Workshop of Advisers on External Relations and Field Study

for RA II/V (Asia and South-West Pacific)

(Jeju Island and Seoul, Republic of Korea, 28 April-2 May 2008)

Department of Hydrology and Meteorology -

Relations and Cooperation

Jagat K. Bhusal
Senior Divisional Hydrologist
Department of Hydrology and Meteorology,
Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology,
Government of Nepal.

Thanks to KMA and WMO in organizing this workshop and sincere

gratitude to Dr. Nam and his colleagues for providing warm
hospitality to us)
 Presentation contains:

- History of Hydrological and

Meteorological data collection activities
in Nepal.
- Department of Hydrology and
Meteorology
- Overview on meteorology & Hydrology
of Nepal
- Disasters in Nepal
- Relations and Cooperation
NEPAL
 History of Hydrological and Meteorological data
collection activities in Nepal

• First meteorological (rainfall) station was established

in 1921 and two more rainfall stations were operated
in 1940.
• The systematic collection of Hydrological data began
in 1962-65 by UN special fund and USAID fund for a
feasibility study of power project and hydrological
services.
• 1966: Received WMO support to extend and upgrade
meteorological networks in Nepal.
• All Hydrological and Meteorological programs and
activities were handled entirely by the department in
1988.
The Department has a
mandate from (GON) to
undertake & manage all the
hydrological and
meteorological stations in
Nepal.
The scope of work includes
weather forecasting,
monitoring of climate; agro
meteorology, wind and
solar energy.
Flood forecast, river
hydrology, sediment, air
quality and water quality,
limnology, snow and glacier
hydrology,

Nepal became
WMO member in 1
September, 1966
Meteorological Stations Hydrological Stations
 s oon
Mon
mer
Sum
rly
ste
We
 ­

Legend
High Himal
High Mountain
Middle Mountain
Siwalik (Chure)
Terai
DHM_Precipitation stations (175)

NISP_Precipitations stations (160)

 ­
DADELDHURA JUMLA
DIPAYAL (DOTI)

DHANGADHI (ATARIYA)

SURKHET (BIRENDRA NAGAR)

POKHARA AIRPORT
NEPALGUNJ AIRPORTGHORAI (DANG)

KATHMANDU AIRPORT

BHAIRAHAWA AIRPORT TAPLEJUNG

OKHALDHUNGA

SIMARA AIRPORT
DHANKUTA
Legend
High Himal BIRATNAGAR AIRPOART
High Mountain
Middle Mountain
Siwalik (Chure)
Terai
Synoptic_stations (15)
 ­
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High Himal ")

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High Mountain
Middle Mountain
Siwalik (Chure)
Terai
") Climate_stations (72)
 ­

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Legend 6
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6
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High Himal 6
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6
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High Mountain
Middle Mountain
Siwalik (Chure)
Terai
6
" Agromet_stations (22)
 ­
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^ _
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Legend _
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High Himal
High Mountain _
^
Middle Mountain
Siwalik (Chure)
Terai
_
^ Sunshine_stations (17)
 ­
8 8 8
8 8
8 8
8 8 8
88
888 8 8
8
888 8
8 8
8
Legend 8
8 88 8
High Himal
8 8 8
High Mountain 8
Middle Mountain
Siwalik (Chure)
Terai
8 Wind_stations (34)
 ­

&
3

&
3 3 &
& 3 &
3

Legend &
3
High Himal &
3
High Mountain
Middle Mountain
Siwalik (Chure)
Terai
&
3 Soiltemperature_stations (7)
 ­
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High Himal ")

High Mountain
Middle Mountain
Siwalik (Chure)
Terai
") Evaporation_stations (14)
 Mean Annual Precipitation
M E A N A N N U A L P R E C IP I T A T I O N (m m )
3 0 .0 0
(F R O M H I S T O R I C A L D A T A E N D I N G 2 0 0 0 ]

2 9 .0 0

2 8 .0 0

2 7 .0 0

0 50 0 1 00 0 1 50 0 20 0 0 2 50 0 30 0 0 3 50 0 4 00 0 4 50 0 5 00 0
8 0 .0 0 8 1 .0 0 8 2 .0 0 8 3 .0 0 8 4 .0 0 85 .0 0 8 6 .0 0 8 7 .0 0 8 8 .0 0
 Mean Monsoon Precipitation
M E A N M O N S O O N P R E C IP I T A T I O N (m m )
3 0 .0 0
[F R O M H I S T O R I C A L D A T A E N D I N G 2 0 0 0 ]

2 9 .0 0

2 8 .0 0

2 7 .0 0

0 50 0 1 00 0 15 0 0 2 00 0 25 0 0 3 00 0 35 0 0 4 00 0
8 0 .0 0 8 1 .0 0 8 2 .0 0 8 3 .0 0 8 4 .0 0 85 .0 0 8 6 .0 0 8 7 .0 0 8 8 .0 0
 Annual Mean Temperature
A N N U A L M E A N T E M P E R A T U R °C
3 0 .0 0

