Glacier systems and seasonal snow cover in six major Asian river basins: water storage properties under changing climate

Abstract

The publications in this series cover a wide range of subjects—from computer modeling to experience with water user associations—and vary in content from directly applicable research to more basic studies, on which applied work ultimately depends. Some research reports are narrowly focused, analytical and detailed empirical studies; others are wide-ranging and synthetic overviews of generic problems. Although most of the reports are published by IWMI staff and their collaborators, we welcome contributions from others. Each report is reviewed internally by IWMI staff, and by external reviewers. The reports are published and distributed both in hard copy and electronically (www.iwmi.org) and where possible all data and analyses will be available as separate downloadable files. Reports may be copied freely and cited with due acknowledgment. About IWMI IWMI's mission is to improve the management of land and water resources for food, livelihoods and the environment. In serving this mission, IWMI concentrates on the integration of policies, technologies and management systems to achieve workable solutions to real problems—practical, relevant results in the field of irrigation and water and land resources. Glacier systems and seasonal snow cover in six major Asian river basins: water storage properties under changing climate. / glaciers / monitoring / seasonality / snow cover / river basins / climate change / impact assessment / remote sensing / water resources / water availability / water storage / hydrological cycle / mountains / surveys / models / institutions / Asia / during the search for published literature and in primary data acquisition, or both. Online resources of NSIDC, World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) and ICIMOD were extensively used, and Graham Cogley (Trent University, Canada) is thanked, in particular, for sharing the World Glacier Inventory-Extended Format (WGI-XF). The assistance of Ameer Rajah and Salman Siddiqui (both of IWMI, Colombo) was essential in downloading and processing data on seasonal snow. Switzerland) for many fruitful discussions and valuable advice. Constructive comments and criticism of two anonymous reviewers and Peter McCornick (IWMI, Colombo) are gratefully acknowledged. The authors are also indebted to the late Mark Dyurgerov (University of Colorado Boulder, USA) for sharing his ideas and general insights years before this study materialized.