Mountain water resources and the importance of looking downstream

Mountain hydrology faces a number of specific challenges, such as the high spatial variability of conditions and processes in horizontal and vertical dimension, and the comparatively low density and limited representativity of hydrometeorological observation networks. Vít Klemeš (1990) characterized these challenges very pointedly when he noted that mountainous areas, despite their hydrological importance, represent “some of the blackest black boxes in the hydrological cycle”.

In the meantime, our knowledge about mountain hydrology has improved considerably, although the challenges can still be characterized as greater than for most lowland regions. Also, global hydrological models have become a research field in their own right since the time of Klemeš’ statement, and even though these models face similarly increased challenges in mountain regions, they can be useful for studying mountain regions and their water resources in a larger context. In addition, valuable information can be extracted from an overview of regional studies, as has been done, for example, in the mountain-specific parts of the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate and the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report.

This contribution will discuss a comprehensive view from the mountains looking downstream, with a focus on the importance of mountain water resources for the lowlands.

Reference

Klemeš V, 1990. Foreword. In: Molnár L, ed. Hydrology of Mountainous Areas. Proceedings of a workshop held at Strbské Pleso (Czechoslovakia), June 1988. IAHS Publication 190, IAHS, Wallingford, ISBN 0-947571-42-6, p. 7