scholarly journals Impacts of Climate Change on Lake Fluctuations in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiankun Yang ◽  
Xixi Lu ◽  
Edward Park ◽  
Paolo Tarolli
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
The Past ◽  
Amu Darya ◽  
Outburst Floods ◽  
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods ◽  
Hindu Kush ◽  
Changing Patterns

Lakes in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya-Tibetan (HKHT) regions are crucial indicators for the combined impacts of regional climate change and resultant glacier retreat. However, they lack long-term systematic monitoring and thus their responses to recent climatic change still remain only partially understood. This study investigated lake extent fluctuations in the HKHT regions over the past 40 years using Landsat (MSS/TM/ETM+/OLI) images obtained from the 1970s to 2014. Influenced by different regional atmospheric circulation systems, our results show that lake changing patterns are distinct from region to region, with the most intensive lake shrinking observed in northeastern HKHT (HKHT Interior, Tarim, Yellow, Yangtze), while the most extensive expansion was observed in the western and southwestern HKHT (Amu Darya, Ganges Indus and Brahmaputra), largely caused by the proliferation of small lakes in high-altitude regions during 1970s–1995. In the past 20 years, extensive lake expansions (~39.6% in area and ~119.1% in quantity) were observed in all HKHT regions. Climate change, especially precipitation change, is the major driving force to the changing dynamics of the lake fluctuations; however, effects from the glacier melting were also significant, which contributed approximately 31.9–40.5%, 16.5–39.3%, 12.8–29.0%, and 3.3–6.1% of runoff to lakes in the headwaters of the Tarim, Amu Darya, Indus, and Ganges, respectively. We consider that the findings in this paper could have both immediate and long-term implications for dealing with water-related hazards, controlling glacial lake outburst floods, and securing water resources in the HKHT regions, which contain the headwater sources for some of the largest rivers in Asia that sustain 1.3 billion people.

scholarly journals Climate Change Controls Phosphorus Transport from the Watershed into Lake Kinneret (Israel)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moshe Gophen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Lake Kinneret ◽  
Phosphorus Transport ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
Hula Valley ◽  
Reclamation Project ◽  
The Impact

AbstractPart of the Kinneret watershed, the Hula Valley, was modified from wetlands – shallow lake for agricultural cultivation. Enhancement of nutrient fluxes into Lake Kinneret was predicted. Therefore, a reclamation project was implemented and eco-tourism partly replaced agriculture. Since the mid-1980s, regional climate change has been documented. Statistical evaluation of long-term records of TP (Total Phosphorus) concentrations in headwaters and potential resources in the Hula Valley was carried out to identify efficient management design targets. Significant correlation between major headwater river discharge and TP concentration was indicated, whilst the impact of external fertilizer loads and 50,000 winter migratory cranes was probably negligible. Nevertheless, confirmed severe bdamage to agricultural crops carried out by cranes led to their maximal deportation and optimization of their feeding policy. Consequently, the continuation of the present management is recommended.

scholarly journals Hindu Kush Himalayan Ecosystem as a Common Concern of Humankind: Imperative for Better Regional Jurisprudence

2017 ◽  
pp. 42-52
Author(s):  
Debasis Poddar
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Mountain Glaciers ◽  
Common Concern ◽  
Hindu Kush ◽  
The World

