Migration :Why and How people Migrate or they Dont

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Rashid Faridi

Migration is defined as a permanent or semi-permanent change of residence with an opening intention of settling at destination region permanently or temporarily of an individual or group of people over a significant distance.

The roving instinct, it is said, is intrinsic to human nature: the need to search for food, pasture, and resources; the desire to travel and explore; but also to conquer and possess. Population movements have been the carriers of innovation from one region to another.in In this quest, he becomes a tourist and a migrant. there is a strong inter-linkage between these two.

Cause of migration can be a natural calamity, climatic change, epidem­ics, over population, better employment opportunities, desire to get rich quickly need for political freedom.

Migration can be voluntary and involuntary. People migrate for economic benefits under voluntary migration and involuntary includes social, religious and political. It can be short-term where people move for short periods and long-term where they move for good. The long-term migration is called emigration.

 The latest figures from the United Nations Population Division inform us that, as of 2010, there are 214 million international migrants in the world. If all these migrants were put in a country of their own, it would be the fifth-largest in the world.

There are some pressing questions. Why has such a large proportion of the world’s population not migrated? Is it because they do not want to, or do not have the need to? Is it because their ‘moorings’ are holding them firmly in place – their family ties, jobs, culture, familiarity and simply feeling ‘at home’? Or could it be that many millions would want to migrate, but are prevented from doing so, either by their own poverty which isolates them (they do not have a passport, and/or cannot pay for the ticket to travel) or because of the political and institutional barriers to their movement? These can be called intervening obstacles to migrate. It is one of the ironies of globalization that whilst goods, capital, knowledge, entrepreneurship, and the media are free to flow across borders, labour, that other crucial factor of production, is not. In fact, on the whole, people are less free to migrate now than they were a hundred years ago.

Hence, the otherwise attractive notion of the ‘age of migration’ needs to be qualified: migration for some, but not for others. Fine if you are white, from a wealthy country in Europe, North America or elsewhere in the developed world, or if you have money to invest or valuable skills to deploy. But if you are from a poor country in Africa, Latin America or parts of Asia: forget it. Basing his analysis on the empirical example of Cape Verde, an island country with a long tradition of emigration to various parts of the world, Jørgen Carling draws attention to the separation between Cape Verdeans’ widespread aspiration to migrate, and their current inability to do so. For them, the ‘age of migration’ has become the ‘age of involuntary immobility’ (Carling 2002).

 The UNPD’s figure of 214 million can be regarded as a ‘best estimate’ but it obscures two major statistical problems. First, the criteria for defining who is a migrant vary from country to country, the chief difference being between citizenship and birthplace or prior residence. Naturalisation converts foreign-born immigrants into citizens and thus removes them from the migration count if citizenship is the criterion of measurement. People born in the host country to immigrant parents – the  ‘second generation’ – can remain classified as non-citizens on the ius sanguinis or ‘blood’ rule and thus be counted as part of the ‘foreign’ or ‘immigrant’ population, even though they themselves have not immigrated. The second problem is the – by definition unknown – quantity of ‘undocumented’ or ‘irregular’ immigrants, often branded ‘illegal immigrants’.Migration is important because of the way it shapes and re-shapes societies, making them more diverse and complex. But it also creates sharp divisions between those who accept the need for migrants and welcome the economic and cultural contributions they make, and those who oppose them. The latter group, politically motivated, often exaggerate the numbers of migrants, employ repeated use of prejudicial terms such as ‘illegal immigrants’ and ‘bogus asylum-seekers’ and tend to scapegoat migrants for the ills of the society they seek to join – like crime, drugs and unemployment. These anti-migration discourses need to be confronted by a more objective analysis of the process of migration, starting with a recognition of the diversity of the phenomenon.

Links(s) and Source(s):

Click here

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Isopleths and Isopleth Maps

Posted on April 21, 2018 by Rashid Faridi

An Isopleths is a line drawn on a map through all points having the same value of some measurable quantity.

The following is a list of all the important isopleths encountered in operational meteorology. An isopleth is a line or curve of equal values.

Constant Pressure Surface
Most analysis and model images are shown using a pressure surface. The most common are the 1000 mb, 850 mb, 700 mb, 500 mb, and 300 mb surfaces. Every location on the image has the same pressure, however, heights will vary (thus the contouring of height contours). Below is a listing of pressure surfaces and their approximate height above zero geopotential meters.

