Your search found 12 records
1 Bradley, R. 2011. Mountain glaciers face the heat. Global Change, 76:30-33.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H043835)
(0.63 MB) (640KB)
2 Chinnasamy, Pennan; Prathapar, Sanmugam A. 2016. Methods to investigate the hydrology of the Himalayan springs: a review. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 28p. (IWMI Working Paper 169) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2016.205]
Hydrology ; Freshwater ; Water storage ; Water springs ; Water resources ; Groundwater ; Watershed management ; Water rates ; Meltwater ; Pumps ; Monitoring ; Catchment areas ; Isotope analysis ; Climate change ; Rain ; Temperature ; Mountains ; Flow discharge ; Hydrogeology / South Asia / Himalayan Region
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H047579)
(1 MB)
Springs are the major source of freshwater in many small mountainous watersheds within the Himalayan region. In recent years, their flow rates have diminished, but the reasons for this are not self-evident, and hence this paper reviews the methods to investigate Himalayan springs. The review reveals that chemical and isotope analyses – mostly water dating and stable isotope (e.g., d18O) analyses – could be an appropriate entry point to commence field investigations, because of their potential to map complex spring pathways, including linkages between aquifers. This should be combined with the building of hydrogeological maps with the available data. Output from desktop analyses, field investigations and hydrogeological maps could then contribute to the establishment of a conceptual model, which could form the basis for a numerical model.
3 White, C. J.; Tanton, T. W.; Rycroft, D. W. 2014. The impact of climate change on the water resources of the Amu Darya Basin in Central Asia. Water Resources Management, 28(15):5267-5281. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-014-0716-x]
Water resources ; Climate change ; River basins ; Water availability ; Water demand ; Irrigated sites ; Models ; Forecasting ; Temperature ; Precipitation ; Seasonality ; Glaciers ; Runoff ; Meltwater ; Discharges / Central Asia / Amu Darya Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047762)
(2.85 MB)
Central Asia is facing an unprecedented juxtaposition of regional climate- and water-related issues, emphasised by a changing climate. We investigate the potential impact of long-term climate change on the availability of water resources in the Amu Darya River, one of the two major rivers that feed the Aral Sea, and its effect on irrigation in the region. Using a water balance accounting model developed for the Amu Darya basin, we find that projected increases in summer temperatures of up to 5 °C by 2070–2099 under a high-emission scenario, combined with likely shifts in the seasonality of precipitation, would lead to an increase in crop water consumptive demand of between 10.6 and 16 % (or between 3.7 and 5.5 km3 y-1 ) relative to 1961–1990. By the end of the century, 34 to 49 % of the basin’s existing 3.4 million ha of irrigated land would go unirrigated in a 1:20 year drought. Runoff is also expected to decline by between 10 and 20 % on current levels, however contributions to river flows from unsustainable glacial retreat and snow-melt are likely to remain small. While the uncertainty surrounding the precipitation projections is high, the effect of increased temperatures on irrigation practices in the basin is more robust in the long-term.
4 Shaheen, F. A. 2016. The art of glacier grafting: innovative water harvesting techniques in Ladakh. IWMI-Tata Water Policy Research Highlight, 8. 8p.
Glaciers ; Meltwater ; Water harvesting ; Irrigation water ; Water conservation ; Water supply ; Climate change ; Economic impact ; Environmental impact ; Social impact ; Sowing / India / Ladakh
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H047830)
(320 KB)
As a cold desert with extreme climate and limited precipitaon, Ladakh struggles to meet its irrigaon requirements. In recent years, a historical pracce of graing glaciers and a new innovave technique of building 'ice stupa' has helped communies improve irrigaon access and extend the crop calendar. This Highlight looks at how combining sound science with credible local knowledge is helping people improve climate resilience.
