Impacts
Hydroclimatic variations in the HMA region are already having significant impacts on communities living in and downstream from high alpine regions. Many communities rely on runoff from alpine regions for water resources (irrigation, hydropower generation). In many cases the presence of snow and ice in major watersheds provides runoff during months with lower precipitation rates. In other regions, monsoon rains dominate the water budget and can create rainfall-related hazards. Changes in the timing and intensity of precipitation and runoff can lead to increased occurrences of hazards including landslides, river flooding and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).