This session invites inter- and transdisciplinary contributions that examine past, present, and future environmental change in MSES and contributing from different perspectives to the understanding of MSES. Mountain regions present specific scientific and societal challenges.
Complex terrain remains difficult to adequately parameterize in models, high-elevation monitoring infrastructure is limited in many parts of the world, and socio-economic dynamics are often insufficiently captured in environmental assessments. Addressing these knowledge gaps is critical for developing robust and equitable adaptation strategies.
We particularly encourage contributions that integrate physical and social processes, explore cross-scale feedbacks and compound risks, advance high-elevation monitoring and remote sensing, apply climate downscaling approaches, and combine process-based, data-driven, and participatory methods. Studies engaging stakeholders, co-producing knowledge, and linking science to decision-making and policy are especially welcome.
By fostering dialogue across disciplines and between science and practice, this session aims to advance a systems-based understanding of MSES and support transferable approaches to sustainable adaptation under global environmental change.
This session is endorsed and supported by the Mountain Research Initiative and the Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Orals: Thu, 7 May, 08:30–10:15 | Room 2.24
Glacier surging represents one of the most complex and hazardous modes of glacier instability in high mountain regions, yet its short-term dynamical evolution remains poorly constrained due to limited observations during active phases. In the Eastern Karakoram, several glaciers exhibit surge behaviour that is largely decoupled from direct climatic forcing, complicating hazard assessment and interpretation of glacier change signals. Here, we investigate the event-scale evolution of a currently active surging glacier (RGI2000-v7.0-G-14-18432) in East Karakoram, India, using dense optical satellite time series. Our analysis integrates declassified CORONA imagery, historical toposheets, Landsat (1970s–present), Sentinel-2, and high-resolution PlanetScope data, enabling reconstruction of glacier behaviour across both historical and contemporary timescales. High-frequency optical imagery reveals distinct spatio-temporal patterns of surface deformation between 2015 and 2025, including the progressive development of dense transverse crevassing, longitudinal stretching, widening of flow corridors, and down-glacier advection of debris band.These diagnostic surface features enable robust identification of surge onset, propagation, and deceleration based solely on surface expression, without reliance on elevation-change measurements. Analysis of historical optical imagery reveals no clear geomorphic or kinematic signatures typically associated with surge activity, despite more advanced terminus positions observed during the 1970s. This indicates that the current event represents a previously undocumented surge phase within the observational record. The observed surge behaviour highlights the dominance of internally driven glacier dynamics, expressed through rapid and spatially organized surface reconfiguration, rather than a direct or immediate response to regional climatic variability.
To complement satellite-based observations and capture short-term surface changes during ongoing activity, a ground-based timelapse camera installation and UAV survey is planned at the first-of-its-kind benchmark surge glacier in the Indian Himalaya, providing near-continuous visual records of surge evolution. By focusing on event-scale dynamics resolved through dense optical observations, this study demonstrates the value of surface-based monitoring for capturing transient glacier instabilities that are commonly missed by decadal-scale analyses and underscores the importance of surge-type glaciers as a key component of high-mountain geohazard systems under ongoing climate change.
How to cite: Rashid, H. and Rashid, Dr. I.: Event-scale evolution of an active glacier surge in East Karakoram, India, from dense optical satellite time series, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-3684, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-3684, 2026.
The western Himalaya, particularly the regions of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, host more than 12,000 glaciers that are crucial for the drinking, irrigation, hydropower, and tourism sectors. However, rapid warming has intensified glacier mass loss, threatening regional hydrology and the socioeconomic sectors dependent on glacier-fed streams. Despite this, only a limited number of Himalayan glaciers have been evaluated in terms of mass balance. In this study, two benchmark glaciers, Machoi Glacier draining into the Drass Basin in the cold-arid trans-Himalayan Ladakh and Shishram glacier draining into the temperature Jhelum Basin of Kashmir were selected to assess multi-decadal glacier changes. This study reconstructs long term glacier recession and geodetic mass balance for Machoi (debris-covered) and Shishram (clean-ice) glaciers, located in contrasting climatic and topographic settings of the western Himalaya. Geodetic mass balance from 2001 to 2025 was computed using the MicMac module for ASTER stereo-imagery.
During 1980-2024, Machoi Glacier experienced a 30.8% reduction in area (0.7% a-1) accompanied by a snout retreat of 480 ± 60.8 m (10.9 m a⁻¹), whereas Shishram Glacier lost 24.14% of its area (0.5% a⁻¹) with three terminus lobes retreating 202-431 m. Retreat rates increased markedly after 2010 for both glaciers. Mean surface lowering during 2001-2025 was 19.5 ± 2 m for Machoi, corresponding to a mass loss of 91.8 ± 13 Mt (0.69 m w.e. a⁻¹), and 16.6 ± 2 m for Shishram, translating to a mass loss of 85.5 ± 13.5 Mt (0.6 m w.e. a⁻¹). The Equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of both Machoi and Shishram Glacier exhibited an upward shift, indicating enhanced melt. These findings provide the first long-term comparative evidence of glacier recession and mass loss in clean-ice and debris-covered glaciers in the western Himalaya and establish an essential baseline for glaciohydrological modelling and future water resource planning in glacier-fed catchments.
How to cite: Bashir, M. and Rashid, I.: Spatiotemporal Patterns of Glacier Recession and Mass Balance of Two Contrasting Western Himalayan Glaciers, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1333, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1333, 2026.
Under global warming, snow accumulation exhibits increasing variability and more frequent extremes, giving rise to dual risks associated with extreme snowfall regimes. Excessive snowfall enhances snowpack loading and instability and, when combined with triggers such as wind redistribution, rapid warming, or intense snowfall events, substantially elevates avalanche risk. In contrast, insufficient snowfall reduces snow water storage, weakens and advances meltwater supply, and intensifies seasonal water deficits, leading to snow-drought conditions with cascading impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, and water resources. These risks are driven not only by the cumulative effects of long-term warming—which alters precipitation phase, snow-season duration, and snowpack structure—but also by short-lived strong perturbations such as warm intrusions, abrupt temperature rises, and rain-on-snow events. The coupling of cumulative climate forcing and transient disturbances governs the occurrence and evolution of avalanches and snow drought across time scales, increasing the likelihood of compound or alternating risks within the same region or snow season. Observational records indicate that around 2000, snow-related hazards underwent pronounced structural shifts, with concurrent changes in the frequency, intensity, and seasonal timing of both avalanches and snow droughts, suggesting a critical turning point in snow-hazard dynamics. Focusing on this transition, the present study integrates multi-source snow and hazard datasets to characterize pre- and post-2000 regime changes, elucidate the underlying coupled mechanisms, and inform mountain hazard mitigation and climate-resilient water-resource management.