5 Jeuland, M. A. 2016. Climate change and the Ganges Basin. In Bharati, Luna; Sharma, Bharat R.; Smakhtin, Vladimir (Eds.). The Ganges River Basin: status and challenges in water, environment and livelihoods. Oxon, UK: Routledge - Earthscan. pp.52-70. (Earthscan Series on Major River Basins of the World)
Climate change adaptation ; Water resources development ; River basins ; Water use ; Irrigation water ; Groundwater ; Surface water ; Water power ; Infrastructure ; Hydrological factors ; Temperature ; Precipitation ; Glaciers ; Meltwater ; Sea level ; Tributaries ; Flow discharge ; Ecosystem services ; Economic situation ; Investment ; Models / Nepal / India / Bangladesh / Ganges River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H047840)
6 Khan, A.; Richards, K. S.; McRobie, A.; Fischer, G.; Wiberg, D.; Burek, P.; Satoh, Y. 2016. Accuracy assessment of ISI-MIP modelled ows in the Hidukush-Karakoram-Himalayan basins [Abstract only] Paper presented at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly, Vienna, Austria, 17-22 April 2016. 1p.
Mountain ranges ; Glaciers ; Meltwater ; Climate change ; Stream flow ; Energy generation ; Hydrology ; Models ; River basins ; Precipitation / Afghanistan / Pakistan / China / India / Tajikistan / Hindu Kush / Karakoram / Himalayan Region / Upper Indus Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H047865)
7 Nepal, S. 2016. Impacts of climate change on the hydrological regime of the Koshi River Basin in the Himalayan region. Journal of Hydro-environment Research, 10:76-89. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jher.2015.12.001]
Climate change ; Hydrological regime ; River basins ; Water balance ; Glaciers ; Snowmelt ; Meltwater ; Runoff ; Discharges ; Precipitation ; Temperature ; Evapotranspiration ; Monsoon climate ; Models ; Forecasting / Nepal / Himalayan Region / Koshi River Basin / Dudh Koshi Subbasin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048027)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1570644315000805/pdfft?md5=1f2ca936f939e2bf8feb7225370227f3&pid=1-s2.0-S1570644315000805-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048027.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048027.pdf
(2.96 MB) (2.96 MB)
Understanding the potential impact of climate change on the hydrological regime in the Himalayan region is of great importance for sustainable water resources management. This study assessed the historic and projected climate trends in the Koshi river basin using statistical analysis. The hydrological characteristics and the contribution of different runoff components under present and projected future conditions were investigated in the Dudh Koshi sub-basin using the J2000 model. Data for 1995 to 2096 from the Providing REgional Climates for Impacts Studies (PRECIS) regional climate model were used in the J2000 model to project the impact of climate change under the A1B climate scenario in mid-century (2040–2050) and late-century (2086–2096), compared to baseline (2000–2010). Present climate showed an increase in average temperature in the river basin at a rate of 0.058 °C/year for maximum temperature and 0.014 °C/year for minimum temperature over the past forty years. The model simulation of the hydrological regime from 1985 to1997 was satisfactory. The average annual contribution of snow and glacier melt to total discharge was about 34%, whereas it was 63% in the pre-monsoon season (March to May). The projected future results from the model indicate a 13% increase in annual discharge by mid-century followed by a slight decrease; and a 16% increase in evapotranspiration by the end of the century. Snowfall is projected to decrease substantially due to the rise in temperature, the basin will lose snow storage capacity, and there will be a marked decrease in snowmelt runoff from non-glaciated areas. In contrast, melt from glaciated areas will increase up to mid-century and start decreasing thereafter. The model results suggest that snowfall pattern, snowmelt, discharge, and evapotranspiration are all sensitive to the effects of climate change.
8 Anand, J.; Gosain, A. K.; Khosa, R.; Srinivasan, R. 2018. Regional scale hydrologic modeling for prediction of water balance, analysis of trends in streamflow and variations in streamflow: the case study of the Ganga River Basin. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 16:32-53. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2018.02.007]
Water resources ; Surface water ; Water balance ; Forecasting ; Stream flow ; Runoff ; Hydrology ; Models ; Calibration ; Performance evaluation ; Precipitation ; Rain ; Meltwater ; Spatial distribution ; Case studies / India / Ganga River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048756)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214581817303245/pdfft?md5=5ce82364c6e77a812a117cceed062f19&pid=1-s2.0-S2214581817303245-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048756.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048756.pdf
(3.92 MB) (3.92 MB)
Study region: Ganga River basin.
