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FS 3.101

High Asia cryo-hydrology: processes and impacts across elevations

Details

Full Title
FS 3.101: High Mountain Asia's cryo-hydrosphere: process understanding, downstream impacts, and prospects for operational solutions
Scheduled
TBA
Location
TBA
Convener
Philip Kraaijenbrink
Co-Conveners
Martina Barandun, Evan Miles, Fanny Brun,
Assigned to Synthesis Workshop
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Thematic Focus
Atmosphere, Cryo- & Hydrosphere, Low-to-no-snow, Water Cycle, Water Resources
Keywords
High Mountain Asia, Observations, Modelling, Data assimilation, Operational forecasting

Description

The river basins of High Mountain Asia (HMA) are characterized by extreme altitude ranges, integrating cryospheric processes in remote headwaters with ecosystems and society in lowland reaches. They are among the most important globally in terms of water supply, while also being among the most vulnerable to climate change. The region’s remoteness and complexity present major challenges for both scientific understanding and water resource forecasting. In this session we integrate diverse scientific and practical perspectives of HMA’s mountain systems. Submissions could relate to observations (e.g., remote sensing, field measurements); numerical modelling (e.g., landscape elements or catchments); data integration (e.g., data-driven inference, data assimilation); and impact assessment (e.g., ecosystems, hydropower, geohazards). By drawing together these threads, we aim to promote interactions bridging scale and disciplinary boundaries to, for example, exchange on lessons learned, discuss multifaceted climate change impacts, and consider prospects for operational water resource forecasting.

Submitted Abstracts

ID: 3.8180

Small glaciers and their contribution to glacier runoff in the Indus basin

Alexandra Von Der Esch
Huss, Matthias; van Tiel, Marit; van Tricht, Lander; Berg, Justine; Patadiya, Tarang; Farinotti, Daniel

Abstract/Description

The Indus basin, located in the Himalaya-Karakoram (HK) region, encompasses a substantial glacierized area, with glaciers of varying scales that play a pivotal role in the hydrological regimes of the major river system. Accelerated glacier mass loss due to anthropogenic climate change poses profound risks to water security, particularly in regions that rely on glacier-fed runoff. While previous studies have primarily focused on regional-scale glacier dynamics, small glaciers (<2 km²)—which comprise ~30% of the glacierized area and 90% of the number of glaciers in Indus basin—remain underrepresented in terms of data coverage and model representation, despite their critical contributions to runoff. This study aims to differentiate the contributions of small and large glaciers to glacier runoff and explore their respective sensitivities to climate change impacts. Using the Global Glacier Evolution Model (GloGEM), we simulate the evolution of all glaciers within the Indus headwaters from 1980 to 2100 under multiple climate scenarios at daily resolution. To enhance the accuracy of our projections, we integrate calibration data from geodetic glacier mass balance and daily snow cover fractions, enabling a more detailed representation of seasonal mass balance processes. Furthermore, spatio-temporal dynamics of supraglacial debris are considered for improved representation of melt and glacier retreat. We analyze the spatial and temporal variability of glacier volume change, the timing of peak water, and the different sensitivities of small and large glaciers to climate change impacts. Our study highlights the critical role of small glaciers, especially in catchments with limited glacier cover, in the hydrological cycle. We stress the need for focused research on small glaciers to better understand their response to climate change and make accurate projections about near to mid-term water availability at local- to regional-scale.

