LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
COLD & DRY CLIMATE
LADAKH
Submitted by :-
INTRODUCTION
Cold desert climates can actually be very hot and dry in the summer, but in the
winter they are brutally cold and dry, with temperatures below freezing. Cold deserts
frequently experience snow. Cold desert climates can feature hot (sometimes
exceptionally hot) and dry summers, though summers typically are not quite as hot
as summers in hot desert climates. Unlike hot desert climates, cold desert climates
usually feature cold, sometimes brutally cold, dry winters with temperatures far below
the freezing point. Cold desert climates are typically found at higher altitudes than
hot desert climates, and are usually drier than hot desert climates. A cold desert
climate is typically found in temperate zones, almost always in the rain shadow of
high mountains which restrict precipitation from the westerly winds, or in the case of
Central Asia, from the monsoon.
The Ladakh region, lying in the Great Himalayas in India also has a cold desert
climate.
COLD & DRY CLIMATE - LADAKH
The desert type of climate is typical of Leh Ladakh with dry winds blowing
throughout the day and summers being hot and humid.
Snowfall is common in winter, especially at night. However, winter days are
sunny and bright.
The lowest winter temperature recorded in Leh is around minus 23 degree
Celsius.
The remaining year is hotter in the hills and temperatures in summer go up to
30 degree Celsius.
Abnormal rains in winter often cause the temperature to dip further.
With the winter season lasting more than half the year, summer is a short
spell that is mostly dry and windy. Summer season lasts from May to
September.
CLIMATE STATISTICS :SUMMERS :
During day :- 17-24 degree celsius
During night :- 4-11 degree celcius
WINTERS : During day :- 7-9 degree celsius
During night :- 14-0 degree celcius
RELATIVE HUMIDITY :- Consistently low :- 10% - 50%
WINDS :- Occasionally intense
SKY :- Sky is clear throughout the year
CLOUD COVER :- Cloud Cover is less than 50%.
VEGETATION :- LADAKH
Vegetation is extremely sparse in Ladakh except along streambeds and
wetlands, on high slopes, and in irrigated places
Scant precipitation makes Ladakh a high-altitude desert with extremely scarce
vegetation over most of its area.
Natural vegetation mainly occurs along water courses and on high altitude
areas that receive more snow and cooler summer temperatures.
Natural vegetation commonly seen along water courses
includes seabuckthorn wild roses of pink or yellow varieties, tamarisk
caraway, stinging nettles, mint, Physochlaina praealta, and various grasses.
Flora of Ladakh is divided into 3 types: Arid, alpine, oasitic.
TYPES OF VEGETATION :1. ARID VEGETATION :Its further divided into desert and semi-desert types, it covers large area of Ladakh.
EXAMPLES:
o Artemisia : many-branched, pale-grey shrub with yellow flowers and silverygrey foliage, which is generally 0.53 m tall.[A deep taproot 14 m in length,
coupled with laterally spreading roots near the surface, allows sagebrush to
gather water from both surface precipitation and the water table several
meters beneath.
o Caragana: It is a perennial shrub or small tree up to 26 m (6 ft 7 in19 ft
8 in) tall. Typically, it has a moderate to fast growth rate, being able to grow
one to three feet during the first year after trimming
Fig .1 - Artemisia
2. OASITIC VEGETATION :This type of vegetation is represented by a variety of exotic as well as indigenous
species, growing near habitation, along water channels, streams and in moist place.
3. ALPINE VEGETATION :It is found on some hill slopes where melt water from glaciers or snow patches
allows a richer plant to develop.
4. DESERT VEGETATION :This zone is characterized by little or no rainfall, low humidity, extreme fluctuation of
diurnal temperature and high velocity winds. Majority of plant species have long
roots and have small leaves.
SHRUBS & SMALL PLANTS :ACANTHOLIMON :
Distribution: Kashmir to Kumaun
Habitat: Rocky dry slopes in Leh, Zanskar and Changthang
valleys at an altitude of around 4600 m.
Plant Characters: A small prickly tufted shrub. Leaves linear
lanceolate, with needle sharp apex. Flowers pale pink in dense
cluster.
Flowering and fruiting: July to August.
Ethnobotany: Usually plant ash is used with milk in cardiac
disorders. The dried plant has been used as an excellent fuel
since time immemorial.
Conservation Status: Frequent
Threats: being uprooted for fuel.
Local Name :Longze
Family : PLUMBAGINACE
ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM :-
Distribution: Widely distributed from Kashmir to Sikkim.
Habitat: Along road sides and dry places in Zanskar and
Suru valleys at an altitude of around 3,680 m.
Plant Characters: A perennial herb. Stem branched. Leaves
narrowly oblong lanceolate. Flower head terminal, corymbose,
white short pedicel.
Flowering and fruiting: July to September.
Ethnobotany: The extract of leaves is useful in urinary problem,
toothache and gum inflammation. The whole herb is credited
with having properties of an astringent, stimulant, tonic,
diaphoretic, treatment for cold and colic. The herb
contains an alkaloid Achilleine.
Conservation Status: Common
Common name: Yarrow/ Milfoil
Local name: Chuang
Family: Asteraceae
ACONITUM HETEROPHYLLUM :-
Distribution: Pakistan to Kashmir
Habitat: Moist and damp places in Zanskar, Suru and Nubra
valleys at an altitude of around 2,865 m.
Plant Characters: An erect, perennial herb. Roots tuberous,
stem branched. Flower large, greenish purple Hood rounded,
broader than long. Seeds small and black.
Flowering and fruiting: June to Mid September
Ethnobotany: A very important plant of Sowa Rigpa system and
other traditional system of Indian medicine..
Conservation Status: Endangered
Threats: Being uprooted from wild for pharmaceutical industry
Common name: Aconite, Atees
Local name: Bona-Karpo
Family: Ranunculaceae
ACONITUM VIOLACEUM :-
Distribution: Kashmir to Himachal Pradesh and Kumaun
Habitat: Along water stream and moist places in Nubra, Zanskar
and Suru Valleys between 2,960-3,600 m altitude.
Plant Characters: A perennial herb. Stem 15-30 cm. Leaves few
4-8 cm across, Flowers in dense spike, dark blue, 2-2.5 cm,
linear, hairy.
Flowering and fruiting: Mid June to August.
Ethnobotany: The roots are sometimes used as a substitute
of Aconitum heterophyllum. The roots are used against cold,
cough, asthma, fever, and gastric problems.
Local name: Aconite, Patees
Common name: Bona-nagpo
Family: Ranunculaceae
ALLIUM CAROLINIANUM :-
Distribution: From Kashmir to Kumaun and Sikkim.
Habitat: Alpine slopes in Suru and Zanskar Valleys at an altitude
of around 3,825 m.
Plant Characters: An erect, perennial herb. Bulb hardly
developed. Stem thickened. Leaves, flat, and narrow to
acute point. Flowers pinkish, pediceled.
Flowering and fruiting: June to August.
Ethnobotany: Fresh and tender leaves are edible; dried leaves
used as flavouring agent. The whole plant has got medicinal
value.
Conservation Status: Rare
Threats: Being uprooted for medicinal uses.
Common name : Wild garlic
Local name: Koshuk or Skotche
Family: Amaryllidaceae
