Research

Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences

Title :

Storage, transport and chemical evolution of infiltrating water in Critical Zone (CZ), western Himalayas

Area of research :

Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences

Principal Investigator :

Prof. Ghulam Jeelani, Kashmir University, Jammu & Kashmir

Timeline Start Year :

2024

Timeline End Year :

2027

Contact info :

Equipments :

Details

Executive Summary :

The proposed integrated program in a mountainous catchment of western Himalaya aims to conduct experimental and modeling-based research on water storage, transport, and chemical evolution. The research will use multiple tracer techniques, geophysical, ground-based, satellite-based, and model-derived hydrological, hydrogeological, and meteorological data. The project aims to study water movement and mixing across the critical zone, from the top of the canopy to surface water, soil water, and groundwater. The project is significant for research and development as it investigates independent sub disciplines of hydrology, focusing on a common knowledge gap for understanding precipitation partitioning to soil moisture, groundwater recharge, surface water discharge, or vapor flux in different landscapes along different slopes. The program will allow researchers to conduct experiments and solve the complexities of hydrological processes at different spatial and temporal scales. The research will help establish the critical zone observatory (CZO) in the mountainous catchment and contribute to understanding subsurface water storage and movement.

Co-PI:

Prof. Bikram Singh Bali, Kashmir University, Jammu & Kashmir-190006, Prof. Mohd Sultan Bhat, Kashmir University, Jammu & Kashmir-190006, Prof. Rajendrakumar Dattatraya Deshpande, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, Gujarat-380009, Prof. Sekhar Muddu, Indian Institute Of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka-560012

Total Budget (INR):

2,30,48,080

Organizations involved