Isallobar / Height change contours
A line of equal pressure change. They are used to forecast the propagation of low and high pressure systems. Low pressure tends to develop toward regions of the greatest pressure falls (height falls). Heights and pressures fall due to the evacuation of mass in the upper levels of the atmosphere and the chilling of air within a vertical atmospheric column.

Isobar
A line of constant pressure. Isobars are found ONLY on surface charts. They most commonly connect lines of equal pressure in the units of millibars. High pressure isobars generally occurs with isobars above 1010 mb while low pressure isobars occur with lower than 1010 millibars. Isobars “kink” along fronts and otherwise have a smooth curved trajectory. Isobars represent the pressure at zero geopotential meters. This is done to compensate for elevation changes. Isobars of close proximity represent higher wind speeds than isobars of wide spacing. When isobars are “pack together”, this represents an increase in the pressure gradient force and thus stronger winds. The pressure on an analysis chart in Colorado may be near 1028 mb on the chart when in reality the surface pressure is closer to 850 mb. This surface chart has isobars (solid lines).

Isodop
Contour of constant doppler velocity values.

Isodrosotherms
A line of equal dewpoint. They are contoured most often in the low levels of the atmosphere. Isodrosotherms can be used to locate frontal boundaries, regions of moist air or dry air advection, and mesoscale precipitation boundaries. The following image is an example of isodrosotherms (the colored lines). The highest dewpoints are often found bordering the Gulf of Mexico.

Isohyet
Contour of constant rainfall. Used to assess soil moisture, flooding potential, mesoscale wet/dry boundaries, and rainfall coverage as well as intensity. This image shows an example of isohyets.

Isohypse (height contour)
A line of equal geopotential height. Geopotential assumes the earth is perfectly flat and a perfect sphere. The geopotential height is the distance above the Earth’s surface if it was a perfect and flat sphere. Isohypse are shown on a constant pressure surface. For example, when looking at a 850 mb chart, all isohypses no matter their value are located at 850 mb. Regions of low isohypse values are correlated with low pressure (trough) while high isohypse values are correlated with high pressure (ridge). This 850 chart has height contours. The lines are the isohypses. Above 850 mb, the wind flows close to parallel to the height contours. A curving down of the height contours represents a trough while a curving up a ridge.

Isotachs
These are lines of equal wind speed. They are most often contoured in the upper levels of the atmosphere, especially at the jet stream level. They are important for locating the jet stream and jet streaks within a jet stream. This 300 mb image is an example of isotachs.

Isotherm
A line of equal temperature. Each of the analysis charts will show isotherms in either a 2,4,5 or 10 degree increment. They are most commonly used at pressure surfaces below 500 millibars and on surface charts. Isotherms are used to find regions with warm air advection and cold air advection as well as short waves, fronts, temperature gradient boundaries, and instability zones. This 850 mb model panel shows isotherms.

Streamlines
Lines of equal wind direction. They are not a pure isopleth by definition. Streamlines are used primarily in tropical regions since the pressure gradient is weak. They show areas of convergence, divergence and pressure circulation.

Thickness lines
Same as an isohypse except they represent the distance from one pressure level to a selected pressure level (usually 1000 to 500 mb thickness). They are used to forecast snow, cold air advection, and warm air advection. This image is an example of thickness lines (dashed lines). Colder air (since it is denser) will have a smaller thickness than warm air.

ISOPLETH MAPS

An isopleth map generalizes and simplifies data with a continuous distribution. It shows the data as a third dimension on a map, thus isopleth maps are more common for mapping surface elevations, amounts of precipitation, atmospheric pressure, and numerous other measurements that can be viewed statistically as a third dimension.

The third dimension is shown by a series of lines called isopleths which connect points of equal value. The isopleth interval is the difference in value between two adjacent isopleths. Note, the values of the isopleths drawn on the map are ALWAYS multiples of the interval. Isopleths never cross or divide and always form enclosed circles, however, this occurrence may not be in the mapped area.

Source(s) and Link(s):

weather.gov

Jsu.edu

 

Posted in Class Notes, earth, Geography Practicals/Lab and Statistical Techniques | 2 Comments

Rail Tourism in India and Pakistan (from the site of Salman Rashid)

Posted on April 20, 2018 by Rashid Faridi

Railways is among the more enduring legacies of the British Raj in the subcontinent. There is virtually an inexhaustible body of extremely interesting lore and history of the building of this great system of transportation discussed in a few excellent books and in the esoteric journals in the Punjab Archives. It is another story that the ignorant and asinine bureaucrats do not permit access to that great treasure trove.

