Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Sustainable WAter Security through the Development of Artificial Glaciers (SWASDAG) in cold arid desert of Ladakh, India

Pays/Région : Inde

Date : 1 January 2018–31 December 2020

Identifiant : 2017-05435_VR

Présentation
The cold arid desert ecosystem of Ladakh has been destabilised over the past three decades through the influx of tourism and changing climate. A remarkable solution to this water shortage has been demonstrated by an engineer Chewang Norphel through the construction of artificial glaciers in lower altitudes which melt early in the spring when the water shortage is most critical, thus giving some water security to the population.

An improved version of this concept in the form of ice cones by another engineer Sonam Wangchuk is still in the initial project stage and requires collaborations, funding, technological support, and continuous prototype improvements to ensure a better spatio-temporal coverage with the goal of providing sustainable water security to entire Ladakh region. In the proposed project, as a team of trained glaciologists, hydrologists, remote sensing specialists, atmospheric scientists, and engineers, our focus will be to address the practical issues in developing the artificial glaciers, make them more sustainable, perform site-suitability analyses, and impart technology transfer through community-based training for managing and harvesting water from them. In the first two years we will study snow physical properties in lab and in situ, and identify suitable sites through geospatial modeling to install more glaciers. In the 3rd year, we will collaborate with the local authorities to make it a community-driven approach generating water security and employment.

Coordination : Luleå University of Technology

Financement : Swedish Research Council
Budget : 1,170,000 kr

Swecris project database