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

21 Jun 2016 News
ICIMOD Supports the Celebration of the World Environment Day in Afghanistan

ICIMOD, together with the Wildlife Conservation Society,United Nations Environment Programme, and UK Department for International Development, supported the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA ...

24 Nov 2016 News
ISO 27001:2013 Certification for ICIMOD Information Technology Unit

ICIMOD is pleased to announce that its information technology unit has been awarded certification from the International Organization for Standardization ...

12 Dec 2016 News
“A Song for Barpak” Takes ICIMOD Prize at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival

With stirring images and stories from before and after the devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake, director Pradip Pokhrel conveys a powerful ...

2 Aug 2016 News
Knowledge Forum in New Delhi Called for Stronger Regional Collaboration Among Countries in the Himalayas and Downstream Countries

Countries in the Himalayan and downstream areas of the Hindu Kush Himalayas need to strengthen their collaboration to address food, ...

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 ...

19 Oct 2015 News
ICIMOD Proposed to Host Web-based Hazard Platform

  In Nepal, landslides are one of the most common natural hazards, causing serious economic damage and affecting thousands of vulnerable ...

27 Aug 2016 News
Partnering in Pakistan

Integrating key national and regional issues into the the Fourth Medium Term Action Plan (MTAP-IV, 2018-22) was the objective for ...