ID: 3.8433

Modelling the impact of mining activities on the dynamics and evolution of a Kyrgyz glacier

Lander Van Tricht
Zekollari, Harry; Huss, Matthias; Rybak, Oleg; Satylkanov, Rysbek; Farinotti, Daniel

Abstract/Description

Glaciers worldwide are retreating due to climate change. However, local human activities can also influence their dynamics. Here, we examine the impact of gold mining operations at the Kumtor Gold Mine on Davydov Glacier in the Central Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan, using a 3D thermodynamic ice flow model. By analysing satellite observations and model simulations, we find that mining activities over the past two decades have shortened the glacier by approximately 2 km and reduced its volume by 160 million m³ compared to a scenario driven solely by climate forcing. If mining ceases, the glacier could temporarily advance by up to 100 m. However, by 2060, our projections show it will retreat beyond the mining site, with no significant differences between mining and no-mining scenarios. By 2100, projected volume losses range from 40% to 99%, depending on climate conditions. Our findings highlight the significant role of human activities in shaping glacier geometry, stability, and long-term evolution, underscoring the impacts of landscape modifications on glacier dynamics.

ID: 3.8819

Strongly Heterogeneous Surface-Water Warming Trends in High Mountain Asia

Taylor Smith
Bookhagen, Bodo

Abstract/Description

High Mountain Asia has experienced significant warming in recent decades. Changes in both temperature and precipitation patterns have strongly impacted regional hydrology, including changes to glaciers, snowmelt, and river systems. Here we examine long-term (1983-2023) and high-resolution (30 m) changes in water-surface temperature over a large and topographically diverse region encompassing the world’s highest mountains. We find that water-surface temperatures have significantly increased in the vast majority of the study area — especially in snow-covered and high-elevation regions — with a noted acceleration over the past decade. While some of this warming can be explained by increasing regional air temperatures, we find that surface water is warming faster than nearby dry areas. We posit that modifications to snowmelt timing and volume have created strong spatial heterogeneities in surface-water warming. These impacts will be felt both directly by cold-water flora and fauna, and downstream through decreases in surface-water quality.

ID: 3.8998

Glacier Retreat and Snowfall-to-Rainfall Shifts Reshape Groundwater and Streamflow Dynamics in the Langtang Himalaya

Caroline Aubry-Wake
Immerzeel, Walter; Somers, Lauren

Abstract/Description

Mountain groundwater systems in glacierized regions are critical to hydrological processes, yet the pathways linking glacier melt, snowmelt, and groundwater recharge remain poorly understood. In this study, we integrate a cryosphere-surface hydrology model with numerical groundwater simulations and geochemical tracers to investigate groundwater recharge and surface water-groundwater interactions in the high-altitude Langshisha basin of the Langtang Himalaya (4094–6049 m). By quantifying the contributions of glacier melt and snowmelt to groundwater recharge, we explore how changes in cryosphere elements affect the basin’s hydrological system under current and projected climatic conditions. Model evaluation, informed by in-situ weather data, field measurements, and geochemical analysis, reveals that glacier melt accounted for up to 65% of groundwater recharge during 2012–2024, largely driven by the basin’s extensive glacier cover (40%) and high elevations. Geochemical tracers and groundwater simulations highlight a combination of shallow flow paths near the glacier toe and longer, deeper flow paths originating from higher elevations, contributing to surface water-groundwater exchange along proglacial streams. As glaciers retreat, the basin faces a dual loss: both glacier melt runoff and glacier-melt-recharged groundwater will diminish, reducing contributions to both surface water and aquifers. Furthermore, the shift from snowfall to rainfall projected in the coming decades is expected to alter groundwater recharge dynamics. Reduced snowpack will curtail snowmelt infiltration, while rainfall-driven recharge may interact differently with soils and subsurface conditions. These shifts will reshape the balance of surface water-groundwater interactions, with implications for water availability downstream.