Even if one has not read about the intricacies and heroism of the laying of the line from, say, Ruk (near Shikarpur) to Sibi, one can still stand on the platform of Ruk and wonder what the letters KSR and IVSR that adorn the façade in blue on white ceramic tiles mean. The lettering signifies that this little-known station was the junction of the Indus Valley State Railway coming up from Kotri and the new line to Quetta and Chaman called the Kandahar State Railway.

As railway stations go, the all-time favourite for anyone should really be the quaintly turreted, mud-plastered station of Kan Mehtarzai. Sitting at 2,224 metres above the sea, on the narrow-gauge Zhob Valley Railway (ZVR) between Bostan and Zhob, this was the highest train station in Pakistan. Once railwaymen told hair-raising tales of those lovely toy trains becoming snow-bound in winter. There were particularly hairy stories of the blizzards during the 1970s and one can imagine how anxiety making a journey on ZVR could be.

After this service was suspended in 1986, Kan Mehtarzai was forgotten. For many years, the line and other bits of infrastructure remained in place, but in 2008, all steel fittings were auctioned and removed. This is Pakistan Railways’ highest line in terms of height about sea level and surely there is some merit in revitalising it at least from Bostan as far as Kan Mehtarzai.

In Balochistan, too, there is what its builders labelled ‘The Lonely Line’. This is the line that travellers ride on their way to Iran. It was lonely because back in 1916 when they first started to lay it, they would go a hundred and fifty kilometres between villages. The sand and gravel desert that the line wended its way was littered with the bleached bones of camels and horses.

Today, as one rides the irregular service or drives on the highway parallel to the line, one passes by deserted and ruined railway stations that are already being overtaken by the desert that had once made way for them.

On the subject of the attraction of railway stations, one simply cannot neglect Attock Khurd. A little doll’s house of a building with a pitched red roof and sitting under the crenulated turrets of the magnificent Attock Bridge, it belongs to a film set. Without doubt this is the most picturesque railway station in the entire country. If Pakistan Railways has been neglectful of its heritage on the whole, it has redeemed itself by turning Attock into a tourist destination.

Station buildings are not the only railway attraction, however. There are some magnificent bridges to be seen as well. My favourite is the remains of the Princess Louise Margaret Bridge in the Chhappar Rift, north of Sibi, in Balochistan. This line remained operational only for some six decades and was dismantled in the summer of 1942. But when it ran, it was the first connection between the Sindh plains and Quetta in the hills. The line through the Bolan Pass came four decades after its launch.

Then there are the very picturesque spans of line from Attock to Daudkhel. Though they all merit a visit, the winner among them is the superlative piece of construction across the Soan River. If the Louise Margaret bridge was once the highest in Pakistan (65 metres above the riverbed), the Soan Bridge now holds the honour.

Of bridges there is no death, however. The little known Victoria Bridge across Jhelum on the line from Malakwal to Gharibwal and Khewra is a treat for the ordinary tourist as well as the students of architecture. It is no exaggeration that its handsome criss-cross of red girders forming the flat arch above and the parallel lines below make a fantastic study of shapes for the artist and photographer.

One thing that we can be eternally thankful to railway managers for is the rehabilitation of Golra station and its conversion into a railway heritage museum. Lying just outside Islamabad, it is within easy reach of all. Within its walls it preserves an array of railway memorabilia ranging from crockery to signalling equipment and clocks to ceiling fans, platform furniture and other equipment. On the platform outside sits a metre gauge carriage that was once the private saloon of the Maharana of Jodhpur.

Source:

Salman Rashids Site

 

Posted in Class Notes, earth, India, opinions, Reblogged | Leave a comment

Some Great Camping Places in Garhwal Himalayas

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Rashid Faridi

The Garhwal Himalaya has long been associated with people’s need to introspect and find peace. Besides the spiritual importance of Devbhoomi, it is being recognized for its growing adventure activities and sports. The fascinating ice-capped hills at once release us from the stress of our day-to-day lives. The tranquillity feeding the mountains… adding to the lush green meadows, dense forest, crystalline lakes and streams, no doubt brings a soothing effect whenever you visit the Garhwal Himalayan region. With the growth of adventure tourism in Uttarakhand, the Garhwal Himalayan region has sprung up as one of the adventure holiday destinations in India, scoring with numerous outdoor adventure activities and sports like trekking, hiking, cycling, river rafting, kayaking, canoeing, wildlife safari, fishing, bungee jumping, rock climbing, cliff diving and rappelling. Further… the region also offers the best camping sites in India, like Beas Ghat on the bank of River Ganga, Dodital, Har Ki dun, Dayara Bugyal and Bedni Bugyal.