How to cite: Wang, Y., Hao, J., Chen, G., Zhu, H., and Fu, X.: Dual Risks Associated with Extreme Snowfall Regimes, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-15392, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-15392, 2026.
Climate warming is rapidly transforming mountain ecosystems through processes such as colonization by pioneer species, grassland development, shrub expansion, and tree line advancement. These vegetation transitions, collectively driving mountain greening, have important consequences for hydrological dynamics. Yet, their ecohydrological interactions remain poorly understood. We investigated how different vegetation types, used as a space-for-time proxy for vegetation transitions, modify soil moisture, soil temperature, and snow dynamics in the Meretschi catchment (Swiss Alps) using a plot-based sampling design spanning five vegetation classes, from bare ground to shrub and forest communities. High-frequency soil moisture and temperature measurements (TOMST TMS-4) were combined with detailed vegetation, soil, and topographic data across 42 plots. Our results show that vegetation mediates topographic effects on soil moisture (R² = 0.65; standardized effect = 0.58) and soil temperature (R² = 0.74; standardized effect = 0.34), with pioneer vegetation maintaining lower soil moisture and temperature than more developed communities. Taller vegetation, including dwarf shrubs and larger shrubs/forest, was associated with snowmelt starting ~22 days earlier, ending ~44 days earlier and snow-covered periods being ~68 days shorter. Dwarf shrub communities further introduced strong seasonal variability in soil moisture and temperature. Using a space-for-time approach, we anticipate that continued vegetation transitions from pioneer to established and from grassland stages toward shrub-dominated communities will alter both the timing and volume of water availability in mountain catchments. These findings highlight the need to integrate vegetation change into predictions of future alpine water resources.
How to cite: Duurkoop, L., Brakkee, E., van de Lisdonk, D., Haagmans, D., Immerzeel, W., Kraaijenbrink, P., and Eichel, J.: Vegetation Transitions and Environmental Controls on Alpine Hydrology, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4866, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4866, 2026.
Climate change exposes mountain ecosystems to complex environmental changes, resulting from both direct and indirect effects of shifting trends, extremes, and seasonality in both temperature and precipitation. While mountain ecosystems share many features, they are situated across broad ranges of contexts, such as from tropical to arctic climatic zones, from oceanic to continental regions, and across complex landscapes. Responses also scale across levels of organisation, from individual organisms to populations, communities, and ecosystems. A key question is if and to what extent we can generalize understanding of the consequences of climate change for mountain ecosystems and their biodiversity and functioning across this variability in both climatic changes and contexts. In this talk, I will draw on a range of examples of experimental, observational, and functional ecology approaches at local, regional, and intercontinental scales that explore, in different ways, mountain ecosystem responses and vulnerabilities to climate change. A key issue is how we can leverage the strengths of different research approaches and designs to further our understanding of climate change impacts on mountain ecosystems. Finally, I will discuss recent trends in leveraging networks and student active research for upscaling scientific efforts and filling societal knowledge needs about changing mountain ecosystems and their benefits to people.
How to cite: Vandvik, V.: Combining experimental, observational, and functional ecology approaches to generalize mountain ecosystem responses to climate change across gradients and scales , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20450, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20450, 2026.
Accelerating human activities and their intricate interdependencies with groundwater systems have intensified global challenges such as depletion and pollution, threatening both human and ecosystem health. Climate change and evolving abstraction patterns further exacerbate these issues, demanding innovative approaches to groundwater assessment and management. Transdisciplinary sustainability research has emerged as a promising framework to address these complex social-hydrogeological challenges and co-develop pathways toward sustainable groundwater governance. This presentation discusses methodological insights from the design and evaluation of transdisciplinary processes conducted in diverse geographical contexts (EU, USA), each targeting site-specific groundwater challenges. Through a series of transdisciplinary workshops, scientists and stakeholders collaboratively developed tailored management strategies. Knowledge co-production, particularly through participatory methods like participatory modeling, played a pivotal role in reducing uncertainties and developing sustainable groundwater management strategies. Groundwater models hold significant potential for bridging science and practice by visualizing hidden hydro(geo)logical processes, yet modeling is increasingly recognized as a socially and politically embedded practice. Drawing on experiences from both participatory and non-participatory, quantitative and qualitative modeling approaches, this presentation critically examines the opportunities and limitations of participatory modeling in transdisciplinary (ground)water research. It highlights the need for modelers to address normative assumptions, epistemological inequalities, and power asymmetries to foster more just and inclusive processes. Insights from these experiences inform the design of a new participatory modeling process for drinking water catchment risk assessment, integrating reflexive modeling principles to navigate associated challenges. Recognizing models as facilitators of knowledge co-production between science and practice while integrating reflexive perspectives in groundwater research will be crucial for safeguarding groundwater’s essential role in supporting human and ecosystem health amid climate change and growing anthropogenic pressures.
How to cite: Söller, L.: Facilitating knowledge co-production between science and practice by participatory modeling to enhance sustainable (ground)water management , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5572, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5572, 2026.
High-altitude mountain regions, such as the Alps, are highly sensitive to climate change, experiencing global-average warming. This phenomenon is leading to significant modifications of the Alpine environment, increasingly exposing mountaineers to natural hazards. Therefore, this study aims to: (i) assess climate change impacts on glacial and periglacial environments, along the main mountaineering routes of Mount Adamello and Mount Baitone (Northern Italy), based on the experience of mountaineers across three decades; and (ii) evaluate potential inconsistencies between perceived hazard and quantitatively assessed hazard for specific geomorphological processes. The analysis integrates citizen science with geomorphological and geological-technical surveys and analyses.
Questionnaires were developed and administered to key stakeholders (alpinists, hut keepers, mountain guides, etc.) to assess perceived route difficulty, changes in accessibility and objective hazard (rockfalls, earth slides, glacier instabilities, worsening of route conditions), for these itineraries over the past three decades (1996–2005, 2006–2015, and 2016–2025). Field surveys were conducted in the Mount Adamello and Baitone areas to map glacial, periglacial, and gravity-driven slope processes. At representative locations, rock slope instability was evaluated using the Markland Test, to identify kinematically feasible failure mechanisms, and the Geological Strength Index (GSI), to assess rock mass quality. Rockfall hazard was assessed using the Rockfall Hazard Assessment Procedure (RHAP), based on rockfall simulations performed along selected 2D profiles intersecting hiking routes. RHAP outputs were used to delineate five hazard zones from very low (1) to very high (5) according to block runout distributions. The final hazard classification was refined by combining RHAP zoning with GSI and Markland Test results. These quantitative results were compared with the questionnaire results, to assess the consistency between scientific evidence and users’ perception.
