prof. J. Srinivasan,
a few colleges from across the state of Distinguished Scientist, Divecha Centre
for Climate Change, IISc. were shared equally by college students
and TOLIC members.
The participants of the environment
and climate change quiz were very Thanks to the efforts of Prof. J.
enthusiastic and knowledgeable, with the Srinivasan, Ms. V. Thilagam (Official
participants answering every question Language Unit, IISc) and Prof. R.
that the quiz master had on the subject. Ranjan, Chairperson Official Language
Various questions from the causes Unit, IISc, the online quiz was a grand
for the sea level rise to causes for the success. Prof. S. K. Sateesh, Chairman,
melting Artic ice were answered by the Divecha Centre for Climate Change was
participants. Official Language Unit, IISc the guest of honor for the event, and he
was gracious to announce a cash prize of congratulated and announced the names
Rs.500/- for every correct answer. There of the prize winners.
were 25 questions in all, and the prizes
10WORKSHOP ON CAMPUS DECARBONIZATION
The Global Alliance of Universities global challenge of climate change.
on Climate (GAUC) was launched in
January 2019 at the Annual Meeting A campus decarbonization workshop
of the World Economic Forum in was hosted online by GAUC and
Davos, Switzerland. The GAUC now University of Tokyo on 11 March
has 13 member institutions from nine 2021 During this workshop Prof. S.K.
countries. The GAUC is intended to Satheesh, Chairman, DCCC discussed
provide a mechanism for exchange and the plans at Indian Institute of Science to
cooperation, specifically to lead efforts reduce the carbon emissions on campus.
from global higher education to examine He showed that carbon emissions at IISc
the technical, social, psychological, campus was around 5 tonnes per capita
institutional and economic issues of and indicated that the use of solar power
climate change and how practical action and electrical vehicles will be used to
can be implemented. The member reduce the carbon footprint.
institutions of the GAUC are committed
to the initiation and support of actions
which are required to respond to the
11COVID-19 VACCINES: BASICS AND FAQ’s
Divecha Centre for Climate Change Vaccines are being developed using
organized a webinar on “COVID-19 different technologies. Normal vaccine
VACCINES: BASICS AND FAQ’s” by Dr. development takes over 8 to 10 years
Paramesh, Visiting Professor, Divecha by sequential steps. Immunogens
Centre for Climate Change, IISc on 1 Feb are used to develop viral vaccines. In
2021. Covid-19 virus pandemic is the order to accelerate Covid19 vaccine
most serious disastrous viral infection for development all the steps are done
the past century. Vaccines can prevent in parallel without compromising the
infectious diseases when most people in usual safety, efficiency and monitoring
the community are vaccinated the spread mechanism and long term follow up
of the disease is limited. Dr. Paramesh after marketing. There are 7 methods in
highlighted on the different vaccines preparing the viral vaccine with variable
used in India and its side effects. advantage and disadvantages. In India
we produced 2 vaccine Covishield and which is the most effective and safe.
CoVaxin which have clearance from Different vaccination types may be
authorities and used on Covid worriers. needed for different population groups.
Balancing of cells in a human body On 28 May 2020 WHO announced the
is important to attain immunity. There launch of a coordinated international,
are many COVID-19 vaccines being concurrent randomized controlled phase
developed because it is not yet known III of different vaccine candidates.
12Different vaccines require different receive the complete vaccine course to
storage temperatures, storage, and get protection as it will limit the spread
transportation methods. The vaccine of the disease to the close contacts such
vails must be discarded if there is as family members, co-workers, and
discoloration or the vial is thawed. All friends. He also laid out the reactions
health care workers are at a higher or side effects caused by the Covishield
risk of infection of COVID-19 despite and CoVaxin vaccines. Dr. Paramesh
precautions. Hence these workers along concluded his talk by emphasizing some
with front line workers were prioritized important precautionary measures one
for taking the vaccine. has to take always to prevent oneself
and others from catching the infection.
Dr. Paramesh advised the participants to
13ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN RELATION TO
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY
Dr. Satish Girimaji, Dean Behaviour of age. It has nearly 100 billion nerve
Sciences, NIMHANS, Bengaluru cells. Even though it is 2% of the body
addressed the members of Divecha weight it consumes 20% of total Oxygen.
Centre for Climate Change IISc., The factors which affect the early Neuro
COMHAD and Lakeside Education Trust developmental disorders are from genetic
on “Environmental Issues in Relation to variants and environmental pollution from
Developmental Disability: Causes and toxins, nutritional deficiencies, infections,
Prevention” on 1 January 2021. It was injury, hypoxia and ischemia, leading to
chaired by Prof. M.S Mahadevaiah, lifelong impairments in functioning such
Developmental Neurologist KIMS as Intellectual disability; Autism; Specific
Bengaluru. language impairment; Specific Learning
impairment and Cerebral Palsy.
