Intense Warm Air Advection Triggers Rapid Temp Rise in South Kashmir

Anantnag, Jan 04 (KF): The South Kashmir region witnessed an unusual spike in temperatures today, attributed to intense warm air advection, resulting in significant snowmelt in several areas.

Meteorological experts have confirmed that the phenomenon is unrelated to volcanic, tectonic, or hot spring activities, countering speculations circulating on social media.

According to data from meteorological observatories in South Kashmir, the warm-air advection started on January 2 and reached its peak this afternoon.

Observations from Daksum, Matigawran, and Hirpora stations showed a sharp temperature increase, with some areas recording an unprecedented 10°C rise within a day.

However, stations such as the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) in Awantipora reported no signs of warm-air advection.

Experts explained that warm air advection occurs when atmospheric motions transport warmer air from high-temperature regions to colder ones.

This process, often linked to western disturbances and other air masses, creates a strong surface-based temperature inversion, leading to dense fog and increased heat flux from the atmosphere.

“The phenomenon is a result of a combination of factors, including cloud cover, longwave radiation, and turbulent heat flux, which contributed to the localized warming,” said Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Vice Chancellor of IUST, in a statement.

Rao Farman Ali, a researcher and author of Water, Polity and Kashmir (2018), emphasized the broader climatic implications of such events.

His research highlights how a 1.4°C temperature rise at the Mediterranean over the past 5-6 decades impacts western disturbances (WD) that enter the Kashmir Valley through passes in Gilgit-Baltistan, Chinese Turkistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, or the Wakhan Ridge.

Ali further stressed the need to examine weather patterns at critical locations such as the Burzil Pass, where the mountain ranges of Jammu and Kashmir across the LoC intermingle. This area, he suggested, plays a pivotal role in influencing localized weather anomalies.

His work also explores the intricate interplay of global phenomena such as La Niña, steep gorges, and temperature contrasts across the Pir Panjal Range.

Ali points to the phenomenon of Wavow Vayul or Wavow Maal, local winds originating from the Vayul Mountain, which pass through Dooru, Kokernag, Hakura, and Qazigund, as indicators of shifting weather patterns. These winds, he noted, could potentially lead to snowstorms in the region.

Ali advocates for more detailed research and a “wait and watch” approach to better understand evolving climate patterns in Kashmir.

He urges researchers to consider broader geographical and meteorological factors, including the role of the Dhauladhar and Shivalik ranges, in shaping the region’s unique weather dynamics.

The rapid warming has raised concerns over the potential impact on the region’s snowpack and water resources.

Authorities and environmental experts are closely monitoring the situation to assess its implications. (KF)