Through RHAP, all the routes analyzed in the Adamello area were classified as Zone 5 (very high hazard), while at Baitone as Zone 4 (high hazard). Questionnaire results indicate a general increase in perceived difficulty over time, with reduced accessibility – associated with increasingly long and hazard-exposed ascents – mainly driven by glacier retreat. Rock slope instability remains the most frequently reported hazard, although the relative importance of other hazards has increased over decades. Focusing on rock slope instability, its recognition ranged from 45% to 73% across Adamello routes, compared to no recognition at Baitone. This result suggests, for most routes, a little consistency between scientifically defined hazards and users’ average hazard perceptions. Rather, a direct correlation exists between perceived difficulty and perceived objective hazards. In detail, routes with high technical difficulty are associated with increased recognition of objective hazards, suggesting that experience in challenging environments enhances risk perception. This trend is further confirmed by expert groups, such as mountain guides and rescue personnel, whose assessments generally align closely with geomorphological evidence.
Understanding climate-driven modifications in high-mountain environments through both geological–technical analyses and citizen science, as well as identifying the differences between actual hazard and perceived hazard, is crucial for improving risk communication and prevention strategies, route management, and to promote conscious, sustainable, and safe use of high-altitude terrains.
How to cite: Lucini, F., Sesti, C., Casarotto, C., and Camera, C. A. S.: Changes in alpine routes in terms of difficulty, hazard and accessibility: a case study in the area of Mount Adamello and Corno Baitone (Northern Italy), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10727, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10727, 2026.
The Himalayan Mountain regions are undergoing rapid cryosphere change, with significant implications for seasonal water availability and rural livelihoods. In the high-altitude cold desert region of Ladakh, India, settlements depend almost exclusively on gravity-fed meltwater from glaciers and seasonal winter snow that accumulates within the local watershed. In recent years, irregularity in weather patterns has led to shifts in snow accumulation, glacier mass balance, and melt timing. This has worsened water availability in a region that was already struggling with scarce water resources. Coinciding with recent socio-economic transformations, including out-migration from rural villages to urban and tourism-oriented centers such as Leh, has created a significant challenge for the region.
This study investigates the emergence and evolution of artificial glaciers, a locally constructed ice reservoir system, as a nature-based solution responding to hydrological change within a transforming mountain social-ecological system. Using an integrated methodological approach, the analysis combines GIS mapping, landscape observations across elevational gradients, semi-structured interviews, and household surveys conducted across multiple villages in Ladakh.
Results indicate that artificial glaciers primarily address a temporal mismatch between meltwater supply and early-season agricultural demand. At the same time, ongoing out-migration has altered local labor availability and weakened everyday social cooperation arrangements essential for the traditional irrigation systems. However, the results of the survey show that migration in Ladakh is often circulatory rather than permanent. Many migrant household members retain strong ties to their villages and periodically return to participate in agricultural activities, irrigation management, and collective labor, particularly during critical periods.
These findings highlight how demographic change reshapes, but does not eliminate, the social foundations of local adaptation. Artificial glaciers function not only as a hydrological innovation, but as adaptive institutions embedded within evolving patterns of social-ecological systems in the region. By linking cryosphere change, water availability, and migration dynamics, this study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of global environmental change in data-scarce mountain regions.
Keywords: Artificial glaciers, Cryosphere change, Nature-based solutions, Social-ecological systems, Traditional water management
How to cite: Kumar, T. and Saizen, I.: Artificial Glaciers as Nature-Based Adaptation in a Changing High-Altitude Mountain Social-Ecological System: Case of Ladakh, India, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17897, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17897, 2026.
Precipitation and permafrost measurements are pivotal to comprehending critical processes ranging from the global (climate dynamics) to the local (hazards such as mass movements, ecosystems). However, the spatio-temporal coverage of such measurements is limited and frequently accompanied by substantial uncertainties.
One high-altitude region with particularly few (precipitation) or no (permafrost) measurements is Bhutan in the eastern Himalayas.
In the recently initiated CRYO-SPIRIT project (funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation), collaboration between Switzerland and Bhutan is being initiated to conduct permafrost research and high-elevation precipitation measurements by means of a cosmic ray sensor in Bhutan. The overarching project strategy is focused on three principal aspects: firstly, the collection and computation of permafrost and precipitation (SWE) data using in-situ and remote sensing technologies; secondly, the assessment and enhancement of awareness regarding (future) risks associated with permafrost thaw, including the formulation of adaptation strategies; and thirdly, the capacity building of local researchers to sustain permafrost-related monitoring, research and teaching in Bhutan.
The assessment of permafrost is achieved through the compilation of the first regional map of potential permafrost distribution in Bhutan, utilising in-situ Ground Surface Temperature (GST) measurements and remote sensing-based mapping of permafrost characteristic landforms, with a particular emphasis on rock glaciers.The first CRYO-SPIRIT field campaign was conducted in the autumn of 2024 in the vicinity of Thana glacier (Chamkhar Chhu Basin, Bumthang). The installation of a CRS (Cosmic Ray Sensor) was undertaken to measure SWE.The selection of the research site was based on its proximity to one of the three benchmark glaciers visited annually by researchers from Bhutan's National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (ensuring the long-term continuation of the measurements), as well as the presence of an automatic weather station and identified periglacial landforms. During the field campaign, ground surface temperature loggers were installed at elevations ranging from 4300 m asl (below the lower limit of permafrost) to 5200 m asl, spanning an elevation gradient and different exposure levels.This contribution presents and discusses the results of the first field campaign, including the data (SWE/precipitation) and the subsequent steps.
How to cite: Salzmann, N., Gurung, D. B., Pellet, C., Gugerli, R., Lhamo, S., Eden, P., Naegeli, K., Zangmo, T., and Treichler, D.: Filling White, Blue and Blind Spots in High Mountain Regions - The Bhutanese-Swiss CRYO-SPIRIT Project, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-17060, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-17060, 2026.
Accelerated glacier retreat and climate change driven changes in snowmelt dynamics are altering hydrological regimes in alpine regions. To better understand the intertwined links and co-dependencies in complex headwater streams, in-situ measurements are crucial. However, conventional multiparameter sensing systems are often expensive, logistically demanding (i.e. complex deployment) and in many cases not robust enough to monitor small and wild alpine headwater streams. As a result, many hydrologically important areas remain poorly instrumented.
Recent developments in low-cost, open-source sensor systems offer new opportunities to expand the scale of monitoring networks, hence improving spatial coverage in scarcely instrumented mountain regions. This contribution evaluates the potential of the low-cost “Smart Rock” sensor platform, which was developed at the Oregon-State-University’s OPEnS Lab. The Smart Rock is an affordable, robust, and easily deployable device designed to measure key hydrological parameters, including pressure, water temperature, electrical conductivity, and turbidity. The full measurement workflow, encompassing construction, deployment, calibration, and post-processing, is intended to be operable by non-expert users.
