Ice Stupas and Water Security November 2017 Volume 31 Number 2

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new horizons the big picture A-level geography Ice stupas and water security November 2017 Volume 31 Number 2 adakh is a high-elevation landscape in northern India, in the These ice mounds are the brainchild of local engineer and award- rain shadow of the Himalayas. Much of the region lies above winning sustainability champion Wangchuck Sonam. The costs are L3,000 m but receives less than 100 mm of rainfall a year. This minimal and the technology is simple. Their shape resembles the Contested is a highland desert where communities have traditionally relied Buddhist temple or stupa — a distinctive feature of this region. The on meltwater from glaciers to irrigate crops and water livestock. form of these ice stupas helps to maximise the area of ice in shade and Meltwater supplies are becoming increasingly erratic, however, as prolong their life. Some last well into July and the largest may contribute the region’s glaciers shrink. 5,000 litres of water per day to irrigation projects. They represent an One strategy to increase water security in the Ladakh region involves elegant and ingenious strategy to help tackle a growing water-resource ocean spaces creating large artificial ice masses to store water for the summer growing problem faced by many rural communities in high mountains. season. Plastic pipes bring meltwater down to the villages where gravity pressure is harnessed to spray water high into the air during the bitter Territorial disputes in Jamie Woodward is professor of physical geography at The winter nights. It freezes into a conical shape as it falls — an ‘ice stupa’. University of Manchester and an editor of GEOGRAPHY REVIEW. The largest ice stupas are 30–50 metres high. the South China Sea Up-to-date case studies: ■ Population change in Uganda ■ Arctic glaciers and global warming ■ Tropical peatlands and the carbon cycle Global systems and global governance Matching your skills to command words in the exam Get more from this issue of GEOGRAPHY REVIEW, with free online resources. eMagazine See page 1 and www.hoddereducation.co.uk/geographyreviewextras available Tell us what you think #hoddermags Please note single issues are not available for separate purchase GeogRev31_2.indd 2 27/09/2017 12:37 pm.

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