India gears up to use RS in managing water resources

Posted on June 9, 2009 by Rashid Faridi

With a view to evolve fresh strategies for making timely use of high resolution indigenous remote sensing satellite data in the development and management of country’s water resources the Ministry of Water Resources is now gearing up for optimal utilization of Remote Sensing alongwith conventional data for management and development of water resources of the country. It strongly feels the utility of Remote Sensing in water resources development activities. The Satellite imagery is a versatile tool for facilitating mapping and assessment of waterways and water bodies. The Ministry has identified following thrust areas for Remote Sensing based project studies:

• Mapping of floods and flood plains

• Mapping and assessment of water bodies

• Mapping and delineation of trans-boundary rivers and aquifers

• Integrated Remote Sensing & GIS for proposing ground water recharge locations

• Convergence from geology, land use, agriculture, land cover and soil resources in the integrated assessment of water resources;

• Mapping and location of spring sources in hilly areas;

• Selection and location of potential sites for water well drilling; and

• Training of personnel in application of advance remote sensing technologies in the integrated water resources management.

Since the launch of Indian Remote Sensing Satellite IRS-1A, in 1988, the country’s earth observation capability has increased tremendously in generating high resolution imagery for use in natural resource management. Our indigenous satellite meets the very need for management of our natural resources.

Source : http://www.pib.nic.in

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Maldives’ disappearing coast prompts appeal to UN space agency

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Rashid Faridi

The Maldives, one of the nations most threatened by global warming, is appealing to the United Nations space agency to help the island country plan its defenses against rising sea levels. Maldives is among a group of 43 low-lying nations demanding in international climate talks that developed countries slash their emissions of greenhouse gases by at least 40 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels to avert the worst effects of warming.The Island Nation lies 3 meters above sea level at its highest and is among the countries most threatened by rising sea levels caused by global warming. The government has already set up a sovereign wealth fund in case it needs to buy land abroad to resettle its civilians, President Mohamed Nasheed said on April 7.

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Posted in Global Warming | 1 Comment

The World We Avoided by Protecting the Ozone Layer

Posted on June 7, 2009 by Rashid Faridi

These mapss are from the interesting and thought provoking article NASA published.Click here to read the story.

Posted in climate change, Ecosystem | Leave a comment

Geography And History Shape Genetic Differences In Humans

Posted on June 7, 2009 by Rashid Faridi

New research indicates that natural selection may shape the human genome much more slowly than previously thought. Other factors — the movements of humans within and among continents, the expansions and contractions of populations, and the vagaries of genetic chance – have heavily influenced the distribution of genetic variations in populations around the world.

The study, conducted by a team from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the University of Chicago, the University of California and Stanford University, is published June 5 in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics.

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Posted in BIODIVERSITY | Leave a comment