Regional flood information system and Cryosphere Monitoring in Kush Himalaya

South Hydromet Forum, 18-21 September 2018 Geneva

Mandira Singh Shrestha ICIMOD Outline of presentation

• The floods and the key issues • Good practices in flood risk reduction in the HKH • Achievements of HKH HYCOS -supporting modernization of hydromet networks and establishment of regional flood information system • Use of hydromet data • Cryosphere monitoring in the HKH region • Lessons learnt • Opportunities for cooperation 8 of which 6-7 with substantial cryosphere resources 240 million people in the HKH 1.9 billion people living in the mountains and downstream

Himalayan are sources of freshwater reserves which provide headwaters for major river systems in Asia Floods in the HKH region

• Extreme flood events in the HKH region has increased • 2013 floods in Uttarakhand, killed more than 5000 people • 2010 floods in killed 2,000 people and left 20 million homeless, with a financial loss of USD 10 billion (FFC, 2010); • 2007 floods in India and killed more than 3,000 people and left millions homeless. South Asia Floods 2017 Key issues in the HKH region

• There is a diversity of technical, scientific, and institutional capacity • There is limited exchange of real- time data especially across national boundaries – increase lead time • The integration of risk information into EWS is still weak • Investment in FEWS is low and of less priority • Opportunities for sharing knowledge, experiences and know- how The Hindu Kush Himalayan Hydrological Cycle Observing System (HKH – HYCOS) Making information travel faster than flood waters • Establishment of a Regional Flood Information System in the HKH-Region - Timely exchange of flood data and information through an accessible and user friendly platform

HYCOS is a vehicle for technology transfer, training and capacity building Innovation in technologies for end to end flood early warning system

• Advancement in technology : real-time data through sensors

• Data transmission through CDMA, GPRS/GSM, and satellite iridium

• ICT for risk communication

• Space based technology using earth observations are increasing the lead time, filling data gaps in flood modeling Modernization of observation network

• 38 hydrometeorological stations upgraded in four countries (Bangladesh, , , Pakistan) • Access to > 300 Global Telecommunication Stations of WMO • Real time data acquisition The Hindu Kush Himalayan Hydrological Cycle Observing System (HKH – HYCOS)

Regional flood outlook and information system Enhancing user interface

• Assessment of the Components of the early warning system (EWS) communication of flood early warning: formal and informal mechanisms and gaps – technical, institutional and sociocultural • Regional case studies on best practices in communicating flood early warning • Development of communication products • Capacity building and training CRYOSPHERE in the HKH

Largest reserves of snow and ice outside the polar Seasonal snow region up to 10% of total area 50,000 glaciers Permafrost area exceeding area Glacier extent in the HKH IMPORTANCE OF CRYOSPHERE

CRYOSPHERE SERVICES CLIMATIC INDICATOR ALBEDO FEEDBACK MOUNTAIN TOURISM WATER STORAGE HAZARDS RELIGIOUS BELIEFSHABITAT

CARBON STORAGE AGRICULTURE

FRESH WATER ENERGY Cryosphere monitoring approach by Global Terrestial Network for Glaciers GTN-G

In-situ measurements Cryosphere

Monitoring Development

Remote sensing Modelling

Capacity Capacity

Knowledge ManagementKnowledge Impact

Policy influence Field based long term monitoring empower women in the field of cryospheric sciences in the HKH region Glacier monitoring in Nepal

In collaboration with partners in Nepal (DHM, KU) and France

Rikha Samba Glacier Yala Glacier Lirung Glacier Langtang Glacier Catchment / Type Since location Mera Glacier Hidden Pokalde Glacier Rikha Samba Clean/ 2011 Valley/Dhaulagiri Changri Nup Glacier Clean/plateau 2011 Yala Langtang Valley Lirung Langtang Valley Debris/valley 2012 Langtang Langtang Valley Debris/valley 2012 Dudh Mera Clean/valley 2007 Koshi/Everest Pokalde Khumbu/Everest Clean/valley 2009 Changri Nup Khumbu/Everest Clean / valley 2010 Understand the high mountain processes and address the data gaps Annual glacier mass balances in Khumbu, Nepal

Sherpa et al. 2017 Remote sensing based glacier mapping and monitoring

Bajracharya et al., 2015 http://rds.icimod.org/ Modelling

Shea et al., 2015 Lessons Learnt

• Technology: flood information system at basin scale • Limited networks in the region: high altitude – need further strengthening and sharing • Utility of data and information for developing flood outlook demonstrated the value of real-time data: development of customized products • Capacity building and training enhanced cooperation and partnerships: support to Glaciology program • Flood forecasting and warning needs to be integrated with the disaster risk management activities for an effective end to end flood early warning system • Efforts needed for risk communication, awareness, better preparedness and strengthen institutional mechanisms Lessons Learnt

• Concerted efforts required for mainstreaming into programmes: by end of 2019 9 female glaciologist would have graduated and 5 doing PhD • Collaboration between projects and various funding agencies multiply the success: in terms of building on, continuity • Regional cooperation is a long term effort and requires building trust Opportunities for regional collaboration

• Capacity building • Standardized methods • Impact based flood forecasting and strengthening capacities • Early warning and communication products • Knowledge, Information and data sharing • Cryosphere services • Transboundary issues THANK YOU