Prof. Guru Prasad Chattopadhyay: IAGR Conference 2024
Former Professor and Head, Dept. of Geography, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan 731235, cguruprasad@rediffmail.com
Short Bio:
Prof. Guru Prasad Chattopadhyay is a former Professor and Head of the Department of Geography at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal, India. With a career spanning over 39 years, he has contributed significantly to geographical research and education. Prof. Chattopadhyay completed his Ph.D. in Periglacial Geomorphology from the University of Edinburgh, U.K., and has supervised 25 Ph.D. scholars. His research interests include Quaternary environmental changes, the impact of climate change on Himalayan glaciers, and environmental studies focusing on ecotourism and the interaction between man and the environment.
He has published numerous papers in both national and international journals, delivered lectures at prestigious universities worldwide, and served on various academic and governmental committees. His work has earned him several awards, including the John Meiklejon Merit Award from the University of Edinburgh.
Prof. Chattopadhyay remains actively involved in research, contributing to global discussions on climate change, geomorphology, and sustainable development.
Title of Talk: Approaches in Geographical Research on High Altitude Environment in the Himalaya: A Study upon the Recent Retreats of Glaciers with Special Reference to the Area around the Kanchenjunga Summit Complex in the Sikkim Himalaya
Abstract
Geographical Research is an innovative and methodologically rigorous work across all areas of geography. The five-step inquiry process of geographical research is: ask, acquire, examine analyse and act. Geographical research on the high altitude environment in the Himalaya is always challenging because of hazardous surroundings, uncertain and changing weather condition and problems of accessibility. This paper presents a report on the recent retreats of the Sikkim Himalayan glaciers with special reference to the area around the Kanchenjunga summit complex. This author conducted the research work on his own initiative as a part of his post-doctoral UGC-sponsored project during 2009 – 2011 to explore the pattern of glacier retreats that have been the result of climatic warming and have contributed immensely in the physical environmental changes in this part of the Himalaya in the western part of Sikkim Himalaya. Through the study of meticulous field investigation upon morainic limits above the tree line (>3,000m) it has been explored that most of the glaciers in this part of the Himalaya have retreated three to four kilometers particularly during last four decades and they continue to retreat alarmingly in the present day.
Keywords: Glacier Retreat, Kanchenjunga Summit Complex, Sikkim Himalaya, Climate Change Impact
