Demonstration Basin Activities
in Pakistan

Dr. Bashir AHMAD
Muhammad Yasin

The 3rd GEOSS Asian Water Cycle Symposium

Sub-basins in Upper Indus

Demonstration Basin in Pakistan
Swat River Basins
Swat River Basin

0600 Kilometers

Background• Increasing water scarcity and pollution,
environmental degradation including desertification
are increasing seriously• Possible impacts of the global climate change on
fresh water resources of glaciers and snow cover• Present and future water scarcity in the country has
overwhelming economical and political implications• Integrated temporal and spatial water resources
modeling is required for decision making and longterm planningObjectives• Water resources assessment using Remote Sensing data
• Temporal mapping and database development of
Cryosphere based on Remote Sensing data and fieldvalidation• Impact of climate change on snow cover and glacier
resources• Impact of land use system changes in response to climatechange• Water resources management both for operational use andscenario based assessments for planning purposes
Swat River Basin
Characteristics¾ Area (sq. km) 5894
¾ Maximum elevation (m) 5644
¾ Upper part mostly covered bysnow in winter¾ Few Glaciers¾ Meteorological stations = 4ISSUES¾ Water scarcity¾ Deforestation¾ Snowmelt floods/flash floods¾ Soil erosion¾ Sedimentation¾ Water quality¾ Monitoring at high altitude

Observation SystemSURFACE

NumberHYDROLOGICALAir Temperature

4

Streamflow

Humidity

4

Reservoir (Water level, Outflow)

Wind

4

Groundwater Table

Pressure

4

Evapolation

Precipitation

4

Soil Temperature

Snow Depth

1

Soil Moisture

Skin Temperature

Atmosphere

Upward Shortwave Radiation

Planetary Boundary Layer Tower

Downward Shortwave Radiation

1Number2

3Number

Pilot Baloon

1

Upward Longwave Radiation

Radiosonde

1

Downward Longwave Radiation

Radar

1Net Radiation

Water Quality

Sensible Heat Flux

Groundwater quality indicators

Latent Heat Flux

Surface water quality indicators

Ground Heat Flux

OthersNumber

2

Number

CO2 Flux

Glaciers of Upper Indus Basins

Total number

5,218

Source: WRRI, NARC (2005) “ Inventory of glaciers”
glaciers”

Glaciers of Swat River Basins

The upper reaches of the Kohistan-Swat ranges are mostly covered with snowand glaciers. Glacier area is about 223.55 sq. km. Less information are available
about glacier mass balance and snowcover extent.
Source: WRRI, NARC (2005) “ Inventory of glaciers”
glaciers”

Glacial and Dangerous Glacial Lakes of Swat River Basins

Glacial lakes = 255
Glacial lakes area of more than 15. 86 sq. km .
Glacial lakes are distributed in the north-central parts of the basin
Two potentially dangerous lakes.
Source: WRRI, NARC (2005) “ Inventory of glaciers”
glaciers”

Implementation Schedule of theDemonstration Project
2008/I

2008/II

2009/I

2009/II

2010/I

2010/II

2011/IACTIVITIESHydro-meteorologicalmonitoring&Data integration system
preparation, quality check)water(inputquality
dataImprovement of in-situ observation network
systemSetting-up a Distributed Hydrological Model(optional LSS)
Scenario Studies: Land use change analysis,
dry periods, etc.
Capacity building on Floods, Droughts &Water Quality
Parallel testing of the system at operational
stage
IWRM plan development of floods, droughts& water quality

Capacity Building
Requirements/Programs• Flood & Drought Forecasting and Warning• Flood and Drought Risk Map• Climate Change Scenario• RS Date Availability

2011/IICollaborative Institutes
Pakistan Meteorological Department
Climate Change Impact Study Center

Swat River near Kalam Valley

Utrot Valley