The newborn brain weighs 350G and
reaches 1300-1400G in adult. 75% The measures to mitigate in prevention
growth occurs at 1 year and 90% at 2yrs during pre and perinatal period are:-
- Improve nutritional status of girl - Optimum newborn care
child and pregnant woman Postnatally:
- Avoid pregnancy before 18yrs and - Regular immunization
after 35yrs - Proper nutrition from traditional
- Use of iodized salt and folic acid - Providing safe secure, stimulating
supplementation environment
- Avoid exposure to physical and - Early detection and intervention of
chemical teratogenic agents developmental delays
- Care of high-risk pregnancies
14ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE PREVENTION OF THE
CONGENITAL AND ACQUIRED HEART DISEASES
Padmashri Dr. C.N. Manjunath, Director The epigenetic changes and
of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular environmental pollution including
Sciences and Research, Bengaluru, nutrition contribute for the congenital
addressed the members of DCCC IISc., heart defects. SO2, CO2, and Heavy
COMHAD and Lakeside Education Trust metals like Lead, and Mercury cause
on 25 February 2021. It was chaired by Dr. epigenetic changes along with NOX,
A.C Sriram, Chairman Mallige Education CO, Pesticides and maternal obesity.
Institutes. The topic was “Environmental The maternal smoking increases 10-
Issues in the prevention of the Congenital 48% chances of CHD. The incidence of
and Acquired Heart Diseases”. CHD is 0.8% more in premature babies.
It is interesting to note that totally breast- in the virulence pattern of streptococcus
feeding mothers who are on polished rice germ and introduction of antibiotics.
diet have deficiency of thiamine (B1)
and their infants between 1-6 months Heart attacks are increased in younger
developed breathing difficulty from age. Sitting more than 6 hours a day
pulmonary hypertension, 97% of them decreases life span in man by 20% and
were saved by supplementary thiamine in women by 40%. Smoking one cigarette
and mothers were encouraged to use reduces your life span by 11 minutes and
thiamine rich food and unpolished watching TV for one hour by 22 minutes.
rice. One can expect good health to all
with clean air; safe drinking water;
There is decline in the Rheumatic heart unadulterated food and tackling
disease from 60’s to 80’s due to steady malnutrition with regular skeletal muscle
improvement of living conditions, change exercises.
15IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE IN
PREVENTION OF KIDNEY DISEASES
Dr. Ajit K. Huilgol, Director and temperature increases the internal
Chief Transplant Surgeon, Karnataka core body temperature, resulting
Nephrology and Transplant Institute, in dehydration and results in blood
Columbia Asia Hospitals, Bengaluru and becoming more concentrated. A sudden
Mysore, delivered a talk on the “Impact increase in body temperature, as in
of environment and climate change in heatstroke, can cause increased risk of
the prevention and control of kidney heat-induced inflammatory injury to the
diseases” during World Kidney Day on kidney. The combination of heat stress
25 March 2021. This talk was organized and dehydration plays a significant role
by Divecha Centre for Climate change in the formation of kidney stones. The
and Lakeside education trust. neglect of proper hydration, and poor
sanitary facilities, especially for women
He argued that an increase in external in the poor and developing countries, can
lead to recurrent urinary tract infections. as well as peritoneal dialysis, produces
vast amounts of waste which contribute
Recurrent heat and dehydration can to greenhouse gas emissions and global
eventually result in chronic kidney warming. Hence, there is a pressing
disease. There has been a large increase need to address the issues of resource
in chronic kidney disease during the use and carbon emissions during kidney
past three decades. As global warming care delivery.
continues unabated, the demand for
kidney dialysis, including hemodialysis
16MEASURES NEEDED TO BUILD FAIRER AND HEALTHIER
WORLD FOR SRUVIVAL
On the occasion of the Earth day on India. In India, outdoor and indoor
22nd April, 2021, Divecha Centre for air pollution contributed to over 1.67
Climate Change organized a talk on million annual deaths from stroke, heart
“Measures Needed to Build Fairer and attack, diabetes, lung cancer, chronic
Healthier World for Survival” by Dr. lung diseases and neonatal diseases
Poornima Prabhakaran, Deputy Director, in 2019. The progress on air pollution
Centre for Environmental Health, Public mitigation and control has, however,
Health Foundation of India. been limited, India is urbanizing and the
chronic health conditions associated
In this talk, Dr.Prabhakaran highlighted with urban living are on the rise. Air
the gaps in public health infrastructure, pollution and climate change are closely
healthcare delivery and governance linked and both directly and indirectly
in dealing with the present pandemic. impact human health, highlighting the
India Air pollution is a major contributor co-benefits of addressing both these
to the mortality and morbidity in issues in tandem. Those who interact
with greenspaces enjoy better health The theme of the Earth day this year
but many city development projects is “Restore our Earth”. Dr. Prabhakaran
often eliminate existing urban green suggested various ways to mitigate
spaces. Around 20% of deaths were environmental pollution and climate
attributable to modifiable environmental change to ensure that future generations
risk factors, thus pointing to the potential enjoy better health.
for prevention, intervention, and remedial
action to promote health and prevent
disease.
17RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
THE IMPACT OF CHANGES IN DISCHARGE OF AMAZON ON
THE CLIMATE OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
The Amazon river has a profound the Atlantic Ocean and the second was
impact on global climate because it doubling the discharge of Amazon river
discharges around 6600 cubic kilometre into the Atlantic Ocean.
of water per annum into the Atlantic
Ocean. Global warming will alter the Their simulations showed that the
precipitation pattern in South America discharge of water from the Amazon into
and hence will alter the amount of water the Atlantic Ocean has a major impact on
discharged into the Atlantic Ocean. How the location of the tropical rain band in the
will the variations in the discharge of the tropical Atlantic Ocean during July and
Amazon river alter the regional climate in August. When the there is no discharge
the Atlantic Ocean? of water into the Atlantic the rainfall band
(called Inter-tropical Convergence zone
Prof. Vinaychandran and Ravi Nanjundiah or ITCZ) moves northward in July and
at Divecha Centre for Climate Change if the discharge is doubled the rainfall
and doctoral student Jahfer Sharif at band moves southward in August. The
Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic movement of this tropical rainband will
Sciences, Indian Institute of Science lead to changes in rainfall pattern in
examined this issue through simulations West Africa.
in a coupled ocean-atmosphere model.
They simulated the impact under two Reference: S. Jahfer, P. N. Vinaychandran
extreme scenarios. The first one was a and Ravi S. Nanjundiah, Environmental
complete shutdown of the discharge into Research Letters, 15, May 2020
Figure: The impact of no discharge from the Amazon river on rainfall is shown in the
left figure while the effect of doubling the discharge from Amazon is shown in the right
figure.
19ARE
HOWCUMULATIVE EMISSIONSTHE
AEROSOLS INFLUENCE ADEQUATE TO
OPTICAL PREDICT
WIRELESS
COMMUNICATION LINKS
The interantional negotiations to limit the global warming will depend both on
The ever-increasing demand for faster optical pulses by modifying the turbulent
global
internet warming
demands became
may cause easier
regime when
shift it cumulative
fluctuations. emissions and how ofrapidly
A higher absorption solar
was
from shown
existing the global
Radio warmingtechnology
Frequency is linearly the emissions
radiation are reduced.
by aerosols can lead toIn this
morepaper
pulse
propotional
to higherto the cumulative emission
bandwidth light-basedof the author has
broadening. shown pulses,
Narrow that global
duewarming
to their
telecommunication systems like optical wider frequency spectra, are more vulnerable
carbon
wireless dioxide. In a recent
communication, wherepaper, Prof.
more data depends upon theeffects
to such aerosol residence timebroader
while the of the
Ashwin Seshadriwith
can be transmitted at Divecha
lesser power. Centre for
Optical greenhouse gas and
pulses are more the time
resilient. This scale over
enhanced
pulses propagating through the atmosphere pulse broadening due to aerosols will reduce
Climate
experience Change hasand
scattering published
absorptionalossespaper which the greenhoues
the anticipated gas is
performance andreduced.
ultimately
to show by
imparted thatgasthe cumulative
molecules and emission
aerosols set limits on improving the efficiency of
apporach may not work for gases with
and intensity fluctuations induced by terrestrial asSeshadri,
Reference: A. K., Cumulative
well as ground-to-satellite links.
atmospheric turbulence . Moreover, they are
asubjected
smaller toresidence
an increase time. The
in their residence
pulse widths, Reference: K. Sunilkumar, N. Anand,
of carbon wavelength
as different dioxide is more than
components travel100
at gases
S. K. due to pathK. independence
Satheesh, Krishna Moorthy, for
different velocities. This leads to interference G. Ilavazhagan, Enhanced optical pulse
years but many
(overlapping otherand
of pulses) greenhouse
sets a maximum gases abroadening
sufficiently rapid emissions
in free-space cycle.
optical links due to
like hydroflourocarbons
limit to the reliable data transfer have rate.a While
much Climate Dynamics,
the radiative 2021, https://doi.
effects of atmospheric aerosols,
shorter residence
the absorption time. Forlosses
and scattering such can gases,
be org/10.1007/s00382-021-05739
Optics Express, 2021,
easily modelled and compensated, it is https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.409794
difficult to model the turbulent fluctuations.
A recent study using balloon and satellite
observations along with radiative transfer
computations show that, over and above
these losses, aerosol-induced atmospheric
heating leads to an additional broadening in
Figure: Global warming versus cumulative emissions for a basket of hydrofluorocarbons
(HFCs: 125, 134a, 143a, and 32) having mean effective atmospheric lifetime of
approximately 15 years is shown in the right panel for the emissions scenarios in the
left-side panel.
Fig. Variation in optical pulse broadening factor (ratio of received to input pulse widths) for
different initial pulse widths and aerosol single scattering albedo (SSA). SSA is a ratio of
absorption by the aerosol to the sum of absorption and scattering.
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