Study focus: The availability of freshwater has been recognized as a global issue, and the reliable evaluation and quantification of it within the basin is necessary to bolster the sustainable management of water. For this purpose a basin-scale SWAT model of the Ganga River basin has been developed.
New hydrologic insights for the region: Model validation showed that simulated results were consistent with the observed data in reproducing the seasonal dynamics of surface water and suggest that the model is capable of reproducing the hydrological features of the basin including the snow melt. However, there are large variations in both temporal and spatial distribution of the hydrological components. Statistical methods have been used for detecting trends and critical changes in streamflow. It has been found that although the streamflow from the snow fed areas has increased, the stream flow in the lower reaches and the non-perennial tributaries have declined significantly. This decline can be attributed to both anthropogenic and exogenous changes. The study also establishes that there has been a substantial reduction in overall water resources availability with respect to Virgin. This information sets the yardstick to the restoration of the hydrological and environmental health of the basin and can lead to better management of water resources under scarcity.
Study focus: The availability of freshwater has been recognized as a global issue, and the reliable evaluation and quantification of it within the basin is necessary to bolster the sustainable management of water. For this purpose a basin-scale SWAT model of the Ganga River basin has been developed.
New hydrologic insights for the region: Model validation showed that simulated results were consistent with the observed data in reproducing the seasonal dynamics of surface water and suggest that the model is capable of reproducing the hydrological features of the basin including the snow melt. However, there are large variations in both temporal and spatial distribution of the hydrological components. Statistical methods have been used for detecting trends and critical changes in streamflow. It has been found that although the streamflow from the snow fed areas has increased, the stream flow in the lower reaches and the non-perennial tributaries have declined significantly. This decline can be attributed to both anthropogenic and exogenous changes. The study also establishes that there has been a substantial reduction in overall water resources availability with respect to Virgin. This information sets the yardstick to the restoration of the hydrological and environmental health of the basin and can lead to better management of water resources under scarcity.
9 Lacombe, Guillaume; Chinnasamy, Pennan; Nicol, Alan. 2019. Review of climate change science, knowledge and impacts on water resources in South Asia. Background Paper 1. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 73p. (Climate Risks and Solutions: Adaptation Frameworks for Water Resources Planning, Development and Management in South Asia) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2019.202]
Climate change adaptation ; Water resources development ; Water management ; Water use efficiency ; Water power ; Water quality ; Domestic water ; Drinking water ; Environmental impact assessment ; Rain ; Temperature ; Evaporation ; Surface water ; International waters ; Aquifers ; Groundwater recharge ; Stream flow ; Industrial uses ; Risk management ; Flooding ; Coastal area ; Drought ; Contamination ; Cyclones ; Sedimentation ; Landslides ; Precipitation ; Sea level ; Meltwater ; Erosion ; Land use ; Semiarid zones ; Knowledge ; Monitoring ; Infrastructure ; Decision making ; Governance ; Hydrological factors ; Models ; Aerosols / South Asia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049184)
(7.58 MB)
10 Davis, R.; Hirji, R. 2019. Review of water and climate change policies in South Asia. Background Paper 2. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 120p. (Climate Risks and Solutions: Adaptation Frameworks for Water Resources Planning, Development and Management in South Asia) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2019.203]
Climate change adaptation ; Water resources development ; Water management ; Water policy ; Water governance ; Water user associations ; Water supply ; River basin management ; Integrated management ; Knowledge ; Infrastructure ; Planning ; Communication ; Education ; Monitoring ; Surface water ; Groundwater management ; Groundwater recharge ; Water quality ; Water use efficiency ; Water storage ; Investment ; Flood control ; Drought ; Public administration ; International waters ; Stream flow ; Aquifers ; Sea level ; Coastal waters ; Precipitation ; Dams ; Irrigation management ; Irrigation systems ; Legislation ; Meltwater ; Erosion ; Landslides ; Sedimentation ; Early warning systems ; Soil management ; Sanitation ; Conjunctive use ; Risk management ; Resource management ; Community involvement / South Asia / Afghanistan / Bangladesh / Bhutan / India / Nepal / Pakistan / Sri Lanka
