Reflections of Mountain Sentinels at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2017
By Dr. Jessica Thorn The biannual Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) was hosted by the United National International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in [...]
Impacts of Glacier Recession and Declining Meltwater on Mountain Societies
AAAG special issue focused on mountains, with several Mtn Sentinels co-authors.
Glacierized mountains are often referred to as our world’s water towers because glaciers both store water over
time and regulate seasonal stream flow, releasing runoff during dry seasons when societies most need water. Ice
loss thus has the potential to affect human societies in diverse ways, including irrigation, agriculture, hydropower,
potable water, livelihoods, recreation, spirituality, and demography. Unfortunately, research focusing
on the human impacts of glacier runoff variability in mountain regions remains limited, and studies often rely
on assumptions rather than concrete evidence about the effects of shrinking glaciers on mountain hydrology
and societies. This article provides a systematic review of international research on human impacts of glacier
meltwater variability in mountain ranges worldwide, including the Andes, Alps, greater Himalayan region,
Cascades, and Alaska. It identifies four main areas of existing research: (1) socioeconomic impacts; (2) hydropower;
(3) agriculture, irrigation, and food security; and (4) cultural impacts…
Reflections of Mountain Sentinels at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2017
By Dr. Jessica Thorn The biannual Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) was hosted by the United National International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in Cancun, Mexico from 22-26 May 2017. As a Mountain Sentinels [...]
Impacts of Glacier Recession and Declining Meltwater on Mountain Societies
AAAG special issue focused on mountains, with several Mtn Sentinels co-authors.
Glacierized mountains are often referred to as our world’s water towers because glaciers both store water over
time and regulate seasonal stream flow, releasing runoff during dry seasons when societies most need water. Ice
loss thus has the potential to affect human societies in diverse ways, including irrigation, agriculture, hydropower,
potable water, livelihoods, recreation, spirituality, and demography. Unfortunately, research focusing
on the human impacts of glacier runoff variability in mountain regions remains limited, and studies often rely
on assumptions rather than concrete evidence about the effects of shrinking glaciers on mountain hydrology
and societies. This article provides a systematic review of international research on human impacts of glacier
meltwater variability in mountain ranges worldwide, including the Andes, Alps, greater Himalayan region,
Cascades, and Alaska. It identifies four main areas of existing research: (1) socioeconomic impacts; (2) hydropower;
(3) agriculture, irrigation, and food security; and (4) cultural impacts…
