Back to news
29 Jun 2015 | News

ICIMOD research stations damaged by Nepal Earthquake 2015

1 min Read

70% Complete

 

Langtang Valley has been the focus of intense glaciological, meteorological, and hydrological fieldwork over the past four years as part of the Norwegian-supported cryosphere monitoring project.  Twelve meteorological and hydrological stations installed across Langtang valley have been pivotal in training regional and international post-graduate students through research conducted in ICIMOD’s Cryosphere Initiative. These stations collect important meteorological (air temperature, wind speed, solar radiation, precipitation) and hydrological (water level) data that have been used in a number of high-impact publications.

The stations were substantially damaged by the 7.8 magnitude earth quake that hit Nepal on 25 April 2015. A four member survey team led by Joseph Shea (Glacier Hydrologist, ICIMOD), Patrick Wagnon (Visiting scientist, ICIMOD/IRD), Gyalbu Tamang (Kyanging), and Djornay Lama (Langtang) visited the stations sites in Langtang to assess the damage in June 2015, two months after the quake. Five meteorological stations were destroyed by air blasts from avalanches in the valley, one was toppled by the earthquake, and one station was completely buried by the high snowpack.  One hydrological station was damaged by the air blast that hit Kyanging Gompa.

A team of ICIMOD researchers visited the valley in October 2015 to repair the main stations at Kyanging and Yala Base Camp, and carried out maintenance on the rest of the stations.

Summary of Langtang Valley station damages

Station Damages
AWS-Kyanging Tower, CNR4, anemometer, Jennoptik, Pluvio
AWS-Lirung (ETH) Everything; datalogger returned to KTM
AWS-Yala Base Camp Tower, Pluvio base and windscreen; CNR4 still malfunctioning due to AEM
AWS-Yala Glacier Anemometer, other components unknown; no data retrieved
AWS-Langtang (ETH) Incoming solar radiation
Pluvio-Yala Everything – datalogger returned to KTM and data retrieved
Pluvio-Ganga La Frame, Pluvio, SR50, 1/2 solar panels, anemometer
Pluvio-Morimoto None
Pluvio-Langshisha Unknown
HS-Lirung Station pole and fencing bent, sensor ok
HS-Kyanging RTS installation unsatisfactory
HS-Langshisha None

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

Related Contents

Continue exploring this topic

30 Jan 2017 Gender in Koshi
The road ahead for Nepal’s water management

In the Lohajar VDC of Saptari district, in Nepal’s floodplains, Gopal Khatiwada plays a key role in developing and implementing ...

14 Jun 2018 REDD+
ICIMOD supports ICFRE in developing State REDD+ Action Plan for Uttarakhand, India

Countries seeking funds from the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme need to develop a National REDD+ ...

1 May 2019 DFAT Brahmaputra
Refresher training for spring management partners in Bhutan

Experts from ICIMOD and the Advanced Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (ACWADAM) facilitated the refresher training which included ...

20 Nov 2018 Atmosphere Initiative
Valley Mayors Commit to Clean Valley Air

The two-hour event included experts’ briefings on the current scientific understanding of air pollution, on the possible solutions that municipalities ...

30 Nov 2015 News
Teaching the Basics of Glacier Monitoring

  As part of monitoring and assessment of changes in glaciers, snow and glacio-hydrology in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, the Cryosphere ...

6 Jan 2017 News
Use of Picture Series Gaining Momentum in KSL

The Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative’s (KSLCDI) efforts to encourage the use of pictures as an adult education ...

13 Jun 2017 Atmosphere Initiative
Studying the Contribution of Indoor Emissions to Outdoor Air Quality

The team used two sets of instruments to measure particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide ...

15 May 2015 News
Impact of Nepal Earthquake 2015 on Langthang Valley

  The 7.8 magnitude Nepal earthquake on April 25, 2015 and subsequent aftershocks caused more than 8,500 fatalities, nearly 22,500 injured, ...