Impact of Climate Change in Snow and Glacier Retreat With People’s Perception and Adaptation Strategies (A Case Study of Langtang Valley)

Abstract

Climate change studies in Himalayan regions have focused mainly on glacier melting, retreating, Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF). Most glacier studies in Nepal show glaciers are undergoing rapid deglaciation. But somehow the impact of climate change and adaptation strategies of local peoples have not been studied in detail in Langtang valley. Hence, this research has been carried out to investigate the contribution of climate change and effects on people’s adaptation strategies in the region which are most vulnerable to climate change. This research paper deals with various time series satellite imagery, temperature data, precipitation data, water discharge data and social survey. Analyzing the temperature data from 1987 to 2009 it is found that the average daily temperature is 3.2°C with standard deviation of 1.27. The temperature is found to be in increasing trend of 0.119°C/year. Global warming has serious consequences like snow melting, glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF) and overall land use/ land cover change. The study also reveals that the total snow coverage area was continuously decreased in Langtang valley. In 1988, the total snow covered area was 43.16 percent and in 2000 total snow covered area was 42.67 percent which was decreased by 272.9 ha. In 2009 snow covered area was 38.72 percent which was decreased by 2196.5 ha between 2000 to 2009. Yearly snow melting rate has been 0.21 percent per year according to data available between 1988 to 2009. The result suggested that the glaciers are retreating rapidly and people are facing several problems due to the hydro-ecological changes in Langtang valley and trying their best to tackle with the changing environments. Rapid glacier melting disrupted rural livelihoods by posing a threat to agriculture, biodiversity and health. Change in rainfall and temperature resulted in changes in plant behavior like early flowering, shift in vegetation line and loss of some valuable species. Extreme climate events are destroying crops, depleting water resources, causing losses in livestock, cropland, and agricultural productivity. These changes indicate that unpredictable climate variability will be a major obstacle for subsistence-based livelihoods in Langtang valley. Key Words: Climate change, land use/ land cover change, rainfall, temperature, adaptation strategies.