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049185)
(1.57 MB)
11 Fyffe, C. L.; Brock, B. W.; Kirkbride, M. P.; Black, A. R.; Smiraglia, C.; Diolaiuti, G. 2019. The impact of supraglacial debris on proglacial runoff and water chemistry. Journal of Hydrology, 576:41-57. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.06.023]
Glaciers ; Snow ; Meltwater ; Discharges ; Runoff ; Sediment ; Hydrology ; Hydrography ; Meteorological factors ; Mountains ; Lakes ; Ponds ; Streams ; Catchment areas / Europe / Miage Glacier
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049320)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169419305694/pdfft?md5=a1156d40dae0d41bc6aa3d58ec5cc7d5&pid=1-s2.0-S0022169419305694-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049320.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049320.pdf
(3.63 MB) (3.63 MB)
Debris is known to influence the ablation, topography and hydrological systems of glaciers. This paper determines for the first time how these influences impact on bulk water routing and the proglacial runoff signal, using analyses of supraglacial and proglacial water chemistry and proglacial discharge at Miage Glacier, Italian Alps. Debris does influence the supraglacial water chemistry, but the inefficient subglacial system beneath the debris-covered zone also plays a role in increasing the ion contribution to the proglacial stream. Daily hydrographs had a lower amplitude and later discharge peak compared to clean glaciers and fewer diurnal hydrographs were found compared to similar analysis for Haut Glacier d’Arolla. We attribute these observations to the attenuating effect of the debris on ablation, smaller input streams on the debris-covered area, a less efficient subglacial system, and possible leakage into a raised sediment bed beneath the glacier. Strongly diurnal hydrographs are constrained to periods with warmer than average conditions. ‘Average’ weather conditions result in a hydrograph with reverse asymmetry. Conductivity and discharge commonly show anti-clockwise hysteresis, suggesting the more dilute, rapidly-routed melt component from the mid-glacier peaks before the discharge peak, with components from higher up-glacier and the debris-covered areas arriving later at the proglacial stream. The results of this study could lead to a greater understanding of the hydrological structure of other debris-covered glaciers, with findings highlighting the need to include the influence of the debris cover within future models of debris-covered glacier runoff.
12 Lutz, A. F.; Immerzeel, W. W.; Siderius, C.; Wijngaard, R. R.; Nepal, Santosh; Shrestha, A. B.; Wester, P.; Biemans, H. 2022. South Asian agriculture increasingly dependent on meltwater and groundwater. Nature Climate Change, 12(6):566-573. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01355-z]
Meltwater ; Groundwater ; Agriculture ; Irrigated farming ; Climate change ; Forecasting ; Hydrological modelling ; Socioeconomic aspects ; Water availability ; Water supply ; Water demand ; Irrigation water ; Water extraction ; Rain ; Runoff ; Glaciers ; River basins ; Monsoon climate ; Crops / South Asia / Indus River Basin / Ganges River Basin / Brahmaputra River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051247)
(4.42 MB)
Irrigated agriculture in South Asia depends on meltwater, monsoon rains and groundwater. Climate change alters the hydrology and causes shifts in the timing, composition and magnitude of these sources of water supply. Simultaneously, socio-economic growth increases water demand. Here we use a high-resolution cryosphere–hydrology–crop model forced with an ensemble of climate and socio-economic projections to assess how the sources of irrigation water supply may shift during the twenty-first century. We find increases in the importance of meltwater and groundwater for irrigated agriculture. An earlier melt peak increases meltwater withdrawal at the onset of the cropping season in May and June in the Indus, whereas increasing peak irrigation water demand during July and August aggravates non-renewable groundwater pumping in the Indus and Ganges despite runoff increases. Increasing inter-annual variability in rainfall runoff increases the need for meltwater and groundwater to complement rainfall runoff during future dry years.
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