Wi-Fi network at Imja Tsho (lake), Nepal: an Early Warning System (EWS) for Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)

Early warning system (EWS) is an integral component of risk management for natural threats as societal catastrophes many of which are attributed to climate change is on the rise. It has been listed as one of the five priorities under Hy- ogo Framework for Action (HFA) for building disaster resilience nations and communities. However, to put in place an operational and reliable technical Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) EWS in the Himalaya, characterized by hostile terrain and climate, despite the urgency in view of the climate change is a challenge. It needs a robust and unique yet simple manageable and replicable system considering the number of potentially dangerous glacial lakes. As a collaborative pilot initiative between International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Kieo University, Japan, has put in place a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) based lake monitoring system in Imja Tsho (Lake) of Dudh Koshi basin, Nepal. The uniqueness of this system is in the extended utility offered by internet connectivity and opportunity thereby for different actors to pull resources thus making replication viable financially. Other unique feature of this system is the possible on-line services (distance education, tele-medicine and communication) to rural populace which is critical for inculcating ownership necessary for functioning of such instrumentations in rural set up. In view of these possibilities, Wi-Fi based lake monitoring system has huge potential to be adapted for GLOF EWS in future.