Growth in the population over time is bound to increase the expansion of densely populated areas ... more Growth in the population over time is bound to increase the expansion of densely populated areas which will change the dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) directly or indirectly. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of urban growth on the land surface temperature (LST) in Kathmandu. We used the maximum likelihood classification method for LULC classification and change detection of pre-monsoon satellite data for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020. LST was then calculated using the thermal infrared band from the satellite imagery. Finally, the relationship between urban growth and LST was assessed by correlation and regression analysis. The result shows an increase in urban areas by 241.61% of the total area between 2000 and 2020. The analysis of thermal patterns shows that there is a gradual increase in temperature in the urban area. With an overall accuracy of 89.96% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.86, the study shows high agreement between classified data from images. This study shows that urbanization has a significant positive impact on average land surface temperature, yet the relationship is 40 not significant. Sustainable city planning and strict adherence to the Land Use Act and regulations will assist to make the urbanization process more sustainable in the future.
Nepal Journal of Environmental Science, Dec 4, 2017
Periglacial environment in the Nepal Himalaya (80°04' to 88°12' E longitude and 26°22' to 30°27' ... more Periglacial environment in the Nepal Himalaya (80°04' to 88°12' E longitude and 26°22' to 30°27' N latitude) is a research field that has received a little scientific attention although the first reported periglacial research was in 1958. After the first periglacial research, only 22 studies are reported in Nepal (area: 147,181 km 2), most of which is carried out by researchers outside the country. Studies mainly focus on periglacial landforms and determining the lower limit of the mountain permafrost. The mean lower limit of permafrost (LLP) and the size of rock glaciers indicate a decreasing trend of the permafrost limit from the eastern (5239 m a.s.l.) to the western part of Nepal (4513 m a.s.l.). The rate of change in the LLP in response to climate change in Nepal Himalaya is 1.3-2.6 m/yr. Model on the scenario of permafrost change based on the IPCC climate scenarios shows that the LLP would rise by 188 m between 2009 and 2039 with the rise in temperature. The periglacial landforms, like vegetated patterned ground (earth hummocks, turf banked terraces), sorted polygons, sorted stripes, solifluction lobes, striated ground, and rock glaciers are reported from the Nepal Himalaya. The spatial and temporal coverage of periglacial research in Nepal Himalaya is very low. The arena of periglacial researches, like permafrost distribution modelling, periglacial hazards, periglacial ecology, relationships between permafrost and rangeland, and implication on mountain livelihood, global warming and periglacial change are the potential areas of research in the coming days.
This study presents the findings from several field campaigns carried out in Lake Idro (Northern ... more This study presents the findings from several field campaigns carried out in Lake Idro (Northern Italy), a deep (124 m) meromictic-subalpine lake, whose water column is subdivided in a mixolimnion (~0-40 m) and a monimolimnion (~40-124 m). Hydrochemical data highlight two main peculiarities characterizing the Lake Idro meromixis: a) presence of a high manganese/iron ratio (up to 20 mol/mol), b) absence of a clear chemocline between the two main layers. The high manganese content contributed to the formation of a stable manganese dominated deep turbid stratum (40-65 m), enveloping the redoxcline (~45-55 m) in the upper monimolimnion. The presence of this turbid stratum in Lake Idro is described for the first time in this study. The paper examines the distribution of dissolved and particulate forms of transition metals (Mn and Fe), alkaline earth metals (Ca and Mg), and other macro-constituents or nutrients (S, P, NO3-N, NH4-N), discussing their behavior over the redoxcline, where the main transition processes occur. Field measurements and theoretical considerations suggest that the deep turbid stratum is formed by a complex mixture of manganese and iron compounds with a prevalence of Mn(II)/Mn(III) in different forms including dissolved, colloidal, and fine particles, that give to the turbid stratum a white-pink opalescent coloration. The bacteria populations show a clear stratification with the upper aerobic layer dominated by the heterotrophic Flavobacterium sp., the turbid stratum hosting a specific microbiological pool, dominated by Caldimonas sp., and the deeper anaerobic layer dominated by the sulfur-oxidizing and denitrifier Sulfuricurvum sp. The occurrence in August 2010 of an anomalous lake surface coloration lasting about four weeks and developing from milky white-green to red-brown suggests that the upper zone of the turbid stratum could be eroded during intense weather-hydrological conditions with the final red-brown coloration resulting from the oxidation of Mn(II)/Mn(III) to Mn(IV) compounds.
