High and dry – Availability and Use of Water in the Cold-Arid Trans-Himalaya
Prof. Dr. Marcus Nüsser (Universität Heidelberg)
The high mountain deserts of the Trans-Himalaya are characterized by steep hygric elevation gradients, which show an extreme contrast between the arid valley terraces and the glaciated ridgelines and peaks. In these cold-arid environments, traditional forms of irrigation-based agriculture are a characteristic landscape element. Following an overview of the current state and development of the region´s cyrosphere, the talk will explore socio-hydrological systems through regional case studies. The presentation will highlight the importance of the different components of the cyrosphere and showcase adaption strategies to water scarcity, with a particular focus on the storage of water in frozen form.