Within the EU-INTERREG-WATERWISE project (co-funded by the European Union), several Smart Rock sensors are deployed in the Bavarian Alps (River Partnach close to the mountain Zugspitze, Germany) and assessed against reference measurements from high-end commercial instruments. Along its 20km long course, four Smart Rock Sensors are deployed and complemented with already existing but also with newly installed high-end devices. In addition, data of local meteorological stations in close proximity to the spring and outlet are available.
The sensors were installed end of June in 2025 and already delivered promising results. The pressure readings align with the various occurred precipitation events. By additionally accounting for the equivalent air pressure at the specific Smart Rocks locations, reliable flow depths can be derived. Water temperature readings of the Smart Rocks also match the collected temperature data of high-end sensors showing only small deviations. After proper calibration, electrical conductivity readings can be measured with deviations between 5-10% in a range of 60-500 µS/cm. The turbidity readings were found to be unreliable due to the sensor being influenced by ambient light as well as algae growth over time.
Although the duration of data collection covers only a few months, the results show that low-cost sensors can effectively complement conventional hydrological monitoring techniques, while being highly cost-effective. As part of the WATERWISE project, more than 14 Alpine headwater catchments in six countries are equipped with Smart Rock sensors at both the spring and outlet, enabling the collection of hydrological data across diverse catchment characteristics.
How to cite: Fikentscher, N., Pirlot, P., and Noack, M.: Assessing the potential of low-cost sensors for continuous monitoring of alpine headwaters , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-6696, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-6696, 2026.
The Northern Ecuadorian Andes (NEA), a critical global biodiversity hotspot, faces acute socio-ecological risks resulting from intensive land use and climate change. In 2024, a severe drought facilitated the spread of fires in urban and rural areas around Quito – fires that started from arson and intentional waste and crop burning – and even contributed to prolonged electricity outages. Only a few months later, the same region experienced intense precipitation events that caused flooding of infrastructure and soil erosion, e.g., by landslides. However, the impact of these extremes varied strongly from valley to valley, reflecting sharp contrasts in topography and land use, from native forest to degraded forest, shrubland, pastures, cropped land, and dense settlements. Country-wide syntheses revealed that past extreme events left contradicting signals in the high-elevation transition zone between the Pacific and the Amazon slopes (Thielen et al., 2023) where the Metropolitan District of Quito with ~2 Mio. inhabitants are located.
To support local climate-change adaptation, we need a better understanding of the sensitivity of local landscapes to climatic extremes, especially (a) how strongly extreme climatic events manifest under specific topographic configurations, and (b) how the structure and condition of forest vegetation affect microclimate compared to more open land uses. The sparse coverage of weather stations and the limited spatio-temporal resolution of gridded weather and climate observations such as from the Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS), complicate community efforts to integrate climate data in land-use adaptation planning.
In 2025, we therefore established a first network of around 25 low-cost soil moisture and temperature sensors (TOMST TMS) in different land-use types between c. 2000 and 4000 m a.s.l. north of Quito, designed for long-term community use. We will present first results from the transition from the dry to the wet season in 2025 across land-use types in comparison to existing weather data and a new weather station in the upper Rio Piganta catchment. Using simple plot-scale metrics of vegetation structure derived from mobile laser scanning (MLS), we will quantify the magnitude and variability of microclimate buffering across a gradient of vegetation structure, from forest to shrubland, pasture and cropped sites. Overall, we aim to provide a first assessment of the sensitivity of local landscapes and land-use systems in the valleys near Quito and to discuss to what extent this easy-to-handle observational data can support local communities and decision makers in integrating climate and microclimate information into land-use planning.
How to cite: Dietze, E., Valdes-Uribe, A., Ganter, F., Zurita-Arthos, L., Słowińska, S., Dietze, M., and Mariscal-Chavez, A.: Supporting community-based climate change adaptation by a low-cost microclimate observation network in the northern Ecuadorian Andes, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14152, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14152, 2026.
How to cite: Esteban Vea, P., Cateura Sabri, J., López-Moreno, J. I., Prohom Duran, M., and Cunillera Graño, J.: New elevational transects for elevation-dependent warming detection and analysis in the Pyrenees., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5154, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5154, 2026.
The western Himalayas are becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate-driven hazards, particularly Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) compounded by Extreme Rainfall Events (EREs). These compound flood events pose significant threats to downstream populations, hydropower infrastructure, and fragile ecosystems. However, most existing assessments tend to analyze GLOFs in isolation, often overlooking the amplifying effect of EREs, thereby underestimating the real extent and magnitude of the hazard. This study aims to address this gap by integrating EREs into a coupled hydrological–hydrodynamic modeling framework for high-hazard glacial lakes with considerable downstream exposure. The selected case study, a moraine-dammed lake in the Sutlej River Basin, lies in proximity to key infrastructure and densely populated settlements. Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) was estimated at 530.68 mm using the Hershfield method, which informed the simulation of Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) scenarios. Peak PMF discharge at the Bhakra Dam was estimated to reach 23,478 m³/s. The hydrological model achieved a Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) score of 0.75, indicating strong model performance and predictive reliability. Breach modeling and subsequent flood simulations under worst-case conditions reveal widespread downstream inundation. Over 588 structures, including dams, bridges, industrial installations, and road networks, are projected to fall within the inundation footprint. These results highlight the urgent need to reassess flood risks in light of compound hazards, especially in regions experiencing rapid glacial lake expansion and increasing rainfall extremes. The study underscores the necessity of early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, and integrated risk assessment frameworks to reduce the impact of cascading flood hazards in high-mountain environments like Himachal Pradesh.
How to cite: Gaikwad, D.: Modeling Worst-Case GLOF Scenarios Under Probable Maximum Flood Conditions in the Sutlej River Basin, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1053, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1053, 2026.
