As the year draws to a close, it opens up many issues and challenges. Year 2013 was a witness to many unforeseen and puzzling climate change events.
Unexpected heavy rains in Asia, Central
Europe and North America triggered by locking up of pressure systems
that quickly dumped excess moisture within a short span of time took
people and government authorities by surprise.
In June, Uttarakhand, a state in the Northern part of India, faced the wrath of a massive cloudburst that quickly transformed into a heavy flow of fast moving debris that gained momentum along steep mountainous terrains. Kedarnath
– the epicenter of catastrophe – a well-known abode of Lord Shiva,
attracts millions of worshipers every year. The premature onset of
monsoon rains by almost a month was unexpected and the presence of
millions of visitors in the region made matters worse. The event took a
heavy toll of over 6000 lives, according to official sources. Read the full post...