1. Rishikesh

Located in the lap of the Garhwal Himalayan region with the Ganges cutting and running the valley, Rishikesh, at an average elevation of 372 meters, is widely noted as “the world capital of Yoga”. The serenity of this place, which has exciting adventure sports, attracts tourists worldwide throughout the year. White Water River rafting in the Ganges, which starts from Kaudiyala and ends at Laxman Jhula in Rishikesh, with rapids ranging from II+ to IV+, is India’s most popular water sport. The 36-kilometre-long rafting stretch is ideal for both the experienced rafters and amateurs. Moreover, you will get lot of camping opportunities along with several other adventure activities like bungee jumping, cliff diving, kayaking, rock climbing and rappelling.

2. Beas Ghat

A destination that you must not be aware of… Beas Ghat, on the Ganges bank, is becoming popular for Angling and Fishing, one of the eco-friendly activities in the Garhwal Himalayan region. The best spot for Angling and Fishing in Beas Ghat is the Nayar Rivulet of the Ganges.

3. Tehri

Approximately 75 kilometers from Rishikesh, Tehri is one of the popular destinations in the Garhwal region that is noted for the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangna rivers, the site of the Tehri dam. It is also a major Hindu pilgrim site. Besides the religious significance, Tehri is also a renowned as a trekking destination and a hotspot for adventure activities. Some of the notable treks in the Garhwal Himalayan region that starts from Tehri are Nagtibba, Sehastra Taal and Khatling Glacier. Other adventure activities of Garhwal Himalayan region like rock climbing and cycling (commencing from Tehri at 770 meters and heads up to Gangotri at 3,200 meters via Dharasu, Uttarkashi and Harsil) are also available in Tehri.

4. Rajaji National Park

Named after C. Rajagopalachari, a prominent leader of the Indian freedom struggle, the Rajaji National Park is the abode of several animal species, and the major attraction remains the wild elephants. Other species like tiger, panther, different types of deer, wild boar, goral, Himalayan black bear and sloth bear and several bird species are also spotted. The Rajaji National Park is approximately 820 square kilometers and offers a rich biodiversity, combining the Chilla Wildlife Sanctuary and Motichur Wildlife Sanctuary. The park is open from mid-November to mid-June, and the authority organizes several wildlife safaris in Rajaji National Park. It has an easy access from Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun and Kotdwar.

5. Dhanolti

Located approximately 24 kilometres from the popular hill station of Mussoorie, Dhanolti is one of the ideal trekking hubs. It is also one of the leisure destinations in Garhwal for several outdoor recreational activities like picnics and camping. The panorama of the peaks like Swargarohini and Bandarpunch is clearly visible from Dhanolti. Tucked amid a quiet environment at an altitude of 2,286 meters… Dhanolti is the gateway to Surkanda Devi, Chandrabadni and Kunjapuri temples. Other popular trails via Dhanolti are Nagtibba and Kempty Falls. Adventure activities like horse riding and mountain biking are also possible in Dhanolti.

6. Nanda Devi National Park

Perfect for travellers seeking an ideal nature holiday in India, the Nanda Devi National Park that was dubbed by Sir Edmund Hillary as “God Gifted Wilderness”, is a world heritage site stretching approximately 630 square kilometres. It is also a part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. The Nanda Devi National Park surrounding the beautiful peak of Nanda Devi is home to the rare Brahma Kamal (flower) and blue mountain goat. It is also home to animals like Snow Leopards, Himalayan musk deer, Mainland serow and Himalayan tahr. The trail through Nanda Devi National Park goes through beautiful meadows, gorges and valleys that border the western edge of Nanda Devi Sanctuary. Once, you can also see the majestic peaks of Trishul and Dunagiri.

7. Valley of Flowers National Park

At an altitude of 3,600 meters lies the beautiful Valley of Flowers National Park that houses many exotic flowers like Inula, Himalayan whorl and Cobra Lily. From orchids to poppies to daisies… one will be astonished and lost to observe the fantastic varieties of flowers. It is a world heritage site that is a part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. It is said that the scent of flowers is so strong that one can even faint. No wonder… the locals believe that fairies used to dwell here. The trek to Valley of Flowers starts from Govindghat, close to Joshimath. One has to go along the river Lakshman Ganga. Ghangria, which is one of the notable camping sites in the Garhwal Himalayan region, is the gateway to Valley of Flowers… from where the trek is only 3 kilometres.

