2014
  • Non-ICIMOD publication

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Climate Change in the Tibetan Plateau Region: Glacial Melt and Future Water Security

  • Levacher, C.
  • Summary

In this report, it is reported that average surface temperature has increase 1.8 °C from 2006, resulting in glacial shrinkage of up to 45 per cent by 2100; with an increase of 3.7 °C, the reduction would be closer to 68 per cent in future. It has been indicated that approximately 6 to 45 per cent of flows in the major rivers are dependent on glacial melt. An increase in glacial melt could cause significant disruptions to the region’s future water security. Temperature increases and glacial shrinkage will provide more water in the short-term. Predictions indicate that the quantity of run-off water from melting glaciers will rise until at least 2050. Over the long-term, unpredictable monsoonal variability, glacial shrinkage will reduce water availability, lengthier drought periods, flooding events from sudden GLOF which diminishes regional agricultural productivity of the Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra fertile plains. Climate change induced water scarcity will negatively impact the region’s agricultural productivity, energy production, and peoples’ livelihoods. It has been clearified that glacial melting data are though conflicting, uncertainity in climatic parameters increases the vulnerability in the region

  • Language:
    English
  • Published Year:
    2014
  • Publisher Name:
    Future Direction International
  • External Link:
    External link