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

Preserving Traditions and Strengthening Livelihoods through Transboundary Yak Conservation

Nepal, India, and Bhutan – which share the transboundary Kangchenjunga landscape in the eastern Himalaya – have been connected through ...

27 Mar 2015 Atmosphere Initiative
Reducing black carbon in the region will have multiple benefits and save lives

The Himalaya region is among the most vulnerable parts of the world to climate change. Retreating glaciers reduce dry-season water ...

8 May 2015 News
ICIMOD’s earthquake response task force maps potential helicopter landing sites

A team of GIS and remote sensing experts at ICIMOD are mapping possible helicopter landing sites for village development committees ...

2 Feb 2017 Himalica
Himalica Pilot Partners Meet to Review 2016 Progress and Plan for 2017

  At the regional review and planning workshop held in Kathmandu, Nepal, this January, Himalica pilot implementing partners from Bangladesh, Bhutan, ...

Linking Pilot Interventions to Policy Formulation

Large cardamom is a high value cash crop and a leading source of livelihood for a large number of people ...

2 Jan 2015 News
Promoting regional efforts to reduce flood vulnerabilities

ICIMOD, in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), organized the eighth Regional Steering Committee (RSC) meeting ...

10 Jun 2016 KSL
Mapping Kailash Kora for Conservation and Promotion of Responsible Heritage Tourism

Researchers from Sichuan University, China visited the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Nepal 18-22 April 2016 to ...