ID: 3.9077

Introducing Sentinel-1 SAR wet snow maps for glaciohydrological model calibration in the Himalaya-Karakoram

Smriti Srivastava
Forster, Richard; Rupper, Summer; Azam, Mohd. Farooq

Abstract/Description

Field-based studies are limited in Himalaya-Karakoram (HK); therefore, remote sensing and glaciohydrological modeling provide alternative solutions to investigate runoff evolution under changing climate conditions. Due to limited in-situ runoff data in HK, glaciohydrological models are often calibrated using high-resolution remote sensing data. In this line, present study introduces satellite-based Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) wet snow maps, along with available geodetic mass balance estimates, for calibration of glaciohydrological model SPHY (Spatial Processes in Hydrology) at glacier catchment-scale over 2000-2023 in HK. The selected calibrated model parameters are validated against in-situ runoff data to test the robustness of satellite-based calibration for Chhota Shigri Glacier (CSG), Dokriani Bamak Glacier (DBG), and Gangotri Glacier System (GGS) catchments in HK. The SPHY modeled and in-situ catchment-wide runoff estimates show good agreement with each other. The Sentinel-1 SAR-derived wet snow % area shows strong spatial and temporal variability from 2015 to2023. The mean annual runoff is 1.79 ± 0.15 m3s-1, 1.63 ± 0.09 m3s-1 and 39.40 ± 3.15 m3s-1 over 2000-2023 for CSG, DBG and GGS catchments, respectively with maximum annual runoff in 2021/2022, mainly due to heatwaves in early spring/summer 2022. Snow runoff is highest in CSG (61%) and GGS (49%), while rainfall-runoff is highest in DBG (42%). Satellite-based glaciohydrological model calibration offers a unique opportunity to improve runoff estimates for glacierized catchments in data-sparse regions. Applying present study to glacierized catchments lacking in-situ runoff data will strengthen our past, present, and future glaciohydrological understanding of glacierized regions such as HK and Andes.

ID: 3.10383

Determination of Glacier Mass Balance and Glacier Lake Outburst Flood Susceptibility of Thorthormi Glacier using Geo-informatic techniques

Kelden Jurmey

Abstract/Description

Due to climate change, Bhutan’s magnificent glaciers, which are the lifeblood of the country, are slowly disappearing. These vast chunks of ice serve as nutrients for ecosystems, water crops and generate hydroelectricity. This research utilizes geoinformatics techniques to assess the health of Thorthormi Glacier which is an important source of water and has the potential to cause devastating Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in Bhutan. A technique called Accumulation Area Ratio (AAR) was used to determine the glacier mass balance of Thorthomi tsho from year 2015 to 2023. AAR is ratio of accumulated area of glacier to the total area of the glacier (Cogley et al., 2011). This technique involves the use of Sentinel images and over laying the images to produce Red, Green and Blue (RGB) composite. From this RGB composite, Equilibrium Line Altitude(ELA) was delineated to get AAR. The declining nature of Thorthormi’s AAR indicates more melting of glacier. The research examined meltwater from the glacier that feeds Thorthormi Lake so as to better understand the vulnerability of GLOFs or glacial lake outbursts in this area. Thorthomi glacier is losing more mass than it gains, as a result, the glacier cannot regenerate itself. Due to the melting of Thorthomi glacier, the proglacier lake beneath it, is growing bigger. It indicates that there could be a possible hazard for a catastrophic GLOF soonest possible. A sudden breach of the lake’s dam could release a massive amount of water, ice, and debris, causing widespread destruction and endangering lives downstream(Sharma et al., 2018). To determine the GLOF susceptibility of the area downstream, hydrological modelling was performed, which make use of lakes volume and its peak discharge. Modified Normalized Difference Water Index was used to delineate the area of Thorthomi lake. The area is then used to determine the volume of the lake. Based on the volume, peak discharge and with the help of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), the susceptibility map was produced for each zone of the study area.