8. Auli

Located at 3050 meters, Auli is one of the best skiing spots in the Indian Himalayan region that has received worldwide fame. GMVN provides modern ski equipments and certificates also. The Auli – Kuari Pass Tapovan trek via Gurson is one of the famous treks in the Garhwal Himalayan region that you can add to your itinerary during your adventure holiday in Garhwal Himalaya. Nonetheless, the Gurson Bugyal and Kwari Bugyal are ideal spots for campers and travellers in Garhwal. The Chattrakund and Chenab Lakes are two major attractions in and around Auli. The panoramic view of the farfetched snow-capped peaks – Chaukhamba, Neelkanth, Gauri Parbat, Hathi Parbat, Dunagiri and Nanda Devi – adds a spiritual spectacle to your eyes.

9. Chopta

At 2,680 meters, Chopta is the gateway to Tungnath Temple, which is the highest seat of Lord Shiva. This remote valley is famous for its pristine natural beauty, surrounded by an alpine forest of Pine and Deodar. One can capture a breathtaking panorama of several Himalayan peaks. The Chandrashilla, Tungnath and Devariyatal are notable treks that commence from Chopta. The trekking routes involve going through jungles, meadows and small villages. The journey becomes exciting for bird watchers as the region is home to several alpine and migratory birds.

10. Chakrata

Located above the Yamuna Valley, Chakrata is a small town that is a perfect hub for adventurous holiday trips in the Garhwal region. Dotted by thick deodar forest with a backdrop of a section of snow-clad Himalayan peaks… Chakrata is noted for snow viewing. Tiger Falls, ancient temples and meadows are the major attractions in Chakrata. The destination is ideal of family camping, school camping and corporate camping as Chakrata is noted as one of the best places for adventure camping holidays in Garhwal Himalaya.

11. Harsil

It is a scenic village situated on the bank of River Bhagirathi and is notable for several apple orchards and winding roads. Trek to Chitkul via Lamkhaga Pass and pass through the dense alpine forest of Juniper, Deodar, and Bhojpatra, which is one of the best adventure activities that you can go for from Harshil. The dramatic climb to Lamkhaga Pass is an exciting part in the journey. If you are lucky enough you may come across ibex, fox and several alpine birds. Further, an escape to Harsil allows you to experience the folk lifestyle of the Bhotias, and the tranquil ambience makes it perfect for a meditation and yoga holiday.

12. Dayara Bugyal

Located at 3,038 meters, Dayara Bugyal offers a breath taking view of the farfetched Himalayan range. The trek route commences from Barsu village. The major attraction remains the Barnala Tal, a small natural lake that is surrounded by Oak trees. There is another starting point from Raithal village. During the winter season, Dayara Bugyal is also notable as one of the best ski destinations in India… having moderate to difficult ski slopes. The ski trip begins from Bhatwari via Barsa to Dayara Bugyal.

13. Dodital

Dodital is one of the prominent freshwater lakes in the Indian Himalayan region at an altitude of 3,024 meters. According to a legend, Lord Ganesha chose this place as his abode. It is also a common destination for fishing. The gentle trek to Dodital is approximately 21 kilometres and commences from Sangamchatti, a few hours’ drive from Uttarkashi. Dodital is a very popular location for family camping and school camping. Bebra, which is 9 kilometres from Sangamchatti, is one of the best places to camp in the Garhwal Himalayan region.

14. Bedni Bugyal

Located at an elevation of 3,354 meters in the Chamoli district, Bedni Bugyal is considered as one of the most fascinating alpine meadows. It offers the best view of Trishul Parvat. The trek to Bedni Bugyal commences from Lohajang Pass and is one of the easy treks in the Garhwal Himalayan region. The major attractions in Bedni Bugyal are Bedni Kund, which holds great religious importance amongst the locals; Ali Bugyal, which is another sprawling meadow at an elevation of 3,300 meters; and Wan village, which is the last village en route to Bedni Bugyal.

15. Har Ki Doon

Located at the base of Fateh Parvat at 3,556 meters, Har Ki Doon Valley is a cradle-shaped hanging valley in the Garhwal Himalayan region. The farfetched snow-clad mountains, streams and rich alpine vegetation are the main attractions in Har Ki Doon Valley. The trek to Har Ki Doon Valley starts from Sankari, followed by Osla. From there, the trek follows a steep climb of 14 kilometres. The Har Ki Doon Valley trek is another easy-to-moderate trek in the Garhwal Himalayan region, suitable for families. The Morinda Tal and several shepherd villages on the Har Ki Doon Valley trek often attract the mind of travellers.

Link(s) and Sources(s):

TourMy India 

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