1st Edition
Climate Change and Water Resources in South Asia
This book addresses the most pressing water resource issues in South Asia, particularly in relation to climate change and variability. This is a region characterised by abundant water during the monsoon, when devastating floods occur, and by scarcity of water and droughts during the dry period. These extreme events often cause substantial damage to infrastructure, property, livestock and human populations. Agriculture and other key economic sectors suffer greatly during these events. The results of climate and hydrologic models indicate increased vulnerability unless adequate adaptation measures are designed and implemented. Such policies need to rely on a framework that includes active participation of the stakeholders.
Table of Contents
Foreword R. K. Pachauri xi
Foreword Don MacIver xiii
Preface xv
About the Editors xix
About the Authors xxi
Acronyms xxiii
1
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER RESOURCES IN SOUTH ASIA: AN
INTRODUCTION
M. Monirul Qader Mirza
Q. K. Ahmad
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Water Availability and Demand in South Asia 2
1.3 Climate Change and Water Resources 8
1.4 Climate Change and Future Water Challenges 8
2
HYDROLOGIC MODELING APPROACHES FOR CLIMATE IMPACT
ASSESSMENT IN SOUTH ASIA
M. Monirul Qader Mirza
2.1 Introduction 23
2.2 Hydrologic Models 23
2.3 Advantages and Limitations of Hydrologic Models in Climate
Change Application 32
2.4 Application of Hydrologic Models for Climate Change Impact
Assessment in Bangladesh 35
2.5 Application of Hydrologic Model in India 45
2.6 Application of Models in Pakistan 46
2.7 Summary and Concluding Remarks 48
Biography
Dr M. Monirul Qader Mirza has extensively researched on hydrological and climate
extremes, natural hazards and their management, climate change and water resources and
associated vulnerability, impact and adaptation and environmental impacts of water
diversions from the transboundary rivers. He received his PhD from the International
Global Change Institute (IGCI), University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand on climate
change and flooding in Bangladesh in 1998. He contributed as a Coordinating Lead Author
(CLA) to the Special Regional Report and the Third Assessment Report (TAR) of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations and to the
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. He is currently with the Adaptation and Impacts
Research Group (AIRG), Meteorological Service Canada, Environment Canada. He is also
an Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IES), University of Toronto,
Canada. He has been declared as a Burtoni Fellow of the Meteorological Service Canada
for the year 2004-2005. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and
Professional Engineers, Ontario, Canada.
Dr Q. K. Ahmad is a socio-economic specialist of international repute and has to his credit
a wide range of research work on environment and water resources, climate change, policy
planning, food and agriculture, rural development, poverty alleviation, human
development, technology and employment generation, women in development and
gender issues. He extensively studied various issues related to water resources
development and cooperation in the South Asia Region. He received his PhD from the
London School of Economics and Political Science, London University in 1976. He is
Chairman and Chief Executive, Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP), Dhaka. He was the
Presiden
