Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Observed climate changes over the HKH Mean climates Observed climate changes over the HKH Mean climates

1901

1951

2014

1901

1951

2014

Upward trend

Upward trend

Total precipitation

Downward trend

Total precipitation

Downward trend

Upward trend

Upward trend

Mean temperature

Mean temperature

Upward trend

Upward trend

1900

1950

2000

Source: RenandShrestha,2017.Datasummarized fromRenetal.,2017;Sunetal.,2017;Zhanetal.,2017

900

1950

2000

GRID-A RENDAL / L ÓPEZ , 2018

Source: RenandShrestha,2017.Datasummarized fromRenetal.,2017;Sunetal.,2017;Zhanetal.,2017

GRID-A RENDAL / L ÓPEZ , 2018

Few studies cover the whole HKH region, but a recent regional study (Shrestha et al., 2015a) found some interesting trends across the region: areas along the high mountain belt of the eastern Himalayas in particular have seen monsoon precipitation increase, whereas for other areas the opposite is true, such as those southof theGanges and Indus basinswhichhave had the greatest decline in monsoon precipitation. The winters of most central and southern areas in the HKH region have been wetter, while northern areas have been drier. Extreme precipitation events have decreased in number, though the amount of precipitation for each extreme event has seemed to increase, especially in the western part of the HKH.

East Chulu Himalayan Peak shrouded in monsoon clouds

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