The North-Western Himalayan region (Jammu and Kashmir) regularly experiences high-impact snow avalanches causing loss of life and disruption to strategic roads, border infrastructure, and settlements. However, current hazard assessment methods struggle due to extreme topography, sparse in-situ observations, and limited real-time monitoring. In this paper, a remote sensing-based dynamic Decision Support System (DSS) that uses multi-sensor Earth observation (EO) satellite data’s to to generate high-resolution avalanche susceptibility maps by analysing terrain parameters, snow cover dynamics, and meteorological drivers. The DSS integrates MODIS (daily snow cover), Sentinel-2 (10 m optical), AMSR-2 (passive microwave snow properties), and SRTM (30 m DEM) to extract terrain, snow, and weather-related indicators for identifying avalanche prone regions. It incorporates two independent yet complementary modelling components. The first employs a knowledge-based Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to establish a transparent susceptibility baseline guided by expert knowledge. The second applies supervised machine learning using five classifiers i.e., Support Vector Machine (SVM), Naïve Bayes, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and LightGBM to delineate avalanche-prone areas. Model training uses multi-year historical in situ avalanche records combined with Sentinel-2–detected avalanche events, creating a robust inventory exceeding several hundred mapped occurrences and improving detection in remote high-altitude zones. Among all classifiers, SVM achieved the best performance with a ROC-AUC of ~0.855, demonstrating strong generalization on independent test data. The DSS produces classified susceptibility maps (very low to very high risk) and location-specific risk reports that can be exported as tabular outputs for settlement and road-segment level assessment. The system remains operationally relevant through continuous EO data ingestion and automated updates. This EO-based DSS provides a scalable, data-efficient, and operational framework for avalanche risk assessment in data-scarce mountainous regions, supporting early warning, disaster preparedness, infrastructure planning, and climate-change-driven snow hazard adaptation.
How to cite: Sharma, B. and Tiwari, R. K.: Development of Remote Sensing-based Dynamic Decision Support System (DSS) for Avalanche Susceptibility Mapping using AI/ML Techniques for NW Himalaya, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7105, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7105, 2026.
Marginal snowpacks in shrub‑dominated mountain ecosystems are key drivers of ecological and hydrological processes in the central Pyrenees, yet remain poorly understood. These shallow, patchy snowpacks are highly dynamic, exhibiting repeated accumulation–ablation cycles within a single season, making their distribution highly sensitive to vegetation structure and local topography. To quantify these controls, we established an intensive monitoring network in a site-specific study area (8 ha) mainly dominated by Buxus sempervirens, Echinospartum horridum and Juniperus communis.
Since 2021, we have collected distributed soil temperature and moisture data from sensors placed beneath shrubs and in adjacent open areas in a subalpine site at 1700 m a.s.l. Additionally, data from 24 UAV flights were used to derive high‑resolution (0.20 m) spatial products of snow depth, snow presence, vegetation structure, and local topographic metrics.
Results demonstrate that ground temperatures were buffered during snow‑covered periods, ranging from 1 to 2°C (±0.5°C) with low daily oscillation (1ºC), as evidenced by temperatures that remained constant once the ground was insulated from air temperatures, even by a thick snowpack (<1 m). In general, ground sensors at 8 cm depth presented higher temperatures than the sensors at ground surface. Shrubs act as mechanical snow traps that enhance leeward accumulation and as thermal insulators that elevate near‑surface soil temperatures by 1.5 to >3°C compared to open sites. Buxus and Echinospartum sites exhibited higher average ground temperatures than Pinus or open sites. Thawing events were rare, but they occurred more frequently in vegetated areas. Soil moisture peaked following snowmelt events and then decreased slowly until the next snowfall, thus soil humidity variability is clearly driven by melt out date. UAV‑based snow maps and machine learning models (gradient boosted models) reveal that shrubs presence, local topographic and wind‑exposure variables consistently explain >60% of snow distribution variance where interannual variability in snow persistence was pronounced, with no with similar interannual patters.
This integrated approach which combines distributed soil temperature and humidity monitoring and UAV‑based snow mapping, improves the understanding of marginal snowpack dynamics. Our findings underscore the importance of explicitly incorporating fine‑scale vegetation and wind‑topographic interactions into snow models to improve predictions in complex alpine mountain terrain under changing climate and land cover conditions that can affect plant communities and water availability.
How to cite: Rojas-Heredia, F., Revuelto, J., Bandrés, J., Domínguez, P., and Lopez-Moreno, J. I.: Vegetation effects on snow duration and soil microclimate in a marginal snowpack environment, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-12202, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-12202, 2026.
Alpine environments in the Austrian Alps are undergoing significant geomorphological transformations driven by glacier retreat, permafrost degradation, and increased terrain instability linked to climate change. This study introduces a multiple pairwise image correlation (MPIC) approach in detecting temporal surface changes from PlanetScope (3m resolution) satellite imagery. Yearly time series data is collected between 2017 and 2025, in which image pairs (e.g. 2017-2022, 2018-2019) are compared using a normalized cross-correlation (NCC) algorithm to quantify pixel reflectance shifts between years. Summary statistics from the MPIC results are then transformed into a novel Terrain Activity Index (TAI) proposed in this study. Spatial clustering algorithms are applied to the TAI for detecting hotspot and coldspot regions of spatial significance. The three study sites across the Austrian Alps contain networks of trails and mountain huts in which findings can additionally support trail damage assessments. This framework offers a scalable and efficient tool for monitoring subtle, climate-driven landscape changes, with potential applications across all environmental terrains and locations requiring temporal change monitoring.
How to cite: Karjalainen, L. and Hölbling, D.: Detecting Terrain Surface Changes in High-Alpine Environments in the Austrian Alps from 2017 to 2025 Through a Multiple Pairwise Image Correlation Approach and a Novel Terrain Activity Index., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-11606, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-11606, 2026.
Climate change is accelerating fluvial hazards across high mountain regions, where river morphology critically influences flood risk, sediment transport dynamics, and broader landscape evolution. In this study, we develop and evaluate a comparative deep learning framework designed to automate river morphology mapping by integrating multimodal remote sensing data, specifically Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 optical imagery across geomorphologically diverse reaches of the Brahmaputra River. We benchmarked three architectures : Attention U-Net, SegFormer, and a novel hybrid Transformer U-Net,for multi-class segmentation of river channels, mid-channel bars, and background terrain. To simulate realistic operational conditions, we generated weakly supervised training labels using spectral indices and unsupervised clustering in Google Earth Engine(GEE). We assessed model performance using the Dice coefficient, mean Intersection over Union (mIoU), and Boundary IoU (BIoU) as our primary evaluation metrics. Our hybrid Transformer U-Net demonstrated the strongest generalization capacity across previously unseen river reaches (Dice = 0.95–0.96; mIoU = 0.91–0.92), while also showing notably improved boundary precision for both morphological features (Bar BIoU = 0.49; River BIoU = 0.69). To demonstrate the practical applicability of our approach, we conducted a targeted case study on a particularly flood-prone reach of the Brahmaputra, focusing on planform morphological assessment. This analysis highlighted how effectively the model captures dynamic channel–bar transitions and identifies potential erosion risk zones. By combining rigorous technical benchmarking with practical geomorphological analysis, our work illustrates the broader potential of deep learning tools to support climate-resilient river management strategies, inform sediment planning decisions, and enhance hazard mitigation efforts in vulnerable Himalayan landscapes.