ID: 3.10662

Changes in glacier area and the glacial component of runoff in the upper reaches of the Naryn River

Ruslan Kenzhebaev
Barandun, Martina; Mattea, Enrico; Azisov, Erlan; Esenaman uulu, Mukhammed; Satarov, Sagynbek; Pohl, Eric; Saks, Tomas; Hoelzle, Martin; Usubaliev, Ryskul

Abstract/Description

Glaciers play a crucial role in the water resources of Central Asia, especially in arid climates where summer rainfall is minimal or absent. This study focuses on the Upper Naryn River basin, covering the catchments of the Big and Small Naryn Rivers, which provide critical water to the Syr Darya River. The catchment contributes the largest glacierized areas, totaling 759 km², including 473 km² in the Big Naryn sub-region and 286 km² in the Small Naryn. Annual monitoring and mass balance analysis are conducted on the Batysh Sook and No. 354 glaciers in the Upper Naryn. We use a distributed glacier mass balance model to calculate the topographically distributed accumulation from a daily meteorological time series and the gridded melt according to an enhanced temperature index approach. This model extrapolates point measurements from 2011 to 2024 and reconstructs mass balance data back to 2003, providing insights into the glacier dynamics of the entire basin. The analysis reveals a consistent mass loss from 2011 to 2024, with a particularly steep decline in the last 2-3 years. From 2011 to 2024, the average annual mass balance was -0.59 m w.e. yr-1 for Batysh Sook and -0.65 m w.e. yr-1 for No. 354. We compared the simulated glacier melt to the measured runoff from discharge gauging stations within Big and Small Naryn as well as to discharge measurements at the glacier terminus at the two monitoring sites. The simulated glacier melt significantly contributes to the river’s runoff, with approximately 7% in June, 36-40% in July-August, and 15% in September. Satellite imagery, including data from Sentinel 2, KH-9, and Landsat, shows that from 1977 to 2021, glaciers in the Big Naryn basin shrank by 157 km² (25%) and in the Small Naryn by 87 km² (23%), with average annual reductions of 3.56 km² and 1.97 km², respectively. Our findings indicate ongoing glacier shrinkage and advance the understanding of regional water resources and climate change impacts, calling for continued monitoring to ensure water availability and improved mitigation.

ID: 3.10912

Glacier mass balance in the Gunt river basin, Pamir, Tajikistan

Hofiz Navruzshoev
Saks, Tomas; Sheralizoda, Nazrialo; Kabutov, Khusrav; Barandun, Martina; Mattea, Enrico; Hoelzle, Martin

Abstract/Description

Climate change is increasingly accelerating the melting of the Earth’s cryosphere. The response of glaciers in HMA, including the Tien Shan and Pamir, exhibits significant spatial and temporal variability. The Gunt River basin is the second-largest tributary of the Panj (Amu Darya) River basin, covering a significant portion of the southwestern Pamir of which 609 km² is glacierized. Since 2020, in situ mass balance measurements have been conducted on Glacier #457, located in the Nukhchashma River basin. Furthermore, the glacier mass balance has been reconstructed back to 1980 using a distributed accumulation and an enhanced temperature-index model.
According to collected data, the glacier had a negative mass balance of -0.35 m w.e.yr-1 for 2020/2021 and of -0.44 m w.e.yr-1 for 2021/2022. The altitudinal mass balance gradient, derived from field measurements from 2020 to 2024, indicates that in 2020/2021, glacier melt was relatively synchronized with increasing elevation. However, in 2023/2024 the terminus of the glacier experienced less melt than in previous years. We observed a significant change in glacier geometry – steepening of the tongue, which has affected change in the vertical mass balance profile. To enhance the monitoring and process understanding, an automatic weather station was installed in the forefield of the glacier and extensive ground penetrating radar measurements were carried out to measure the ice thickness in the summer 2023. In 2024, an automatic ablation stake was installed, providing measurements of glacier melt at sub-hourly resolution.
These additional datasets, combined with the annual mass balance monitoring, will improve our understanding of the key processes governing glacier evolution and serve as a foundation for predicting future glacier changes in response to climate change and their impacts on regional water resources. In a next step, we will use an energy balance model to link the various processes at the atmosphere-cryosphere interface. The use of an process-based model at such a radiation-dominated site is crucial to 1) improve our understanding of the physical processes governing the mass balance, 2) separate sublimation from melt and 3) to better capture small-scale topographic influence on the mass balance

