Changing perspectives: How bottom-up research can improve water security
A sort of recent research published in nature Exploring the complexities of water security in the interaction of glacier meltwater and human systems.although concern The surrounding water security concerns are not new, and the causes of water insecurity have shifted from conflict and industrialization to extreme weather events and climate change.Glacial meltwater is a main water source For many mountain communities, rising temperatures and melting glaciers threaten the water security of downstream communities around the world.
Globally, many countries lack adequate understanding of the cryosphere—the part of Earth covered in ice—mainly due to inadequate monitoring of glaciers. For some glaciers, for example, ice thickness measurements are only made every 10 years or so; as a result, seasonal variations are poorly recorded and fluctuations in glacier mass are often not represented accurately in computer models.
Additionally, a lack of data collection means scientists don’t fully understand what’s happening in the wider watershed around the glacier — another factor affecting water security. These lapses in accurate and adequate data collection have contributed to knowledge gaps on a global scale, and changing atmospheric patterns, such as the South Asian monsoon, only exacerbate the uncertainty.
Meltwater from glaciers is a complex part of the water cycle in mountainous regions and nearby downslopes, and its complexity makes it harder to understand the impact of shrinking glaciers on water security. Glaciers store frozen water, and the amount they store fluctuates according to global atmospheric conditions.Today, due to climate change, the amount of time water is stored in glaciers is decreasing, which is causing changes in the way water is cycled and stored in other parts of the water cycle, which in turn affects ecological activity in the region. Ways to understand these aspects water cycle Influencing water availability, combined with data on available glacier meltwater, will allow local communities to develop plans to deal with growing water insecurity.
Understanding the cryosphere is becoming increasingly important as the effects of climate change continue. There are several reasons, Future water and energy balance Affects climate, biodiversity, biomass, permafrost, sea level rise, etc. Proper data must be available to make accurate forecasts.In addition, climate change compounds human vulnerability Insecure water supplies and low- and middle-income regions—particularly the tropical Andes, the Himalayas, and Central Asia—are particularly vulnerable as populations continue to grow. Due to climate change, 20% Substantial increases or decreases in surface water volumes in the world’s river basins further contribute to unpredictability. In addition, data on socioeconomic factors in vulnerable areas are limited. For example, there is insufficient information on the water needs and adaptive capacity of specific communities.
Meltwater from the Briksdal Glacier in Norway. photo: save photo
In an interview with GlacierHub, lead author of the recent study and glaciologist Fabian Drenkhan of the University of Zurich proposes four ways to improve data collection and minimize a seemingly permanent knowledge gap in water security. First, he recommends using “crowdsourcing and citizen science methods to add more local data while including local people in the science-policy process.” These methods include local people and knowledge and create a “joint knowledge, bottom-up” Methods. Drenkhan added, “The latter is especially important in areas where there is a lack of connection between the areas where scientists study phenomena and the areas where local people live.”
Drenkhan also encourages involving local people throughout the data collection process to rebuild previously shattered confidence and correct deep-seated distrust of science and technology in communities that have had negative experiences working with researchers in the past. Previously, scientific discoveries could only be communicated through a top-down approach, creating a rift between researchers and affected communities. Drenkhan suggests joint knowledge production, integrating local, indigenous and scientific knowledge. In addition, he said, disseminating knowledge in a common language (eg, policy briefs or community posters) and minimizing academic jargon is critical to maximizing understanding in the public domain.
Rising global temperatures and widespread human land use have led to gaps and inadequacies in understanding global water insecurity. Focusing on changing the data collection process can lead to better data collection, distribution, and understanding. Drenkhan concludes: “We need a stronger push towards integrated approaches that take into account all relevant components of the water cycle, as well as additional or alternative data collection methods that allow us to better understand mountain water security.” Therefore, implementing bottom-up The above data collection method will not only improve existing data collection, but also start to make local communities better adapted to water scarcity.
