Work package 1 – Data analysis of in-situ measurements (Resp: P. Wagnon) Figure 1 shows a map of the Everest region with the measurement network initially developed within the GLACIOCLIM program and two past ANR projects (Paprika and Preshine projects; 2010-2018). This extensive measurement network is exceptional in the Himalayas and provides crucial information of the spatio-temporal variability of precipitation in the Everest region. The comprehensive and dense dataset provides valuable (…)

Read more

Work package 2 – Comparison with available gridded/re-analysed precipitation products such as remote sensing products for precipitation magnitude or snow cover (Resp: D. Aryal, D. Shrestha) The available reanalysis precipitation products such as ERA-interim, ERA-5, MERRA, APHRODITE, NCEP, HAR, CRU etc. are derived from low altitude meteorological stations at resolutions generally coarser than tens of kilometres (depending on the products). Satellite data are also used to produce gridded (…)

Read more

Work Package 3 - Assessment of snow accumulation over glaciers: more insights about spatial variability of precipitation at multiple scales (Resp: F. Brun – recruited at IRD in 2020) Measuring solid precipitation at high elevation is challenging and needs specific devices like Geonor all-weather rain gauges that are impossible to deploy over ice covered areas. However, solid precipitation may be assessed using accumulation measurements on glaciers, combining different approaches. Here, we (…)

Read more

Work Package 4 - Modelling: application of climate models over HMA (Resp: M. Ménégoz – recruited at CNRS in 2019) During the course of WATER-HIMAL, a couple of climate models will be used to interpret the meteorological conditions observed locally. The first one is the Modèle Atmosphérique Régional (MAR, CNRS, France), a regional climate model that has already been used to investigate precipitation variability in the Nepalese Himalaya17. This model will be applied to investigate (…)

Read more

Work Package 5 - Impacts on water resources: application of a distributed physically based hydro-glaciological model to studied basins to evaluate the influence of climate and glacier changes on the sustainability of the hydrological budget (Resp: M. Esteves and D. Koirala). River discharges are continuously measured since 2010 at two hydromeric stations (Pheriche, Phakding) in the upper Dudh Koshi catchment (Figure 1). To control the rating curves, discharges will be regularly measured in (…)

Read more