ID: 3.11348

Reconstruction of the mass balance and dynamics of glaciers in the Orto-Koy-Suu basin (Northern Tien Shan)

Erlan Azisov
Barandun, Martina; Saks, Tomas; Mattea, Enrico; Hoelzle, Martin; Kim, Dilara; Bakirov, Kochkunbek; Usubaliev, Ryskul; Kenzhebaev, Ruslan

Abstract/Description

The Orto-Koi-Suu river basin, Kungey Ala-Too range in the Northern Tien Shan in the Kyrgyz Republic hosts 15 glaciers, with a total area of ~ 6.52 km² (in 2024) and extends over an altitude of 3700 to 4400 m a.s.l. The glaciers in the Orto-Koi-Suu basin have lost an average of about 140 m in length and 1.61 km² in area over the entire period from 1990 to 2024. Glacier No. 599, has been monitored using the glaciological method to calculate the mass balance since 2014 to the present. Annually 10 to 12 ablation point observations and two snow pits, as well as glacier tongue position have been measured. Annual mass balance calculations with direct glaciological method suggest an average annual mass balance of -0.44 m w.e. yr-1 (2014-2024). However, in recent years we have observed the trend of increasingly negative annual mass balance. This corresponds well to reported mb gradient rotational shift at the Golubin glacier (Azisov et al 2022) We further simulated the glacier mass balance from 2000 to 2025 and estimated the glacier runoff in the Orto-Koi-Suu river basin. Our preliminary results suggest an equilibrium line altitude for the whole period of 4138 m a.s.l. and a hydrological mass balance of -0.48 m w e yr-1.

ID: 3.11719

Dynamics of Mass Balance and Area Change of the Turgen-Aksuu Glacier (1970-2024)

Sultanbek Belekov
Hyvarinen, Antti; Barandun, Martina; Mattea, Enrico; Akmatov, Ruslan; Warley, Julia; Manninen, Hanna; Svensson, Jonas; Kenzhebaev, Ruslan

Abstract/Description

The Turgen-Aksuu Glacier, located in the Chon-Ashuu river basin in Kyrgyzstan, is a critical water resource for the region. Field observations conducted between 2018 and 2024, in collaboration with the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the Kyrgyz Hydromet Service, provided important data on the glacier’s mass balance, snow accumulation, and area changes, including UAV-based mapping. The glacier’s area in 2024 was measured at 5.13 km², a 19% decrease from its size in 1965 (6.3 km²). To analyze changes in glacier mass balance, we used DMBSim, a physical glacier surface mass balance model that simulates glacier mass balance using meteorological and topographic data. The model can be calibrated with mass balance measurements and provides detailed time series and mass balance maps. The mass balance of Turgen-Aksuu Glacier shows significant negative trends, with the glacier losing 1.1 m w.e. between 2023 and 2024 and more than 17 m w.e. since 1970, indicating continued degradation. In 2024, the accumulation zone covered 31% of the glacier’s total area, and the average annual mass loss was about 1.2 m w.e./year. The ongoing retreat and negative mass balance of Turgen-Aksuu Glacier highlight the impact of climate change on glacier health, with significant implications for the region’s water resources. Continued monitoring and further modeling are essential to understand the future dynamics of the glacier and to inform water management strategies.

ID: 3.12191

Development of a Precipitation Proxy for High Mountain Asia

Raeven Van Den Acker

Abstract/Description

Until now, precipitation patterns at high altitude have remained mysterious since there is a significant lack of observational data, and models lack the resolution required to deal with the dense topographical contrasts characteristic of mountain ranges. This paper uses the mass balance of glaciers in High Mountain Asia as a proxy measurement for local precipitation, to determine the extent of the knowledge gap. The annual glacier mass balance is determined from remote sensing, and modeled temperature fields from the CHELSA dataset are used to determine annual melt rates. This is done following the same methods as used in Immerzeel, et. al (2015), which concluded that models significantly underestimate the amount of precipitation falling at high altitude.