Editorial on the Research Topic Hydrological and chemical effects of a changing cryosphere on mou... more Editorial on the Research Topic Hydrological and chemical effects of a changing cryosphere on mountain freshwaters
This study provides an estimate of soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, projects future SOC stocks un... more This study provides an estimate of soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, projects future SOC stocks under different climate change scenarios, and considers impacts on topsoil SOC in Mount Everest region using the Rothamsted carbon (RothC) model. According to our estimates, the average SOC stock in the region is 85.34 t C/ha. The SOC stock for different land use types ranges from 29.67 to 156.87 t C/ha following the order: agricultural land > forest > pasture. A significant decreasing trend has been found between the SOC content and altitude. Climate change scenario derived from HADGEM2-CC global climate model at 30 second resolution driven by Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP8.5 indicates that the temperature in the region will increase by 2.87 and 3.51°C by 2050, respectively. Precipitation is projected to increase by 4.46 and 2.70% for RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, respectively. With this change in climatic condition, the average SOC stock in the region is projected to decrease significantly (by 8.56% for RCP 4.5 and 5.13% for RCP 8.5) by 2050 thereby increasing the amount of CO 2 entering into the atmosphere by 50% on the average. Release of CO 2 from soil carbon pool into the atmosphere is likely to enhance the warming trend through the SOC-climate positive feedback, exacerbating effects of climate change.
Mean _gradient: mean surface gradient of the overall glacier Min_elev, Mean_elev, Max_elev: minim... more Mean _gradient: mean surface gradient of the overall glacier Min_elev, Mean_elev, Max_elev: minimum, mean and maximum glacier elevations Mean_dev_from_south: the mean glacier orientation is investigated here as mean deviation from south
This paper aims to highlight the importance and need of a Smokeless Metal Stove (SMS) for high al... more This paper aims to highlight the importance and need of a Smokeless Metal Stove (SMS) for high altitude rural communities, in order to improve their health condition through better indoor air conditions, and to help in active ways to slow down the fast increasing, wide spread deforestation. It brings close through facts and pictures the living conditions and way of life of people who suffer under open indoor fire places, as well as the improved living conditions and benefits people themselves have identified through the use of a smokeless metal stove in their home. Experiences from actual "Jumla Design" stove installations in the villages in Humla, as well as the latest KU laboratory data and results of the new designed secondary combustion stove prototypes are discussed and presented through pictures, data and graphs.
Availability and applications of open-source data for disaster risk reductions are increasing. Fl... more Availability and applications of open-source data for disaster risk reductions are increasing. Flood hazards are a constant threat to local communities and infrastructures (e.g., built-up environment and agricultural areas) in Nepal. Due to its negative consequences on societies and economic aspects, it is critical to monitor and map those risks. This study presents the open access earth observation (EO) data, geospatial products, and different analytical models available for flood risk assessment (FRA) and monitoring in Nepal. The status of flood risk knowledge and open-source data was reviewed through a systematic literature review. Multispectral optical data are widely used, but use of microwave data is extremely low. With the recent developments in this field, especially optical and microwave data, the monitoring, mapping, and modeling of flood hazards and risk have been more rapid and precise and are published in several scientific articles. This study shows that the choice of ...
Gosaikunda and Bhairabkunda are two largest lakes among dozens of lakes in the upper Ghattekhola ... more Gosaikunda and Bhairabkunda are two largest lakes among dozens of lakes in the upper Ghattekhola watershed of Trisuli River in Nepal. Although being important high-altitude Ramsar site from Nepal, a detailed inventory that includes essential information on their hydrological, physical, chemical, and biological characteristics and human interactions are missing. We conducted an inventory of the lakes in the watershed in the previous study and in this study; we present the Lake Bathymetry, morphometric characteristics and hydrochemistry following recent methodologies. The Gosaikunda and Bhairbakunda have the maximum depth of 26.5 m and 59.1 m with area of 13.3 and 16 ha, respectively. The study supports to establish a reference site for exploring scientific evidence on the impacts of anthropogenic and climate change on lake hydrological systems in the future.
Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RWHSs) are increasingly being used as an alternative or supplementa... more Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RWHSs) are increasingly being used as an alternative or supplementary source of water to curb the water supply deficit in the Kathmandu valley. The harvested rainwater is primarily used for non-potable purposes like flushing toilets and irrigation, but the knowledge on the use of rainwater for potable purpose is remarkably sparse. This study assesses the suitability of rainwater in terms of quantity and quality in a public school that adopts Rooftop RWHS as the source of drinking water. In this study, we observed that the volume of rainwater being harvested is sufficient to address the current demand of drinking water, with a mean rainfall of 1664 mm on a catchment area of 372 m2. Storage capacity needs to be expanded if the demand increases. Physico-chemical and microbial analyses of water samples (before and after a series of treatments) were carried out for the winter, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons. The values of physico-chemical parameters of t...
Mt. Everest region in the central Himalaya is one of the most heavily glacierized parts of the Hi... more Mt. Everest region in the central Himalaya is one of the most heavily glacierized parts of the Himalaya that is characterized by large debris-covered glaciers and many glacial lakes. The glaciers and ice are important sources of fresh water and play vital role in modulating the climate and the hydrological process. Previous studies from different parts of the Himalaya and around the world have revealed climate change at regional and global-scale and in general, shrinking of glaciers and ice caps. Climate change is thus, expected to impact in many ways to Cryosphere, hydrological process, and human livelihood. Temperature is often suggested to be increasing and considered as the main driver of change, however, in the higher elevations where the glaciers exist, climatic data are rarely available and limiting the climate related interpretation. This study is therefore conducted with the aim of linking variation of glaciers, glacial lakes, and river flow to local climatic trends in the higher elevations of Mt. Everest region. The study uses a comprehensive multi-temporal data from different sources: satellite observations, ground hydrometeorological stations, and regular gridded and reanalysis climate data from the regional and global products (1960s to 2013).
Mean _gradient: mean surface gradient of the overall glacier Min_elev, Mean_elev, Max_elev: minim... more Mean _gradient: mean surface gradient of the overall glacier Min_elev, Mean_elev, Max_elev: minimum, mean and maximum glacier elevations Mean_dev_from_south: the mean glacier orientation is investigated here as mean deviation from south
Remote communities in the high altitude areas of Nepal suffer both chronic and acute malnutrition... more Remote communities in the high altitude areas of Nepal suffer both chronic and acute malnutrition. This is due to a shortage of arable land and a harsh climate. For seven months of the year, the harvesting of fresh vegetables is almost impossible. Greenhouse technology, if appropriate for the location and its community, can extend the growing season considerably. Experience in the Ladakh region of India indicates that year-round cropping is possible in greenhouses in cold mountainous areas. A simple 50-m 2 greenhouse has been constructed in Simikot, the main town of Humla, northwest Nepal. This paper describes the evaluation of the thermal performance of that greenhouse. Both measurement and simulation were used in the evaluation. Measurements during the winter of 2006-7 indicate that the existing design is capable of producing adequate growing conditions for some vegetable crops, but that improvements are required if crops like tomatoes are to be grown successfully. Options to improve the thermal performance of the greenhouse have been investigated by simulation. Improvements to the building envelope such as wall insulation, double-glazing and using a thermal screen were simulated with a validated TRNSYS model. The impact of the addition of nighttime heat from internal passive solar water collectors was also predicted. The simulations indicate that the passive solar water collectors would raise the average greenhouse air temperature by 2.5°C and the overnight air temperature would increase by 4.0°C. When used in combination, overnight temperatures are predicted to by almost 7°C higher.
... Technology Mr Ramchandra Nepal National Trust for Nature Conservation Ms Pravina Rana Faculty... more ... Technology Mr Ramchandra Nepal National Trust for Nature Conservation Ms Pravina Rana Faculty of Science, NAST Mr Sajan Subedi Madan Puraskar Guthi Mr Parwin Chetri Amrit Science Campus, Tribhuvan University Members ...
