Back to news
8 Oct 2018 | CryoHub

CryoBrain interaction with Norwegian cryosphere expert

To promote knowledge sharing on cryosphere research regarding the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development’s (ICIMOD) Cryosphere Initiative regularly organizes CryoBrain events, welcoming members of international scientific communities to discuss their work and share their findings with ICIMOD’s team of glaciologists and cryosphere researchers.

1 min Read

70% Complete
Kjetil Melvold, researcher at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), presents his ongoing research on sub-grid snow distribution (Photo: Chimi Seldon/ICIMOD)

Kjetil Melvold, researcher at the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), presented his ongoing research on sub-grid snow distribution (i.e., a part of the grid covered by snow) and methods of parameterizing this in large-scale snow models. Melvold was visiting ICIMOD as one of the major contributors to the Snow Accumulation and Melt Process (SnowAMP) project, a collaboration between ICIMOD and NVE that aims to increase scientific knowledge on snow accumulation and melt processes in the Himalayas.

Snowmelt is an important source of water in Norway as well as in the HKH. Factors such as snow depth, terrains, and solar radiation are studied to establish the extent of their influence on the melt process. The land surface of the research area is often presented as a grid of flat, uniform cells in remote-sensing and modelling products. These products can indicate, for example, whether the cell is snow free or covered by snow. The reality, however, is much more complex than that.

Melvold highlighted the importance of sub-grid snow distribution for large-scale hydrological models: “Sub-grid snow distribution is needed, for example, to more accurately validate modelled snow depth with observations and remote-sensing products. It is also important for obtaining accurate snow melt discharge from the snowpack during snowmelt season.”

Research works such as Melvold’s provide evidence-based knowledge for implementing effective water resource management and predicting future water availability.

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

11 Jun 2018 REDD+
India’s first State REDD+ Action Plan in the making

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has tried to build capacity to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest ...

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 ...

17 Nov 2015 News
Soil Study in Mustang

  Up to 18 thousand gross tonnes of carbon are stored in worldwide soils, almost double the amount stored in all ...

The time is right to apply research findings in the Upper Indus Basin Network and expand into all four riparian countries

The Upper Indus Basin Network (UIB-N), which began in 2010 as a diverse group of researchers in Pakistan conducting important ...

Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KLCDI) Pilot Implementation Phase Underway

The G B Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Sustainable Development, (GBPNIHESD), the Indian nodal organisation with support from ...

16 Apr 2015 News
ICIMOD observes partnership with Myanmar

Greatly appreciating the Government of Myanmar’s partnership with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Minister U Win Tun ...

21 Feb 2018 KSL
Manual on Planning Management for Ecosystem Services Launched

The operations manual can be of use in most terrestrial environments of the world. Its purpose is to include ecosystem ...

16 Jan 2017 Gender in Koshi
ICIMOD Initiative Helping Watershed Communities in the Koshi Basin Come Together

In the floodplain Bakdhuwa village development committee of Saptari district, eastern Nepal, local communities often face challenges related to water ...