ID: 3.12192

Irrigation impacts on glacier evolution in High-Mountain Asia

Magali Ponds
Andres Aguayo Gutierrez, Rodrigo; Yao, Yi; Thiery, Wim; Zekollari, Harry

Abstract/Description

Global irrigation has expanded nearly fivefold in the past century, increasing from approximately 500 km³/year in the early 1900s to between 2,200 and 3,000 km³/year today. This expansion has been particularly pronounced in Asia, accounting for roughly 85% of today’s global irrigation withdrawals. As one of the most impactful land management practices, irrigation significantly influences regional climate by altering precipitation patterns and cooling surface air temperatures. These meteorological changes raise important questions about how irrigation-driven weather modifications might affect glaciers in High Mountain Asia (HMA). Our study examines the impact of irrigation expansion on glaciers in HMA. We utilize climate simulations from the Irrigation Impact Model Intercomparison Project (IRRMIP). IRRMIP provides historical climate data (1901–2014) under two scenarios: (1) the Irr-scenario, reflecting real-world irrigation trends, and (2) the NoIrr-scenario, where irrigation remains limited to early 20th-century levels. The se scenarios are used as input for the Open Global Glacier Model (OGGM) to assess the effects of irrigation expansion-induced climate changes on glaciers. Our results indicate that irrigation expansion has had an important role in moderating glacier changes in HMA. Without irrigation expansion, glacier volume loss over the 1985-2014 period would have been considerably greater compared to the real-world case with irrigation expansion. These outcomes highlight the buffering effect of irrigation, which partially offsets climate-induced glacier retreat, and underscores the interconnected impacts of human land management and cryospheric systems.

ID: 3.12232

Climatic and Topographic Controls on Precipitation in the Langtang Valley, Nepal

Aris Kwadijk
Immerzeel, Walter

Abstract/Description

High mountain Asia (HMA) is considered the most important “water tower” of the world as it sustains millions of people downstream. Mountain precipitation being the main driver for the water cycle has also acted as a key trigger for natural disasters in this region resulting in thousands of casualties and billions of euros in economic damage during recent decades.

Knowledge on precipitation patterns is therefore key for the water security and protecting the region from natural hazards. In this region, orography, climate and land cover interacts with precipitation at different temporal and spatial scales and results in extreme variation in precipitation within limited lateral distances. Our current understanding of precipitation patterns within HMA are mainly based on past modelling and data ensemble products. Yet these products often do not capture this complex interaction due to their coarse grid and poor validation, especially above 4000m, due to the lack of observed meteorological data.

To address this knowledge gap, this research will investigate present valley-scale precipitation patterns by analyzing a decade of high altitude meteorological field observations in the monsoon-dominated Langtang Valley, Nepal. The data is measured by a network of tipping buckets, weather radars, pluviometers, automatic weather stations and snow observatories ranging between 2300 to 5350m. With this data, annual, seasonal and diurnal precipitation timeseries are researched to provide insight into the interaction between the monsoonal climate, orography and local valley-scale winds that drive the heterogeneous precipitation patterns within the valley. Results from this research will be used to further validate past modelling and ensemble products in this region.

ID: 3.12298

Enhancing Hydrological Predictions in Data-Scarce Himalayan Regions: Coupling a Global Glacier and Hydrological Model

Justine Berg
Horton, Pascal; Kauzlaric, Martina; von der Esch, Alexandra; Patadiya, Tarang

