Back to news
23 Jun 2016 | News

Cryosphere Data Release

2 mins Read

70% Complete

Open access to high-elevation meteorological data and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) data from the Himalayas

Meteorological data is scarce in high-elevation environments, and detailed imagery and repeat digital elevation models of debris-covered glaciers have not been made publically available until now. The Cryosphere Initiative at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is thus pleased to announce the public release of hourly automatic weather station data and UAV data. These data were obtained through collaborations between the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (Government of Nepal), Kathmandu University, Utrecht University, and the Cryosphere Initiative at ICIMOD. These data are now hosted on ICIMOD’s regional database system (www.rds.icimod.org), and user registration is required for download. The release includes full metadata and the following files:

  1. Rikha Samba (5300 m): http://rds.icimod.org/Home/DataDetail?metadataId=26858
  2. Kyanging (3860 m): http://rds.icimod.org/Home/DataDetail?metadataId=22464
  3. Yala Base Camp (5300 m): http://rds.icimod.org/Home/DataDetail?metadataId=26859
    • 1 m resolution orthomosaics and digital elevation models of the debris-covered Lirung glacier from May and October 2013
    1. Data link:http://rds.icimod.org/Home/Data?any=UAV
Sample 1 m UAV data at Lirung Glacier, October 2013. The left panel shows orthomosaic image, and the right panel shows elevation model with hillshade.

Dr Joseph Shea, senior glacier hydrologist at ICIMOD, noted that “this data release is part of our ongoing commitment to open-data access in the region, which doesn’t have much in the way of high-elevation data.”  The data are primarily intended for students and researchers to conduct their own analyses.

Research incorporating these datasets have been published in the following research papers:

These data were collected with financial support from the Norwegian government and the Department for International Development (UK). ICIMOD and its partners would also like to acknowledge Dr Rijan Kayastha, Kathmandu University, for providing logistical support; the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation; the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal; and the Nepal Army for providing the permits to conduct research in the selected sites.

For more information, please contact:

Dr Joseph Shea

Email: Joseph.Shea@icimod.org

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 Content

Continue exploring this topic

30 Jul 2018 HUC
HUC Academy 2018: Building Mountain Research Capacity

The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, a global asset for food, energy and water resources, is ...

9 Dec 2016 News
Communities Develop Demonstrable Agroforestry Systems with Poulownia Plantation in Sushare Gaun, Gorkha, Nepal

Agroforestry is practiced in both tropical and temperate regions where it produces food, fiber and biomass energy, contributes to food ...

18 Feb 2015 News
ICIMOD and Aaranyak monitor and improve the CBFEWS in Assam, India

The team assessed and modified the existing equipment at the installation sites in Dihiri ...

29 May 2017 Himalica
Cardamania: Cardamom Drinks Launched at ICIMOD Haat Bazaar

At the fair, the Brazilian Ambassador to Nepal Maria Teresa Mesquita Pêssoa visited the Himalica stall and tasted the cardamom ...

7 Jul 2017 News
ICIMOD DG Stresses South South Learning in National Science Foundation of China meeting

Molden addressed the importance of South-South learning to common regional mountain issues such as climate change and adaptation, mountain hazards ...

15 Apr 2015 News
Mobilizing early response for combating forest fire

The SERVIR-Himalaya Initiative of ICIMOD, in collaboration with theDepartment of Forests (DoF) of Nepal, carried out field level awareness campaign in ...

Anchoring Transboundary Cooperation: Vegetation and Land Use Type Map of Kailash Sacred Landscape

Kailash sacred landscape covers more than 31,000 km2 geographical area and is spread across China, India, and Nepal. It exhibits ...

20 Jul 2019 News
ICIMOD Work Highlighted by The World Academy of Sciences

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) was profiled by TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences for the advancement of ...