Impact of Climate Change on River Discharge and Rainfall Pattern: A Case Study from Marshyangdi River basin, Nepal

Authors

  • Achut Parajuli Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University and Himalayan Cryosphere Climate and Disaster Research Center, Kathmandu University
  • Lochan Prasad Devkota Central Department of Hydrology & Meteorology, Tribhuvan University
  • Thirtha Raj Adhikari Central Department of Hydrology & Meteorology, Tribhuvan University
  • Susmita Dhakal Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University
  • Rijan Bhakta Kayastha Himalayan Cryosphere Climate and Disaster Research Center, Kathmandu University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jhm.v9i1.15582

Keywords:

Climate Change, Marshyangdi basin, HBV Light, Nepal Himalaya

Abstract

Climate models have predicted increase in monsoon precipitation for Nepal and expected to enhance further in scenario of deforestation and global green house gas emission which induces extremes resulting risk of flood, landslide during monsoon while water shortage in dry season. In this study, the impact of climate change on water resource for glacierized Marshyangdi River is evaluated using HBV light hydrological model with available hydrological data (1988-2009) to predict the future water availability and change in rainfall pattern based on available rainfall data (1981-2009). The results for Marshyangdi basin with 4104.59km2 area with average discharge of 204.03 m3/s (1988-2009) suggested decrease in rainy days while increase in frequency of intense rainfall, and the projected rainfall based on downscaling showed increase in rainfall for 2050’s. The model performance is adequate and able to simulate accurate result with estimated average discharge of 224.82 m3/s (1988-2009). The simulated result provided good fit with model efficiency 0.86 for first calibration and 0.81 for second calibration, while total volume difference of 1.43% and Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency of 0.80 between observed and simulated discharge.

Journal of Hydrology and Meteorology, Vol. 9(1) 2015, p.60-73

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Published

2016-08-30

How to Cite

Parajuli, A., Devkota, L. P., Adhikari, T. R., Dhakal, S., & Kayastha, R. B. (2016). Impact of Climate Change on River Discharge and Rainfall Pattern: A Case Study from Marshyangdi River basin, Nepal. Journal of Hydrology and Meteorology, 9(1), 60–73. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhm.v9i1.15582

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