Abstract/Description

The Himalayan-Karakoram (HK) region serves as a vital freshwater resource for over one billion people across the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra River basins. Climate warming is expected to severely impact the cryosphere, particularly glacier and snowmelt dynamics, raising concerns for long-term water sustainability in this vulnerable region. An accurate representation of the cryosphere in hydrological models is therefore crucial to understanding these dynamics and predicting future water availability. However, these models face challenges related to meteorological forcing and calibration due to sparse data and complex topography. To better address these challenges, the Global Glacier Evolution Model (GloGEM) is one-way coupled with the flexible hydrological modelling framework Raven. The coupled glacio-hydrological model is applied to glaciated catchments in the Himalayan Mountain range, focusing on contributions of glacier and snowmelt to streamflow. Simulations with the coupled model improve both the magnitude and timing of glacier melt. These improvements affect the calibration of model parameters, particularly those related to snow, which previously compensated for deficiencies in the modelled glacier melt, altering snowmelt contributions to streamflow. In a second step, high-resolution snow cover products are used for multi-objective calibration to better define the snow parameter space and further improve simulations of snowmelt contributions to streamflow. These modelling and calibration strategies are employed to robustly assess shifts in glacier and snowmelt contributions under future climate scenarios. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance future predictions of water availability in the data-scarce Himalayan Mountain range, providing more reliable insights for long-term water resource management.

ID: 3.13017

Modeling Climate Impacts on Glacier Evolution and Water Balance in the Issyk-Kul Basin, Kyrgyzstan

Phillip Schuster
von der Esch, Alexandra; Osmonov, Azamat; Sauter, Tobias; Schneider, Christoph

Abstract/Description

Climate change and glacial retreat are altering the hydrology of high mountain rivers, affecting water availability and management. In data-scarce regions such as Central Asia, accessible modeling tools are essential for decision making.
This study uses MATILDA, an open-source glacio-hydrological model, to assess climate impacts on the water balance of the Issyk-Kul basin (Kyrgyzstan) between 1982 and 2100. For a realistic representation of the more than 800 glaciers in the basin, MATILDA is coupled with the Global Glacier Evolution Model (GloGEM). A semi-distributed approach simulates the hydrology at the catchment scale for the tributaries of Issyk-Kul. Model calibration includes snow reanalysis data, geodetic and in-situ glacier mass balance data, and 31 historical discharge records, mainly from the Soviet era.
The study assesses the projected impacts of climate change on the basin’s water balance, the cryosphere’s contribution to runoff, and lake level changes. We explore methods for modeling ungauged catchments using a set of predictors derived from soil, terrain, climate, and glaciological datasets available through cloud services such as Google Earth Engine. We also evaluate the added value of dedicated glacier models compared to the simplified routines used in most hydrological models. The study integrates historical field observations with data from global and regional models and remote sensing to support water resource management in glacierized basins under climate change.

ID: 4.0006

Pisab ko Hisab – The Calculation of Urine.

Khim Lal Gautam

Abstract/Description

Mount Everest Base Camp (EBC), a key stop for climbers aiming to reach the summit, has experienced a significant rise in human activity in recent years, leading to increased environmental stress on the Khumbu Glacier—particularly from human biological waste. This study focuses on the thermal impact of human urine on glacier melting, identifying it as an important yet often overlooked contributor to localized ice loss. During the 2023 spring climbing season, field data were collected to estimate the total heat energy released by urine deposited directly onto the glacier surface, factoring in urine volume, temperature, frequency, and distribution across the campsite. While each urination event releases only a small amount of heat, the combined effect—especially with the high number of visitors—can lead to measurable melting of snow and ice, particularly in areas around tents and shared facilities where waste accumulates. This localized melting not only accelerates ice loss but also destabilizes the glacier surface. The study also explores the shortcomings of current sanitation practices, which often allow direct urination onto the glacier, and recommends improved waste management solutions such as centralized urine disposal systems. These measures are essential for reducing the human impact on this fragile high-altitude environment and promoting more sustainable mountaineering practices.

FS 2.125: Current developments of open source gravitational mass flow simulation tools in avalanche research and education

FS 3.235: Mountain Precipitation and Hydroclimate in a Changing Climate: Processes, Feedbacks, and Implications

#IMC: September 14 - 18 2025

FS 3.101

High Asia cryo-hydrology: processes and impacts across elevations

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