Observation- and numerical-analysis-based dynamics of the Uttarkashi cloudburst

Chaudhuri, Chiranjib; Tripathi, S. N.; Srivastava, Rajesh; Misra, Amit

doi:10.5194/angeo-33-671-2015

Cited by 25 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The present study suggests that numerous ground fissures developed across the spur and regional hillslope that are parallel to planar weakness at Sadal village and its vicinity. Recently, various prediction models have been successfully used configuring high spatial resolution that simulated the heavy rainfall event in the Uttarakhand region (Kotal et al, 2014;Chaudhuri et al, 2015;Shrestha et al, 2015;Chevuturi and Dimri, 2016;. Therefore, timely prediction and warning of potentially catastrophic local weather systems over the complex Himalayan terrain are the first and foremost step policy makers can take toward mitigation of landslide risks and minimization of impact.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of landslide hazards induced by extreme rainfall event in Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya, northwest India

et al. 2017

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In the Indian Himalayan region (IHR), landslide-driven hazards have intensified over the past several decades primarily caused by the occurrence of heavy and extreme rainfall. However, little attention has been given to determining the cause of events triggered during pre-and post-Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) seasons. In the present research, detailed geological, meteorological, and remote sensing investigations have been carried out on an extreme rainfall landslide event that occurred in Sadal village, Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya, during September 2014. Toward the receding phase of the ISM (i.e., in the month of September 2014), an unusual rainfall event of ~488.2 mm rainfall in 24 h took place in Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya in contrast to the normal rainfall occurrence. Geological investigations suggest that a planar weakness in the affected region is caused by bedding planes that consist of an alternate sequence of hard, compact sandstone and weak claystone. During this extreme rainfall event, the Sadal village was completely buried under the rock slides, as failure occurred along the planar weakness that dips toward the valley slope. Rainfall data analysis from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) for the preceding years homogeneous time series (July-September) indicates that the years 2005, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2014 (i.e., closely spaced and clustering heavy rainfall events) received heavy rainfalls during the withdrawal of the ISM; whereas the heaviest rainfall was received in the years 2003 and 2013 at the onset of the ISM in the study region. This suggests that no characteristic cyclicity exists for extreme rainfall events. However, we observe that either toward the onset of the ISM or its retreat, the extreme rainfall facilitates landslides, rockfall, and slope failures in northwestern Himalaya. The spatiotemporal distribution of landslides caused by extreme rainfall events suggests its confinement toward the windward side of the Himalayan front.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of landslide hazards induced by extreme rainfall event in Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya, northwest India

et al. 2017

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“…Thus a large amount of waterflux occurred within a short period of time. As India Meteorological Department (IMD) considers rainfall intensities over 100 mm h -1 as 'cloudburst', this event could also be classified as one 40,41 . Cloudburst takes place when moist and thermodynamically unstable atmosphere rapidly uplifts along a steep topography (e.g.…”

Section: Seasonal Trends In Run-off and Rainfallmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perennial to Ephemeral Transformation of a Lesser Himalayan Watershed

Rawat¹,

Govind²,

Rawat³

et al. 2016

Current Science

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Under a changing climate, the Sub-Himalayan ecosystems are likely to experience marked transformations in hydrological, biogeochemical and biophysical processes. To explore this, we have been observing various hydrometeorological parameters in a completely rain-fed sub-Himalayan watershed (Salla Rauetella Watershed) since 1991. We noted a changing trend for some of the hydrometeorological parameters over the 22-yr period. While the annual air temperature has increased significantly, the annual rainfall also shows an increasing trend with a higher probability of increased rainfall intensity. The run-off data show a peculiar trend that the watershed has been transforming itself from a perennial to an ephemeral system, despite an increasing trend of rainfall magnitudes. This is primarily attributed to the increasing trends of rainfall intensities exceeding the infiltration capacities of the soil which trigger large but high-intensity run-off events with dry spells in other periods, which makes the river ephemeral. We infer a likely dynamic change in the run-off-generation mechanism which warrants the need for a more precise and rigorous observationcum-measurement strategy of ecohydrological processes in Himalayan ecosystems, supported with modelling and remote sensing approaches. This will help identify the optimal headwater treatment measures for augmenting groundwater to sustain the rainfed streams of the Himalaya under a changing climate.

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“…The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model [31] is one of the most-used community numerical weather forecast models designed for operational weather forecast and research purposes. It is widely used for operational weather forecast as well as air quality [32][33][34] and hydrometeorological research [35,36], modeling of forest fires [37], prediction of the track and intensity of tropical cyclones [38,39], extreme event analysis over the Himalayan region [8,20,[40][41][42], and climate applications [43]. WRF is also being used operationally by government organizations worldwide [38,[44][45][46], including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), for many applications related to weather and climate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

7 February Chamoli (Uttarakhand, India) Rock-Ice Avalanche Disaster: Model-Simulated Prevailing Meteorological Conditions

2022

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The present study aims to analyze the high-resolution model-simulated meteorological conditions during the Chamoli rock-ice avalanche event, which occurred on 7 February 2021 in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India (30.37° N, 79.73° E). The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used to simulate the spatiotemporal distribution of meteorological variables pre- and post-event. The numerical simulations are carried out over two fine resolution nested model domains covering the Uttarakhand region over a period of 2 weeks (2 February to 13 February 2021). The model-simulated meteorological variables, e.g., air temperature, surface temperature, turbulent heat flux, radiative fluxes, heat and momentum transfer coefficients, specific humidity and upper wind patterns, were found to show significant departures from their usual patterns starting from 72 h until a few hours before the rock-ice avalanche event. The average 2 m air and surface temperatures near the avalanche site during the 48 h before the event were found to be much lower than the average temperatures post-event. In-situ observations and the ERA5-Land dataset also confirm these findings. The total turbulent heat flux mostly remained downward (negative) in the 72 h before the event and was found to have an exceptionally large negative value a few hours before the rock-ice avalanche event. The model-simulated rainfall and Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM, IMERG)-derived rainfall suggest that the part of the Himalayan region falling in the simulation domain received a significant amount of rainfall on 4 February, around 48 h prior to the event, while the rest of the days pre- and post-event were mostly dry. The results presented here might be helpful in further studies to identify the possible trigger factors of this event.

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Observation- and numerical-analysis-based dynamics of the Uttarkashi cloudburst

Cited by 25 publications

References 25 publications

Assessment of landslide hazards induced by extreme rainfall event in Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya, northwest India

Assessment of landslide hazards induced by extreme rainfall event in Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya, northwest India

Perennial to Ephemeral Transformation of a Lesser Himalayan Watershed

7 February Chamoli (Uttarakhand, India) Rock-Ice Avalanche Disaster: Model-Simulated Prevailing Meteorological Conditions

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