Hindu Kush Himalayan region (hereafter the HKH) - with 3500 odd kilometres stretched in eight countries- is default resource generation hub for about one-fifth population of the world. The ecosystem-growing delicate these days- seems to play a critical role for the survival of flora and fauna along with the maintenance of all its life-sustaining mountain glaciers. Ten major rivers to carry forward hitherto sustainable development of these peoples fall into question now. Further, in the wake of global climate change today, the delicate HKH ecosystem becomes increasingly fragile to unfold manifold consequences and thereby take its toll on the population. And the same might turn apocalyptic in its magnanimity of irreversibledamage. Like time-bomb, thus, climate ticks to get blown off. As it is getting already too delayed for timely resort to safeguards, if still not taken care of in time, lawmakers ought to find the aftermath too late to lament for. Besides being conscious for climate discipline across the world, collective efforts on the part of all regional states together are imperative to minimize the damage. Therefore, each one has put hands together to be saved from the doomsday that appears to stand ahead to accelerate a catastrophicend, in the given speed of global climate change. As the largest Himalayan state and its central positioning at the top of the HKH, Nepal has had potential to play a criticalrole to engage regional climate change regime and thereby spearhead climate diplomacy worldwide to play regional capital of the HKH ecosystem. As regional superpower, India has had potential to usurp leadership avatar to this end. With reasoningof his own, the author pleads for better jurisprudence to attain regional environmental integrity inter se- rather than regional environmental integration alone- to defendthe vulnerable HKH ecosystem since the same constitutes common concern of humankind and much more so for themselves. Hence, to quote from Shakespeare, “To be or not to be, that is the question” is reasonable here. While states are engaged in the spree to cause mutually agreed destruction, global climate change- with deadly aftermath- poses the last and final unifier for them to turn United Nations in rhetoric sense o f the term.

What’s in a lake? Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in the Peruvian Andes.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Wood ◽  
Stephan Harrison ◽  
Ryan Wilson ◽  
Neil Glasser ◽  
John Reynolds ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Glacial Lake ◽  
Peruvian Andes ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Andes ◽  
Glacier Recession ◽  
Outburst Floods ◽  
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods ◽  
Lake Systems ◽  
Physical Components

<p>Climate change is resulting in mass loss and the retreat of glaciers in the Andes, exposing steep valley sides, over-deepened valley bottoms, and creating glacial lakes behind moraine dams. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) present the biggest risk posed by glacier recession in Peru. Understanding the characteristics of lakes that have failed in the past will provide an aid to identifying those lakes that might fail in the future and narrow down which lakes are of greatest interest for reducing the risks to local vulnerable populations. </p><p>Using a newly created lake inventory for the Peruvian Andes (Wood et al., in review) and a comprehensive GLOF inventory (unpublished) we investigate lakes from which GLOFs have occurred in the past. This is to establish which physical components of the glacial lake systems are common to those lakes that have failed previously and which can be identified remotely, easily and objectively, in order to improve existing methods of hazard assessment.</p>

scholarly journals A conceptual framework for multi-regional climate change assessments for international market systems with long-term investments

2010 ◽  
Vol 103 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 445-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie A. Winkler ◽  
Suzanne Thornsbury ◽  
Marco Artavia ◽  
Frank-M. Chmielewski ◽  
Dieter Kirschke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
International Market

scholarly journals Climate change implications for the glaciers of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayan region

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 941-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Wiltshire
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Climate Modelling ◽  
Degree Days ◽  
Projected Change ◽  
Hindu Kush

Abstract. The Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalaya (HKH) region has a negative average glacial mass balance for the present day despite anomalous possible gains in the Karakoram. However, changes in climate over the 21st century may influence the mass balance across the HKH. This study uses regional climate modelling to analyse the implications of unmitigated climate change on precipitation, snowfall, air temperature and accumulated positive degree days for the Hindu Kush (HK), Karakoram (KK), Jammu–Kashmir (JK), Himachal Pradesh and West Nepal regions (HP), and East Nepal and Bhutan (NB). The analysis focuses on the climate drivers of change rather than the glaciological response. Presented is a complex regional pattern of climate change, with a possible increase in snowfall over the western HKH and decreases in the east. Accumulated degree days are less spatially variable than precipitation and show an increase in potential ablation in all regions combined with increases in the length of the seasonal melt period. From the projected change in regional climate the possible implications for future glacier mass balance are inferred. Overall, within the modelling framework used here the eastern Himalayan glaciers (Nepal–Bhutan) are the most vulnerable to climate change due to the decreased snowfall and increased ablation associated with warming. The eastern glaciers are therefore projected to decline over the 21st Century despite increasing precipitation. The western glaciers (Hindu Kush, Karakoram) are expected to decline at a slower rate over the 21st century in response to unmitigated climate compared to the glaciers of the east. Importantly, regional climate change is highly uncertain, especially in important cryospheric drivers such as snowfall timing and amounts, which are poorly constrained by observations. Data are available from the author on request.

