Asia Pacific Adaptation Network

This report discusses specific climate change impact and vulnerabilities, and identifies technologies needed to help reduce those vulnerabilities. It then presents examples of existing technologies that will meet those needs for six sectors:

A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) is a type of outburst flood due to the increased volume of water in the lakes as a result of increasing temperatures. For e.g. GLOFs have led to devastating loss of life and infrastructure in the Himalayas. Artificial lowering of water levels of lakes is a technique to reduce the risk of glacial outburst.

The need to reduce the impacts of deteriorating quality of public waters (particularly enclosed water bodies, etc.) as a result of climate change, in areas that may face declining sanitation conditions. Particularly applicable in response to the need to mitigate impacts in regions where water pollution is occurring due to urban population growth associated with economic growth, or due to rapid industrial development.

Artificial glaciers, or cones of ice, that store water for use in months when water is inaccessible or unavailable. Water is piped from a height 20ft higher than the desired stupa height and allowed to fall to the ground. The tall, cone shape of the ice stupas stores water vertically and enables the ice to remain frozen for longer than other artificial glaciers by reducing surface area exposed to sun and wind.

Description

Runoff control structures temporarily store rainfall. When a heavy rainfall event occurs, the volume of runoff into rivers increases dramatically, increasing the danger of flood damage. A water storage design can release the rainwater to the river over a longer period of time.