Growth in the population over time is bound to increase the expansion of densely populated areas ... more Growth in the population over time is bound to increase the expansion of densely populated areas which will change the dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) directly or indirectly. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of urban growth on the land surface temperature (LST) in Kathmandu. We used the maximum likelihood classification method for LULC classification and change detection of pre-monsoon satellite data for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020. LST was then calculated using the thermal infrared band from the satellite imagery. Finally, the relationship between urban growth and LST was assessed by correlation and regression analysis. The result shows an increase in urban areas by 241.61% of the total area between 2000 and 2020. The analysis of thermal patterns shows that there is a gradual increase in temperature in the urban area. With an overall accuracy of 89.96% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.86, the study shows high agreement between classified data from images. This study shows that urbanization has a significant positive impact on average land surface temperature, yet the relationship is 40 not significant. Sustainable city planning and strict adherence to the Land Use Act and regulations will assist to make the urbanization process more sustainable in the future.
Nepal Journal of Environmental Science, Dec 4, 2017
Periglacial environment in the Nepal Himalaya (80°04' to 88°12' E longitude and 26°22' to 30°27' ... more Periglacial environment in the Nepal Himalaya (80°04' to 88°12' E longitude and 26°22' to 30°27' N latitude) is a research field that has received a little scientific attention although the first reported periglacial research was in 1958. After the first periglacial research, only 22 studies are reported in Nepal (area: 147,181 km 2), most of which is carried out by researchers outside the country. Studies mainly focus on periglacial landforms and determining the lower limit of the mountain permafrost. The mean lower limit of permafrost (LLP) and the size of rock glaciers indicate a decreasing trend of the permafrost limit from the eastern (5239 m a.s.l.) to the western part of Nepal (4513 m a.s.l.). The rate of change in the LLP in response to climate change in Nepal Himalaya is 1.3-2.6 m/yr. Model on the scenario of permafrost change based on the IPCC climate scenarios shows that the LLP would rise by 188 m between 2009 and 2039 with the rise in temperature. The periglacial landforms, like vegetated patterned ground (earth hummocks, turf banked terraces), sorted polygons, sorted stripes, solifluction lobes, striated ground, and rock glaciers are reported from the Nepal Himalaya. The spatial and temporal coverage of periglacial research in Nepal Himalaya is very low. The arena of periglacial researches, like permafrost distribution modelling, periglacial hazards, periglacial ecology, relationships between permafrost and rangeland, and implication on mountain livelihood, global warming and periglacial change are the potential areas of research in the coming days.
This study presents the findings from several field campaigns carried out in Lake Idro (Northern ... more This study presents the findings from several field campaigns carried out in Lake Idro (Northern Italy), a deep (124 m) meromictic-subalpine lake, whose water column is subdivided in a mixolimnion (~0-40 m) and a monimolimnion (~40-124 m). Hydrochemical data highlight two main peculiarities characterizing the Lake Idro meromixis: a) presence of a high manganese/iron ratio (up to 20 mol/mol), b) absence of a clear chemocline between the two main layers. The high manganese content contributed to the formation of a stable manganese dominated deep turbid stratum (40-65 m), enveloping the redoxcline (~45-55 m) in the upper monimolimnion. The presence of this turbid stratum in Lake Idro is described for the first time in this study. The paper examines the distribution of dissolved and particulate forms of transition metals (Mn and Fe), alkaline earth metals (Ca and Mg), and other macro-constituents or nutrients (S, P, NO3-N, NH4-N), discussing their behavior over the redoxcline, where the main transition processes occur. Field measurements and theoretical considerations suggest that the deep turbid stratum is formed by a complex mixture of manganese and iron compounds with a prevalence of Mn(II)/Mn(III) in different forms including dissolved, colloidal, and fine particles, that give to the turbid stratum a white-pink opalescent coloration. The bacteria populations show a clear stratification with the upper aerobic layer dominated by the heterotrophic Flavobacterium sp., the turbid stratum hosting a specific microbiological pool, dominated by Caldimonas sp., and the deeper anaerobic layer dominated by the sulfur-oxidizing and denitrifier Sulfuricurvum sp. The occurrence in August 2010 of an anomalous lake surface coloration lasting about four weeks and developing from milky white-green to red-brown suggests that the upper zone of the turbid stratum could be eroded during intense weather-hydrological conditions with the final red-brown coloration resulting from the oxidation of Mn(II)/Mn(III) to Mn(IV) compounds.
