Talk on Influence of Topography on Climate

Climate change is a terrible problem, and it absolutely needs to be solved. It deserves to be a huge priority. Bill Gates.

The students of our School had the privilege of the lecture, Role of Himalayas in defining Indian weather and climate. Out of many schools that were invited from the South Delhi zone, 36 students from our School ,attended this lecture delivered by Dr. A P Dimri in the auditorium of the National Science Centre on 24th September 15.

Dr. Dimri has considerable interest in Climate Dynamics and Variability, Regional Climate Modeling and Climatic Changes. He has been teaching at the School of Environmental Science (JNU) since 2008. The lecture began with an understanding of the basic difference between Climate and Weather. Dr. Dimri focused on precipitation as rain, snow, hail or sleet, as the climate of the Great Himalayan Range which is his area of expertise.

The students were introduced to a new word, Micro planet. This term suggests the wholesome topography of a particular area. It is the topography of a place that determines the rate of precipitation. Giving the example of Himalayas, he said the towering peaks obstruct the clouds and the winds, while on the plains, the movement of the wind is swift.

He further said that tropical countries like India have varying topographies due to which, their weather predictions are difficult. We often criticise the predictions of the meteorological department due to the variations. This is not so in extra- tropical regions like Europe, where less variations are seen.

Dr. Dimri also discussed a modernised way of studying climate. He explained that by using super computers study precipitation rates. Several aspects of precipitation and wind movement were discussed in the lecture of forty five minutes' duration, Later, students were given a chance to ask questions and clear their doubts.

The lecture ended with a vote of thanks for Dr A.P Dimri. The students were then asked to drop by for a glimpse of an international youth climate summit happening on the premise. The summit was at the zonal level with a competition between three teams including South Delhi.

Overall, it proved to be an enriching experience for all alike. Shrey Gogia, 8C.