About Division

Climate change has a wide range of impacts on water resources, affecting their availability, quality, and reliability. Climate change is causing, rising temperatures, and spatio-temporal shifts of precipitation more severe, unpredictable weather are likely to affect rainfall and its distribution, as well as river flows and groundwater, and impaired water quality. To handle and manage the above issues of climate change, a Climate Hydrology Division has been created in the Institute. The purpose of creation of this Division is to have a branch of scientific research that focuses on the study of the interactions between climate and the hydrological cycle. A Centre named as Centre for Cryosphere and Climate Change is part of the Division. The focus of the Centre is to study the impact of climate change on water resources of the Himalayan region.

Vision & Mission

Addressing the challenges posed by climate change to water resources requires a multi-faceted approach. The vision behind the Climate Hydrology Division is to advance scientific knowledge and understanding of the complex interactions between climate and the hydrological cycle. The division aims to contribute to the development of sustainable water resource management practices, adaptation strategies, and policies in the face of climate change. The vision and mission of the Division are:

1. Investigating the impacts of climate change on water availability, water quality, and water management. This involves studying changes in precipitation patterns, temperature, evaporation rates and river flows in response to climate variability and long-term climate change.
2. Developing and improving hydrological models, data analysis techniques, and decision support tools to simulate and predict hydrological processes under changing climate conditions
3. In Himalayan region, rising temperatures lead to reduced snow accumulation, earlier snowmelt, and accelerated glacial melting. Simulation of the behaviour of snow and glaciers under different climate scenarios and aid in predicting the impacts on water resources, river flows, and water availability.
4. Collaborating with national and international organizations, research institutions, and stakeholders to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing in the field of climate hydrology.
5. Contributing to capacity building efforts by providing training, education, and knowledge transfer to researchers, professionals, and decision-makers in the field of climate hydrology and water resource management
6. Providing climate information and predictions to support water resource management, decision-making, and adaptation strategies. This includes developing tools and methods for communicating climate information effectively to policymakers, water managers, and other stakeholders

Overall, the vision behind the Climate Hydrology Division is to have advance scientific knowledge, support decision-making processes, and promote sustainable water resource management in the face of climate change. By conducting research, developing models, and providing climate services, the division aims to contribute to a more resilient and adaptive approach to managing water resources in a changing climate.