The hydrological system of Northern India is based on two phenomena, the monsoon precipitation in summer and the growth and melt of the snow and ice cover in the Himalaya. Climate change is expected to change these phenomena and it will have a profound impact on snow cover, glaciers and its related hydrology and water resources availability, especially in the perennial river basins Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra, where snow and glacier melt form a great part of the rivers’ flow.
India is a country in rapid socio-economic development. These developments will have a profound influence on the use of water resources. With a growing population and economy, water demand for food production, electricity production and for other sectors will increase.
In order to anticipate the potential negative effects of changes in water resources availability and demand, implementation of adaptation measures is necessary. Therefore, small-scale, community level strategies, that increase the resilience and adaptive capacity of the most vulnerable groups must be considered alongside the large scale, technical/structural approaches that could potentially dominate adaptation planning. It is obvious that traditional, single sector adaptation measures will fall short. Instead, integrated measures that enhance adaptive capacities of systems are required to be identified and strengthened.
Aim
The HighNoon project aims to assess the impact of Himalayan glaciers retreat and possible changes of the Indian summer monsoon on the spatial and temporal distribution of water resources in Northern India. The project further aims to provide recommendations for appropriate and efficient response strategies that strengthen the cause for adaptation to hydrological extreme events through a participatory process.
The High Noon approach and objectives
HighNoon is an EU funded research project focusing on the development of adaptation measures in Northern India. The project is carried out as collaboration between European and Indian partner institutes.
The basic approach of the HighNoon project is to link the results of improved climate modelling to the estimation of practical and applicable adaptation measures. The main aspects of the research programme are:
- Developing scenarios for snowmelt and monsoon patterns, based on improved regional climate simulations
- Developing realistic regional socio-economic scenarios, and assess the changing water resources, using regional models
- Providing new methods for the prioritization of adaptation measures to be used as a design tool in the selection of adaptation options
- Participative development of specific multi-sector adaptation measures, in consultation with stakeholders.
In the HighNoon project, the Earth System Science and Climate Change group of Wageningen UR focuses on the relationship between climate change and water use in a highly vulnerable region. HighNoon will deliver the following products:
- Regional climate change scenarios with improved representation of the snowmelt and monsoon patterns, which are the most important phenomena in the region
- Socio-economic scenarios for population, economy and water use, that are consistent at all relevant scales
- Participatory developed methodology for the prioritization of cross-sectoral adaptation measures
- Participatory developed relevant sets of adaptation measures, that are tested within a regional modelling framework
This project is funded by the European Commission, Seventh Framework Programme.
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Contact
Ir E.J. (Eddy) Moors, +31 (0)317-486431, Eddy.Moors(at)wur.nl
Drs H. (Hester) Biemans, +31 (0)317-486455, Hester.Biemans(at)wur.nl