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Climate change will affect the Asian water towers.
Walter W Immerzeel1, Ludovicus P H van Beek, Marc F P Bierkens
1FutureWater, Costerweg 1G, 6702 AA Wageningen, Netherlands. w.immerzeel@futurewater.nl
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 12, 2010
Summary
Climate change impacts river flow and food security for 1.4 billion people. The Indus and Brahmaputra river basins face the greatest risks from reduced water availability, threatening millions.
Area of Science:
- Hydrology
- Climate Science
- Food Security
Background:
- Over 1.4 billion people rely on water from major Asian rivers: Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Yangtze, and Yellow.
- Upstream snow and ice reserves are crucial for seasonal water availability but are vulnerable to climate change.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the role of meltwater in major Asian river basins.
- To determine the extent to which climate change affects water availability and food security in these regions.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of meltwater contribution to river flow.
- Climate change impact modeling on water resources.
Main Results:
- Meltwater is critical for the Indus, important for the Brahmaputra, and less significant for Ganges, Yangtze, and Yellow rivers.
- Indus and Brahmaputra basins are most vulnerable to flow reductions due to climate change.
- Food security for approximately 60 million people is threatened in these vulnerable basins.
Conclusions:
- Climate change poses significant risks to water resources and food security in the Indus and Brahmaputra basins.
- Targeted adaptation strategies are needed for these highly susceptible regions.
- Understanding regional variations in meltwater importance is key for effective water management.
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