Water & Cryosphere

Recently deep concerns have been raised regarding what the impact of global warming means in terms of changes in downstream water availability in the ten large river basins that originate in the Hindu Kush – Himalaya (HKH) region. There is compelling evidence that the Himalayan region is particularly sensitive to climate change due to pronounced temperature rise in the region in general and at higher altitude in particular. As a result, the Himalayan region is witnessing rapid melting of glaciers, increased frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events, and a shift in monsoon patterns, all of which are impacting water regimes in the region. The functioning of HKH region as a ‘water tower’ of Asia is a matter of concern if the present reduction rate of snow and ice in the HKH continues. This will potentially have substantial impacts on water availability for agriculture, household supplies, industry, and hydropower. In addition water needed for the environment and its services are at stake. The regions’ economy is much dependent on agriculture productivity, which provides the main share of the region’s GDP. It is projected that the region will be hardest hit in the world in terms of food production, threatening food security.

Earth observation and remote sensing application are essential for delivering sustained, consistent observations of the global and regional cryosphere. MENRIS Division is focusing on developing remote sensing based methodologies and applications for mapping, monitoring and assessment of cryospheric environment. At present, MENRIS is taking the lead on developing regional database on snow and glaciers adhering to international standardization and building capacity of national partners for operational services and research for water resources management.

Bagmati River Knowledge Base and Resource Centre This system, “Bagmati River Knowledge Base and Resource Centre” has been developed by ICIMOD and is being managed by NTNC. All the relevant information and database along with the literature related to Bagmati river and its tributaries are being provided by NTNC. Detail»

Eco Everest Expedition This Google Earth layer presents classic case examples of three different lakes in the Everest region, firstly, the outburst floods of glacial lake in 1985 (Dig Tsho lake); secondly, the real-time monitoring of the fastest growing glacial lake in the Himalaya (Imja Tsho Lake) and early warning system; and finally, the mitigation measures of glacial lake (Tsho Rolpa). Detail»

Water Quality Classification in Bagmati Water Quality Assessment Model of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal based on Saprobic Water Quality approach; recommended treatment, method and picture are incorporated for different sample sites. Detail»

Potential Dangerous Lakes across Himalayan region There are over 200 potentially dangerous glacial lakes have been documented across the Himalayan region. These facts underline the urgent need to enhance scientific knowledge of glacier environments by continuously monitoring glaciers and glacial lakes. This Google Earth layer provides the inventory of potentially dangerous lakes across Himalayan region. Detail»

Virtual GIS - Lunana area, Bhutan This movie of Lunana area is created from ERDAS IMAGINE 8.5 Virtual GIS using Digital Elevation Model (DEM) prepared from 1:50000 topographic basemap and Indian Remote Sensing Satellite Series 1D (IRS1D) Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor (LISS) 3. Image of 19 Dec, 1999. Detail»

Inventory of Glaciers and Glacial Lakes (Nepal) ICIMOD has collected data over 2323 glacial lakes and 3252 glaciers in Nepal. This Google Earth (GE) layers aims to provide interactive access to the available data with information on glaciers and glacial lakes such as size, orientation, type etc. The data layers are presented into 19 sub-river basin of Nepal. Detail»