How to cite: Das, R., Das, B. J., Giri, S., and Hassan, K. I.: AI-Driven River Morphology Mapping for Flood Risk and Sediment Dynamics in the Brahmaputra River,Eastern Himalaya, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-22, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-22, 2026.
Mountains are among the most sensitive systems to climate change due to their elevation gradients and unique ecological setup. The Himalaya is not an exception. However, in the eastern Himalaya, due to more complex terrain and remoteness, there is a gap in empirical research on how global climate change is affecting agro-ecosystems and their interactions with adjoining forests. Therefore, to bridge this gap, this research attempted to answer the following questions. How is global climate change altering local weather patterns? What is the effect of this alteration on crop composition, production, and the function of agro-ecosystems? Is there any change in forest-cropland interaction due to global climate change? Mann-Kendall test, Sen’s slope estimator, and Precipitation Concentration Index (PCI) were used to identify trends and seasonality in historical climatic datasets (1975-2025, ERA5). Scheduled-based surveys among farmers from 500 forest-adjoining croplands at different elevations (150-2000 m) were carried out to record the frequency of wild foraging, pest attack, disease, crop composition, and yield-based changes. Location of invasive species in the field was recorded to model the change in species distribution using a Random Forest (RF) algorithm. Findings revealed a statistically significant upward trend in temperature (0.8 – 1.9°C increase in mean temperature in 50 years), and a shift in intra-annual rainfall regime (wet season shifted from ‘June-August’ to ‘July-September’). Moreover, increased seasonal concentration of rain made the wet season wetter and the dry season drier. Consequently, farmers are forced to delay the sowing of rice. Similarly, pest attacks during the dry season and the spread of fungal diseases during the wet season have increased in response to the increased seasonality. Furthermore, the productivity of major crops (maize, rice, and oranges) and cash crops (large cardamom and ginger) has declined 57% and 80%, respectively, according to 83% respondents. Farmers are shifting toward wheat, chilli, and winter vegetables over traditional crop combinations due to reduced water and warming. Crops typical of lower elevations are increasingly being adopted in middle altitudes (900-1800m). RF modelling further revealed that invasive species (such as Lantana camara, Ageratina adenophora, Chromolaena odorata, and Conoclinium coelestinum) are expanding their habitats in and around forest and croplands of higher altitudes (>1800m). Collectively, all these changes, along with the reduced availability of pollinator species, resulted in a decrease in the availability of local shrubs and wild fruits, including Diplazium esculentum, Urtica parviflora, Rubus, Prunus, and Berberis berries. As a result, food scarcity is occurring in forests. Therefore, wild animals, including primates, bears, deer, peacocks, porcupines, wild boars, and foxes, increasingly foraged into forest-adjoining croplands as reported by 89.2% of the surveyed farmers in recent years. Together, these findings conclude that warming and redistribution of rain are reshaping cropping systems, forest food availability, and wildlife movement across elevation gradients. This highlights the urgent need for climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture and effective conservation strategies to mitigate global climate change in the Himalaya.
How to cite: Banerjee, S. and Sati, V.: Climate-Induced Changes in Agroecosystems and Forest-Cropland Interactions in the Eastern Himalaya , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-690, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-690, 2026.
Topographic effects pose a significant challenge to accurate monitoring of forest disturbance in mountainous regions using Landsat time series, yet the actual benefits of topographic correction (TC) remain contentious. This study systematically evaluates the effectiveness of four widely used TC methods—Cosine Correction (CC), Sun-Canopy-Sensor + C (SCS+C), Illumination Correction (IC), and Path Length Correction (PLC)—on two categories of forest disturbance monitoring algorithms: reflectance-based (CCDC, COLD) and vegetation index (VI)-based (VCT, LandTrendr, mLandTrendr, BFAST). Based on extensive reference samples across diverse terrain conditions, our analysis reveals four key findings. First, topographic effects intensify with increasing slope steepness and shading. Second, all TC methods improved monitoring accuracy, with IC consistently performing best across algorithms. Third, improvement varied significantly by algorithm type and terrain: reflectance-based algorithms showed greater F1-score gains (e.g., up to 5.50% for CCDC) than VI-based ones, and enhancements were markedly larger on shaded versus sunlit slopes. Fourth, the necessity of TC is context-dependent: on sunlit slopes below 40°, TC offered minimal accuracy gains for most algorithms and may be omitted, whereas on shaded slopes steeper than 20°, TC is essential to maintain satisfactory accuracy. Nevertheless, even with correction, accuracy on steep shaded slopes (>40°) remained suboptimal, highlighting the limitations of current TC methods under extreme terrain. These findings demonstrate that the value of TC is not universal but is contingent on the specific algorithm and the local topographic context. This research delivers crucial, evidence-based guidance for developing best practices in mountain forest disturbance monitoring, advocating for a tailored approach that matches correction strategies with algorithm selection based on slope and aspect conditions.
How to cite: Shang, R., Yang, Z., Xu, M., and Chen, J. M.: Quantifying the necessity and efficacy of topographic correction on reflectance-based versus vegetation-index-based forest disturbance algorithms using Landsat time series, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-16306, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-16306, 2026.
Mountains are complex social-ecological systems and key components of the global hydrological cycle, acting as “water towers” that supply freshwater to downstream regions. These systems are increasingly exposed to global changes, including climate change, land abandonment and agricultural intensification, which threaten the stability and functioning of mountain ecosystems. Understanding how land-use change reshapes landscape structure and affects ecosystem resilience to climatic pressures and, consequently, the provision of water-related ecosystem services, is critical as millions of people rely on mountain water resources for their livelihoods and well-being.
Water quantity and quality are commonly assessed separately, despite being intrinsically linked. When both dimensions are considered, global water scarcity emerges as a more severe challenge than suggested by quantity-based assessments alone. In the EU, only 26.8% of surface waters currently achieve good chemical status, largely due to unsustainable land use and management, agricultural pressures and hydro-morphological alterations. These pressures are expected to intensify under future climate and land-use change, with potential impacts even on water bodies traditionally considered pristine.
This study examines how landscape composition and configuration, land-use intensity and climatic factors jointly influence water quality and availability in a mountain catchment, with particular attention to non-linear responses and tipping points. A three-step statistical framework is applied to: (i) identify the most influential landscape, topographic and climatic drivers of water quantity and quality; (ii) evaluate how these relationships vary under different climatic conditions; and (iii) detect threshold values in landscape metrics that are relevant for management and planning. The approach is tested in the Adige River basin, a large alpine catchment in Northern Italy, characterized by strong elevation gradients, heterogeneous land-use patterns and increasing climate and anthropogenic pressures.
