2 nd Third Pole Environment (TPE) Workshop Kathmandu, Nepal, October 26-28, 2010

1. 2nd Third Pole Environment (TPE) Workshop Kathmandu, Nepal, October 26-28, 2010 Importance of long term monitoring of climate data in the Khumbu Valley (Himalaya) and in Gilgit Baltistan (Karakorum) as a contribution to the TPE's activities Gianni Tartari*,+, Gianluca Lentini*, Roberta Toffolon* and Elisa Vuillermoz* *Ev-K2-CNR Committee, Bergamo, Italy +Water Research Institute, National research Council, Brugherio, Italy

2. Aims of this presentation Illustrate the main characteristics and some results of the measuring stations in Khumbu Valley and Gilgit Baltistan, in the frame of the SHARE Project, underlying the possible role of long-term monitoring sites in the integrated approach of the Third Pole Environment (TPE) Concepts The Himalaya and Karakorum chains have been, in recent decades, better monitored as opposed to what happened in the past. However, since high altitude sites are so sensitive to the effects of climate change, the present density of stations over the high altitudes is not as high as it would be desirable.

3. Stations in Himalaya-Karakorum (HK) 9 Stations Everest K2 2 Stations

4. Karakorum stations The Ev-K2-CNR monitoring activity in Gilgit Baltistan region (Mount K2) is more recent and started in 2004, with two AWSs at about 3000 m and 4000 m a.s.l., respectively. These stations are included in the CEOP activities as well. Himalaya stations Ev-K2-CNR contributes to the collection of long-term climate data in the Khumbu Valley (Mount Everest) since 1994, where nine stations between the altitude of 2660 m to 7986 m (South Col) have been progressively installed. Since 2001 six of these stations have been included in the CEOP (Coordinated Energy and Water Cycle Observations Project) as reference stations, a network created in the framework of the WCRP/GEWEX activities. The longest record (17 years) is in the Khumbu Valley region, and the most recent collection began in 2010, at Changri Nup (5750 m a.s.l.). All stations are operating in continuous, except the South Col station which carried out measurements for over a year despite the enormous management difficulties.

5. The SHARE Meteorological Monitoring Network HK AWSs Lukla; Namche; Pheriche;Pyramid; Kala Patthar; Changri Nup; South Col; Askole; Urdukas Nepal standard CEOP Stations Pyramid & Lukla

6. Changri Nup (5,750 m) Kala Patthar (5,550 m) Pyramid (5,050 m) South Col (7,986 m) Periche (3,560 m) Syanboche (3,900 m) NCOP-P (5,079 m) Namche (3,560 m) Lukla (2,660 m) In Khumbu Valley, Mt. Everest, are operative 7 sites with a total of 9 SHARE stations and 1DHM/UNI-Tsukuba station Altitude: 2660 - 7986 m a.s.l. Gradient: 5326 m

7. In the Baltoro glacier area since 2004 are installed 2 AWSs at Askole and Urdukas The main difficulties in the managing of high altitude stations is to ensure the data availability 3015 m 3926 m

8. Long-term monitoring at the Pyramid Laboratory Mean monthly temperature evolution: 1994-2006

9. Research objectives in the first phase Monsoon studies: mean onset and decay dates 1994-98 Bertolani, L., M. Bollasina & G. Tartari. 2000. Recent Biennial Variability Of Meteorological Features In Eastern Highland Himalayas. Geophysical Research Letters, 27: 2185-2188.

10. 1.0 Pyramid 0.8 Pheriche Namche 0.6 mm/h 0.4 Nepal standard time is 5 hours and 45 minuets advancing to UTC 0.2 0.0 6 8 0 2 4 10 12 14 16 22 18 20 UTC Research objectives in the first phase Cross-section of hourly precipitations along the Khumbu Valley: 31/03 - 27/09/03 Ueno, K., K. Toyotsu, L. Bertolani & G. Tartari. 2008. Stepwise Onset Of Monsoon Weather Observed In The Nepal Himalayas. Moon. Wea. Rev. 2057-2522. Nepal standard time is 5 hours and 45 minuets advancing to UTC

11. Research objectives in the first phase Comparative studies in high altitude areas Comparative scatter of air temperature at Pheriche and QOMS AWS locations of Pheriche and QOMS

12. Comparative studies between QOMolangma and Pheriche AWSs Annual variations of air temperature and wind direction at Pheriche and QOMS

13. Research objectives in the second phase Analysis of the Khumbu valley stations: temperature records Pheriche AWS 4260 m asl Pyramid AWS, 5050 m asl

14. Research objectives in the second phase Analysis of the Khumbu valley stations: precipitation records Lukla AWS, 2660 m asl Namche AWS, 3570 m asl

15. Research objectives in the second phase Analysis of the Khumbu valley stations: humidity records Lukla AWS, 2660 m asl Namche AWS, 3570 m asl

16. Research objectives in the second phase Analysis of the Khumbu valley stations: pressure records Pheriche AWS 4260 m asl Pyramid AWS, 5050 m asl

17. Research objectives in the second phase Analysis of the Khumbu valley stations: incoming radiation records Pheriche AWS 4260 m asl Pyramid AWS, 5050 m asl

18. Research objectives in the second phase Khumbu Valley: basic statistical properties and stability

19. Research objectives in the second phase Khumbu Valley: vertical lapse rate Vertical Temperature gradients is slightly lower than the average wet adiabatic tropospheric gradient of 6.5°C/1000m, as characteristic of subtropical, albeit high altitude, sites.

20. Research objectives in the second phase Karakorum stations: Askole and Urdukas Wind Direction and Speed At Urdukas (3926 m a.s.l.), katabatic winds coming down from the Baltoro glacier are evident during night and in the morning, when masses of cold, dense air drain down the higher elevation areas of the Baltoro. From late morning and early afternoon, this path is reversed, when masses of warmer, less dense air move upward (eastward). A few hours after sunset, the cycle restarts, quite sharply, around 8-9 PM.

21. Research objectives in the second phase Karakorum stations: Askole and Urdukas Wind Direction and Speed The same general behaviour is discernible at Askole (3015 m a.s.l.), whose AWS, though at much lower height, is located in the same valley and it is subject to a similar daily cycle.

22. The Rwenzori AWS (4750 m asl, Uganda) Ongoing work! Trigger of daily precipitation by heat-pump convection

23. Thank you for your attention ! Thank you for your attention