Research Projects

The Himalayan region is often called the "Third Pole." It holds the most snow and ice outside the polar areas. This region serves as the main water source for nearly two billion people in Asia. Snowmelt plays a major role in feeding rivers, especially during the dry season before the monsoon. It supports farming, hydropower, drinking water, and the environment downstream. But this natural balance is under threat. Climate change and human activities are changing snow patterns. Rising temperatures are affecting how much snow falls, how deep it is, and when it melts. Rainfall patterns are also shifting. At the same time, cities are growing fast. Roads and buildings are increasing. Forests are being cut down. These changes are harming snow-covered areas and changing how water flows. As a result, there are more floods and droughts. This puts pressure on water supplies and emergency systems in South and Central Asia. Even though the Himalayas are important, it is hard to study them. The mountains are big, steep, and high. There is not enough local data. This makes it difficult to understand how snow and water systems are changing. New tools can help. Satellites, climate data, and water models are giving us better ways to study snow. This project will use these tools. It will look at how snow has changed over time and what that means for floods and droughts. The goal is to help manage water better and prepare for climate changes in the future.