scholarly journals Shallowing of the Svityaz Lake in the context of regional climate change

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-683
Author(s):  
Vitalina Fedoniuk ◽  
Maria Khrystetska ◽  
Mykola Fedoniuk ◽  
Ihor Merlenko ◽  
Serhiy Bondarchuk
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Ecological Stability ◽  
Air Temperatures

The paper analyzes the dynamics of the main climatic indicators in order to reveal the role of regional and local factors in the current changes in the water content of the Svitiaz Lake (NW Ukraine). The current state of study of the water balance of the lake and the factors that form it are estimated. The main trends for changes in the levels and regime of surface water, groundwater and artesian water in the territory of the Shatsk National Nature Park are identified. Quantitative data characterizing long-term and modern changes in water levels in the lake are presented. Shallowing of 2019 is characterized (the lowest water level over the last 50 years, reduction of the water mirror area by 8%). Based on statistical mathematical and cartographic analysis of climatic data provided by 17 meteorological stations in the region the dynamics of average annual, monthly and seasonal precipitation, evaporation and their spatial distribution were estimated. A significant increase in evaporation during the warm period of the year over the last decades (2000-2018) has been revealed. Changes in the amount and mode of precipitation over 2 long-term periods are estimated. The peculiarities of the dynamics of the main meteorological indicators in 2019 (average monthly and average annual air temperatures, relative humidity, precipitation amounts) were separately analyzed. Values of humidity coefficients and hydrothermal coefficients were calculated. The parts of the region with the lowest values of these indicators, including the catchment area of Lake Svityaz, are outlined and visualized on the map. The significant role of evaporation growth was confirmed given the consistent increase in air temperatures over the last 20 years. Given the Svityaz station data it is also calculated the correlation coefficients of water levels in the lake with the same indicators for the period since 1970. During the period of 2000-2018, a significant increase in the dependence of water levels on the hydrothermal coefficient of Selyaninov was established, which may indicate a decrease in the ecological stability of the lake and its increasing vulnerability to climate change.

scholarly journals Long-term adaptation of European viticulture to climate change: an overview from the H2020 Clim4Vitis action

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
João A. Santos ◽  
Chenyao Yang ◽  
Helder Fraga ◽  
Aureliano C. Malheiro ◽  
José Moutinho-Pereira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Projections ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Economic Developments ◽  
Adaptation Figure

Climate change is a major challenge to viticulture worldwide. The adaptation potential of the different strategies to cope with climate change still embraces many uncertainties (e.g., unpredictable social-economic developments and land-use changes), particularly in the long-term. However, adaptation strategies adjusted to local terroirs and regional climate change projections will contribute to the sustainable development of the winemaking sector. The Clim4Vitis action (https://clim4vitis.eu/) recommends some guidelines for long-term adaptation (Figure 1).

scholarly journals Runoff change scenarios based on regional climate change projections in mountainous basins in Slovakia

2013 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuzana Štefunková ◽  
Kamila Hlavčová ◽  
Milan Lapin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Climate Change Projections ◽  
Runoff Change ◽  
Rainfall Runoff Model ◽  
Runoff Model

Abstract In the study the potential impact of climate change on river runoff in the upper Hron River, V´ah River, and Laborec River basin was evaluated using the Hron conceptual spatially-lumped rainfall-runoff model, which was driven by regional circulation models of atmosphere. The rainfall-runoff model was calibrated with data from the 1981-1995 period and validated with data from the 1996-2010 period. Changes in climate variables in the future were expressed by three different regional climate change projections: KNMI, MPI and ALADIN-Climate for the period 1961-2100. Changes in the seasonal runoff distribution were evaluated by a comparison of the simulated long-term mean monthly discharges in the river basin outlets in future decades with the present stage.

Characteristics in Regional Climate Change Over South Korea for Regional Climate Policy Measures: Based on Long-Term Observations

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (6-2) ◽  
pp. 755-770
Author(s):  
Jungi Moon ◽  
Changsub Shim ◽  
OkJin Jung ◽  
Je-Woo Hong ◽  
Jihyun Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Climate Policy ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Policy Measures
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