By moving beyond simple land-use percentages, this work demonstrates the critical role of landscape configuration in shaping hydrological processes and ecosystem service provision. The results provide quantitative evidence to support integrated land and water management in mountain regions, contributing to a systems-level understanding of socio-ecological dynamics and offering actionable insights for enhancing water security and ecosystem resilience under ongoing and future global change.
How to cite: Vogt, M., Sperotto, A., and Critto, A.: Understanding the influence of landscape characteristics and climate on water security in a mountain river basin: a case study in the Adige River basin (Italy), EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-10920, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-10920, 2026.
The impact of climate change is a pressing issue that poses significant challenges to various aspects of our environment, economy, and society. One of the critical areas affected is groundwater resources. The Blue Transition project developed strategies to target a systemic change by an integrated water and soil management for better adaptation to climate change, to secure and improve groundwater resources that ensure the future availability of good-quality water while helping to revitalise natural habitats and reduce CO2 emissions.
A fundamental finding of the Blue Transition project is that strategies for climate-resilient groundwater and soil management in regions must be local and need to be developed in close cooperation with local stakeholders, communities, and policy makers. Local properties of soils, groundwater, ecology as well as water use, stakeholders and governance shape the measures which increase the resilience of our society. There are no generic solutions. However, we identified that change of land-use, an increase of soil health and a diversification of water sources are shared common aims of every local strategy and must be based on local system understanding, i.e. demand modeling, monitoring and linking of the physical- and ecological-system.
Besides shared aims, we identified significant joint challenges. System understanding is often based on natural science but expertise on economic and social impact should be embedded to derive common goals. Smaller shifts can be implemented in the short term, but a systemic change is a long-term process that faces significant barriers from legislation, politics, and the economy. In particular, conflicts of interest exist, and solving these conflicts needs support from overarching political targets.
We present examples from the projects pilot areas to underpin these findings.
How to cite: Blanco Arrué, B. and Müller-Petke, M.: Blue Transition – Strategies and Challenges for climate resilient blue regions, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-5657, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-5657, 2026.
Climate change is altering the availability of freshwater across river basins, with particularly pronounced effects in the mountainous headwaters of the Syr Darya river basin. These changes can intensify competition among uses and complicate decision-making. Co-developing strategies that integrate biophysical processes with social priorities is essential for managing these systems.
Making explicit how different water uses and benefits are prioritized and understood by stakeholders can support this integration for cooperative decision making. However, valuation approaches are often discipline-specific and externally defined, limiting their relevance across diverse social, ecological, and governance contexts. Additionally, different values of water are often assessed individually and not comprehensively. Bringing together multiple values of water in one framework can provide a platform for cooperative discussion and governance over transboundary water governance. This research addresses this challenge by presenting a participatory process for co-developing a context-specific framework of indicators and methods to measure the value of water in a way that is methodologically grounded and locally meaningful.
The process is developed and applied in the Syr Darya river basin, a transboundary catchment originating in mountain headwaters and characterized by strong interdependencies between upstream energy production and downstream agricultural water use. The first step identifies priorities for water use using a value-preference Q-sort survey combined with a serious game. Results indicate a dominant preference for agricultural water use, followed by energy and environmental uses, while also highlighting potential future shifts toward increased valuation of environmental and social functions of water.
The second step involves a stakeholder workshop in which participants articulate the relevance of valuing water for basin management, identify basin-specific values, confirm priority rankings, spatially map values across the basin, and jointly assess which methods are most appropriate for measuring each value. Values are considered through economic, environmental, and socio-cultural lenses, allowing for the integration of diverse data types and knowledge systems. Following the workshop, researchers compile the framework in coordination with stakeholders and compile selected indicators and methods.
Stakeholder workshops were conducted in November 2024 and 2025. Preliminary results show that the framework supports integrated assessment of water values across the basin and can inform adaptive management strategies. The paper contributes a transdisciplinary approach that integrates a comprehensive assessment of the multiple values of water into transboundary river basin governance, offering insights for sustainable water management.
How to cite: Poplawsky, M., Hogeboom, R., Wöhler, L., and Berger, M.: Connecting waters: Developing a co-creation process for a comprehensive framework to measure water values in transboundary river basins., EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-20107, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-20107, 2026.
We compared freshwater ecosystem management of the Yuba River, in California, USA, and the Noce River in the Province of Trento, Italy to examine how cultural and political practices can shape freshwater ecosystem management strategies within similar geographical and hydrologic contexts. Specifically, we compared climate, land-use history, flow regulation, restoration approaches, and associated challenges and successes. The Yuba and Noce catchments both have Mediterranean climates, runoff sourced by rainfall and glacial or snowmelt, and developed water supply resources for agriculture, municipal water supply, recreation, and power generation. Both rivers have long histories of human modification, including damming in the 20th century to accommodate escalating energy demand and intensive agriculture. Dam releases for power generation on the Noce River result in hydropeaking, altering the eco-morphodynamics and limiting biodiversity. Water supply storage, diversion for agricultural use, and gravel extraction on the Yuba River results in highly altered flow regimes and degraded instream habitat. Contrasts between the rivers’ respective regulatory frameworks and their intended goals yield different management actions. In the Yuba, the US Endangered Species Act drives targeted restoration for species-specific recovery, limiting broader holistic protections for the aquatic ecosystem. Whereas in the Noce, the European Union Water Framework Directive mandates broad ecosystem benchmarks be met, with restoration focused on improving habitat, biodiversity, and water quality. However, the top-down approach may limit stakeholder involvement. Recently, success in coalition building among California water managers, academic institutions, conservation groups, and private landowners has led to reconnecting floodplain habitats and providing environmental flows for native salmonids. Implementing alternative hydropower generation schemes in the Noce has led to improved aquatic biodiversity metrics and increased recreation opportunities. As climate change exacerbates impacted river functions worldwide, comparison of freshwater ecosystem management between international catchments offers potential new solutions for sustaining essential ecosystem services.
How to cite: Hampton, J., Evans, K., Alford, K., Bouzan, L., Hallmark, M., Israel, J., Murdoch, L., Pandrin, E., Rees, H., Riddle, B., Triantafillou, S., Waldman, K., Pinter, N., and Yarnell, S.: Exploring International Freshwater Ecosystem Management Strategies for New Perspectives: the Noce River, Italy and Yuba River, California, USA, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-13405, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-13405, 2026.
Climate change in the European Alps has been progressing at an alarming rate and local stakeholders are under ecological and socio-economic pressure. Among the most affected resources are Alpine water systems, which are highly sensitive to changes in precipitation patterns, snowpack and glacier melt. Their management requires institutional arrangements that balance diverse interests, reflect local knowledge and ensure equitable resource sharing within evolving governance structures.