Editorial on the Research Topic Hydrological and chemical effects of a changing cryosphere on mou... more Editorial on the Research Topic Hydrological and chemical effects of a changing cryosphere on mountain freshwaters
This study provides an estimate of soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, projects future SOC stocks un... more This study provides an estimate of soil organic carbon (SOC) stock, projects future SOC stocks under different climate change scenarios, and considers impacts on topsoil SOC in Mount Everest region using the Rothamsted carbon (RothC) model. According to our estimates, the average SOC stock in the region is 85.34 t C/ha. The SOC stock for different land use types ranges from 29.67 to 156.87 t C/ha following the order: agricultural land > forest > pasture. A significant decreasing trend has been found between the SOC content and altitude. Climate change scenario derived from HADGEM2-CC global climate model at 30 second resolution driven by Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP8.5 indicates that the temperature in the region will increase by 2.87 and 3.51°C by 2050, respectively. Precipitation is projected to increase by 4.46 and 2.70% for RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, respectively. With this change in climatic condition, the average SOC stock in the region is projected to decrease significantly (by 8.56% for RCP 4.5 and 5.13% for RCP 8.5) by 2050 thereby increasing the amount of CO 2 entering into the atmosphere by 50% on the average. Release of CO 2 from soil carbon pool into the atmosphere is likely to enhance the warming trend through the SOC-climate positive feedback, exacerbating effects of climate change.
Mean _gradient: mean surface gradient of the overall glacier Min_elev, Mean_elev, Max_elev: minim... more Mean _gradient: mean surface gradient of the overall glacier Min_elev, Mean_elev, Max_elev: minimum, mean and maximum glacier elevations Mean_dev_from_south: the mean glacier orientation is investigated here as mean deviation from south
This paper aims to highlight the importance and need of a Smokeless Metal Stove (SMS) for high al... more This paper aims to highlight the importance and need of a Smokeless Metal Stove (SMS) for high altitude rural communities, in order to improve their health condition through better indoor air conditions, and to help in active ways to slow down the fast increasing, wide spread deforestation. It brings close through facts and pictures the living conditions and way of life of people who suffer under open indoor fire places, as well as the improved living conditions and benefits people themselves have identified through the use of a smokeless metal stove in their home. Experiences from actual "Jumla Design" stove installations in the villages in Humla, as well as the latest KU laboratory data and results of the new designed secondary combustion stove prototypes are discussed and presented through pictures, data and graphs.
Availability and applications of open-source data for disaster risk reductions are increasing. Fl... more Availability and applications of open-source data for disaster risk reductions are increasing. Flood hazards are a constant threat to local communities and infrastructures (e.g., built-up environment and agricultural areas) in Nepal. Due to its negative consequences on societies and economic aspects, it is critical to monitor and map those risks. This study presents the open access earth observation (EO) data, geospatial products, and different analytical models available for flood risk assessment (FRA) and monitoring in Nepal. The status of flood risk knowledge and open-source data was reviewed through a systematic literature review. Multispectral optical data are widely used, but use of microwave data is extremely low. With the recent developments in this field, especially optical and microwave data, the monitoring, mapping, and modeling of flood hazards and risk have been more rapid and precise and are published in several scientific articles. This study shows that the choice of ...
Gosaikunda and Bhairabkunda are two largest lakes among dozens of lakes in the upper Ghattekhola ... more Gosaikunda and Bhairabkunda are two largest lakes among dozens of lakes in the upper Ghattekhola watershed of Trisuli River in Nepal. Although being important high-altitude Ramsar site from Nepal, a detailed inventory that includes essential information on their hydrological, physical, chemical, and biological characteristics and human interactions are missing. We conducted an inventory of the lakes in the watershed in the previous study and in this study; we present the Lake Bathymetry, morphometric characteristics and hydrochemistry following recent methodologies. The Gosaikunda and Bhairbakunda have the maximum depth of 26.5 m and 59.1 m with area of 13.3 and 16 ha, respectively. The study supports to establish a reference site for exploring scientific evidence on the impacts of anthropogenic and climate change on lake hydrological systems in the future.
Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RWHSs) are increasingly being used as an alternative or supplementa... more Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RWHSs) are increasingly being used as an alternative or supplementary source of water to curb the water supply deficit in the Kathmandu valley. The harvested rainwater is primarily used for non-potable purposes like flushing toilets and irrigation, but the knowledge on the use of rainwater for potable purpose is remarkably sparse. This study assesses the suitability of rainwater in terms of quantity and quality in a public school that adopts Rooftop RWHS as the source of drinking water. In this study, we observed that the volume of rainwater being harvested is sufficient to address the current demand of drinking water, with a mean rainfall of 1664 mm on a catchment area of 372 m2. Storage capacity needs to be expanded if the demand increases. Physico-chemical and microbial analyses of water samples (before and after a series of treatments) were carried out for the winter, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons. The values of physico-chemical parameters of t...
Mt. Everest region in the central Himalaya is one of the most heavily glacierized parts of the Hi... more Mt. Everest region in the central Himalaya is one of the most heavily glacierized parts of the Himalaya that is characterized by large debris-covered glaciers and many glacial lakes. The glaciers and ice are important sources of fresh water and play vital role in modulating the climate and the hydrological process. Previous studies from different parts of the Himalaya and around the world have revealed climate change at regional and global-scale and in general, shrinking of glaciers and ice caps. Climate change is thus, expected to impact in many ways to Cryosphere, hydrological process, and human livelihood. Temperature is often suggested to be increasing and considered as the main driver of change, however, in the higher elevations where the glaciers exist, climatic data are rarely available and limiting the climate related interpretation. This study is therefore conducted with the aim of linking variation of glaciers, glacial lakes, and river flow to local climatic trends in the higher elevations of Mt. Everest region. The study uses a comprehensive multi-temporal data from different sources: satellite observations, ground hydrometeorological stations, and regular gridded and reanalysis climate data from the regional and global products (1960s to 2013).
Mean _gradient: mean surface gradient of the overall glacier Min_elev, Mean_elev, Max_elev: minim... more Mean _gradient: mean surface gradient of the overall glacier Min_elev, Mean_elev, Max_elev: minimum, mean and maximum glacier elevations Mean_dev_from_south: the mean glacier orientation is investigated here as mean deviation from south
Remote communities in the high altitude areas of Nepal suffer both chronic and acute malnutrition... more Remote communities in the high altitude areas of Nepal suffer both chronic and acute malnutrition. This is due to a shortage of arable land and a harsh climate. For seven months of the year, the harvesting of fresh vegetables is almost impossible. Greenhouse technology, if appropriate for the location and its community, can extend the growing season considerably. Experience in the Ladakh region of India indicates that year-round cropping is possible in greenhouses in cold mountainous areas. A simple 50-m 2 greenhouse has been constructed in Simikot, the main town of Humla, northwest Nepal. This paper describes the evaluation of the thermal performance of that greenhouse. Both measurement and simulation were used in the evaluation. Measurements during the winter of 2006-7 indicate that the existing design is capable of producing adequate growing conditions for some vegetable crops, but that improvements are required if crops like tomatoes are to be grown successfully. Options to improve the thermal performance of the greenhouse have been investigated by simulation. Improvements to the building envelope such as wall insulation, double-glazing and using a thermal screen were simulated with a validated TRNSYS model. The impact of the addition of nighttime heat from internal passive solar water collectors was also predicted. The simulations indicate that the passive solar water collectors would raise the average greenhouse air temperature by 2.5°C and the overnight air temperature would increase by 4.0°C. When used in combination, overnight temperatures are predicted to by almost 7°C higher.
... Technology Mr Ramchandra Nepal National Trust for Nature Conservation Ms Pravina Rana Faculty... more ... Technology Mr Ramchandra Nepal National Trust for Nature Conservation Ms Pravina Rana Faculty of Science, NAST Mr Sajan Subedi Madan Puraskar Guthi Mr Parwin Chetri Amrit Science Campus, Tribhuvan University Members ...
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