While biophysical processes and climate impacts in relation to water are well understood, much less attention has been paid to how stakeholders perceive these changes, how they value ecosystems and their views on governance challenges. This mismatch between scientific assessments and pluralistic stakeholder perspectives can result in adaptation strategies that may be technologically sound, but socially infeasible, inequitable or misaligned with local institutions and values. To address this mismatch, we investigate how pluralistic values and experiences influence the management of water resources under climate stress.
Our mixed-method approach combines interviews and the Q-Methodology. First, we conducted 75 interviews with stakeholders across all sites. Second, we conducted a Q-sort with 70 stakeholders within eight workshops. The sorting was followed up by discussions where stakeholders deliberate on development and potential impact of current and future governance rules. The 14 statements related to different aspects of climate change effects on local water resources, the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity as well as the institutional arrangements of water management, such as involvement in decision-making processes, social-ecological trade-offs and governance preferences. The stakeholders came from diverse sectors such as agriculture, environmental protection, public administration, hydropower, tourism, research and water supply as well as individuals working across multiple domains.
We collected data in eight Alpine headwater catchments. The design was standardised and validated across all sites and translated into the respective local language. These catchments were selected because they represent important Alpine headwaters, high-elevation source basins that initiate river flow and provide critical freshwater for downstream communities. Further, the sites differ in their water use regimes as well as in historical power and societal relations that affect stakeholder influence, resource dependency and governance trajectories.
Based on our initial Q-analysis with 59 stakeholders, we identify four distinct stakeholder perspectives on climate adaptation and water management in the Alpine region. The first group, eco-protective adaptation optimists, puts an emphasis on nature-based solutions, strong ecological safeguards, and cautious optimism about the system’s resilience. The second group reflects a technocratic and institutionally confident view, acknowledging climate risks while expressing trust in existing organizational measures and regulatory frameworks. The third group embodies a pragmatic, infrastructure-oriented perspective, supporting hydropower’s continued role alongside responsible environmental management and recognizing governance challenges without viewing them as prohibitive. The fourth factor represents a eco-centric and climate-risk-aware outlook, prioritizing renaturation, biodiversity protection, and stakeholder involvement in decision-making. Despite these differences, hydropower emerges as a cross-cutting theme widely perceived as an enduring component of Alpine energy systems, while divergences arise primarily around the perceived severity of ecological impacts, institutional readiness, and the role of participatory governance, including highly varying involvements in local and regional decision-making processes.
How to cite: Bögel, L. and Venus, T.: Pluralistic values and management of the water commons in the European Alps: a Q-study across six countries, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-4880, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-4880, 2026.
How to cite: Stefàno, D.: Water as Resource. The Evolution of Nature-Based Solutions and Blue-Green Infrastructures in Iceland. , EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-14606, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-14606, 2026.
Posters virtual: Mon, 4 May, 14:00–18:00 | vPoster spot A
EGU26-1331 | Posters virtual | VPS31
Impact of deer traffic on physical soil erosion and changes in infiltration capacity at forest edgesMon, 04 May, 15:00–15:03 (CEST) vPoster spot A
This study investigated forest edge areas adjacent to a residential road in a hilly area of Nagano Prefecture, Japan, to examine the impact of Cervus nippon (hereafter referred to as “deer”) movements on physical erosion and changes in infiltration capacity of forest soils. The survey area included the edges of cypress and larch forests bordering a residential road west of the Mochizuki Highland Ranch in Mochizuki-machi, Saku City, Nagano Prefecture. Soil erosion was assessed by measuring the height and direction of exposed roots at multiple points. Analysis of root system exposure height (Rh) revealed higher values in the larch forest than in the Japanese cypress forest. Furthermore, the polar coordinate distribution of exposed roots indicated predominant exposure in the steepest slope direction, with some deviations, suggesting that slope angle influences deer movement patterns. Comparisons of cumulative infiltration capacity showed lower values in the cypress forest compared to the larch forest. Soil with clear deer hoof prints exhibited lower infiltration capacity in both areas. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (K) for disturbed soil along the deer migration route was approximately half that for natural soil, and in soil with clear deer hoof prints, it decreased to about 1/10 that for natural soil. These findings demonstrate that deer traffic significantly reduces soil infiltration capacity. The results indicated that in forested areas with high levels of deer traffic, K may decrease to 1/2 to 1/10 of normal levels, highlighting the substantial impact of deer activity on forest soil properties.
How to cite: Akita, H., Yusa, S., Yokoyama, H., Kawasaki, M., Kamida, K., Usuda, Y., and Ikeda, M.: Impact of deer traffic on physical soil erosion and changes in infiltration capacity at forest edges, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-1331, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-1331, 2026.
Posters virtual: Wed, 6 May, 14:00–18:00 | vPoster spot 4
EGU26-2072 | ECS | Posters virtual | VPS32
Integrating Geospatial Intelligence and Community Knowledge to Assess Climate Risks in Mountain Social Ecological Systems of Northern PakistanWed, 06 May, 15:06–15:09 (CEST) vPoster spot 4
Northern Pakistan’s mountain regions are changing quickly under climate change. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall, and more frequent extreme events are increasing landslides, flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods, and related hazards. At the same time, communities are expanding into more exposed locations, often without reliable data or early warning systems. In many high elevation valleys, environmental monitoring is minimal or absent, which makes safe planning and climate adaptation difficult.
In response, AI Geo Navigators developed a practical geospatial tool and tested it in Gilgit Baltistan, Swat, and Chitral. The approach combines freely available satellite imagery, digital elevation models, drone surveys, and open datasets to map multiple, overlapping risks. These include unstable slopes, flood prone areas, proximity to seismic zones, and locations affected by past disasters. The hazard information is analysed together with settlement locations, roads, agricultural land, and surrounding ecosystems to better understand who and what is exposed.
A central part of the work was direct engagement with local communities. Rather than relying only on desk based analysis, field visits, mapping sessions, and conversations with residents were used to document past flood paths, landslide zones, and land use changes that are not visible in satellite data alone. This local knowledge helped correct gaps in the remote analysis and grounded the results in lived experience.
The results show that combining low cost geospatial tools with community input produces a much clearer and more realistic picture of risk in complex mountain terrain. The approach supports safer settlement planning, climate adaptation efforts, and improved local risk communication in areas where official monitoring and warning systems remain weak. It demonstrates that meaningful climate risk assessment in mountain social ecological systems does not require large budgets, but does require integration of technology with people who know the landscape best.
How to cite: Javid, A. and Ahmad, J.: Integrating Geospatial Intelligence and Community Knowledge to Assess Climate Risks in Mountain Social Ecological Systems of Northern Pakistan, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-2072, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-2072, 2026.