2 9 .0 0

2 8 .0 0

2 7 .0 0

-18 -15 -12 -9 -6 -3 0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27

8 0 .0 0 8 1 .0 0 8 2 .0 0 8 3 .0 0 8 4 .0 0 8 5 .0 0 8 6 .0 0 8 7 .0 0 8 8 .0 0
(100)

(80)
Water -The biggest resource of
Nepal Table - 1
2
Watershed area Km Jan Feb. Mar Apr. May Jun. July Aug. Sep Oct. Nov. Dec. Year
Mahakali river 12600 99.5 86.9 85 104.6 155.8 379.3 1097 1507.1 1097 395.7 182.5 123 446

Theoretical hydropower potential of

Area within Nepal 5317
Area : Karnali-Mahakali 3811 22.7 18.5 15.1 11.8 15.7 71.6 264.6 308.1 290.8 116.8 44 27.3 101
Karnali river 43227 372.9 337.6 350.7 448.5 707.5 1531.9 3315.9 4404.3 3043.7 1330.4 637 449.5 1421
Babai river 3252 21.1 17.2 14.2 11.4 17.2 63.5 263.4 280.8 272.1 106.4 38.9 25.5 95

83,000 MW and feasible > 45,000 Area : Babai-Rapti

West Rapti river
Area :Rapti-Narayani
948
6215
4849
5.6
33.7
35.1
4.6
27.4
28.9
3.7
22
23.5
2.9
16.7
20.6
3.9
18.2
34.4
17.8
112.1
183.1
65.8
359.6
543.3
76.6
468.2
591.3
72.3
428.4
573.3
177.4
192.4
29 10.9
69
71.2
6.8
40.3
43.2
25
148
188

MW, Narayani river

Area : Narayani-E-Rapti
East Rapti river
31726 358.1 291.8 269.3
2327
1175
28.8
15.8
23.8
13.2
21.5
11.7
355 579.4 1642.4 4294.7
24.1
11.1
35.9
14.8
102.3
42.4
295.3
139.1
5070 3488.8 1632.2 805.9 501.9
366.2
182.1
280.8
154.3
123.5
64.3
59.3
30.1
38.2
20
1622
118
59
Bagmati river 3681 25.4 22.9 20.8 22.6 42.8 289.6 729.4 694.2 457.4 185.4 69 36.4 218
Area : Bagmati-Kamala 3013 20.8 18.7 17.1 18.5 35 237.1 597.1 568.3 374.4 151.8 56.5 29.8 178

Nevertheless, only 15 % of the

Kamala river 1786 12.2 10.7 10.3 12.5 22.0 97.7 244.8 240.1 168.1 69.1 29.9 17.1 78.4
Area : Kamala-Koshi 1896 12.9 11.4 10.9 13.3 23.4 103.7 259.9 254.8 178.4 73.3 31.7 18.2 83.3
Sapta Kposhi 27863 364.0 315.0 318.0 424.0 705.0 1660.0 4110.0 4340.0 3460.0 1460.0 795.0 501.0 1550.0

population has access to electricity

Area : Koshi-Kankai 3462 33.5 27.9 24.9 32.6 56.5 152.7 433.9 344.8 323.5 142.1 70.4 44.9 142
Kankai Mai 1317 13.2 10.7 9.2 12.8 23.9 82.4 227.1 166.3 121.6 58.9 26.5 17.6 65
Area : Kankai-Mechi 1316 12.7 10.6 9.5 12.4 21.5 58.0 164.9 131.1 123.0 54.0 26.8 17.0 54
Sum Total(sq. km.) 147181
Cubic meters per sec. 1488 1278 1237 1555 2513 6828 17406 19994 14908 6363 3055 1958
3

Women folks walk miles

Million m /day 128.6 110.4 106.9 134.4 217.1 589.9 1503.9 1727.5 1288.0 549.7 263.9 169.1 total
3
Billion m /month 3.99 3.09 3.31 4.03 6.73 17.70 46.62 53.55 38.64 17.04 7.92 5.24 208

sometimes to fetch drinking water

Surplus waters Irrigation waters
100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

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Disasters in Nepal

Landslides and floods, Avalanches, Glacier Lake Outburst, Wind/Hail,

Thunderbolts, Earthquake , Epidemics, Fires, etc.
International Supports & Cooperation
Cooperation with WMO and with other international
organizations
Actively supports WMO programs since its membership
in 1966
The DG of DHM is the PR of Nepal with WMO
DHM received support by WMO (experts, equipments,
training and scholarships) to institutionalize the met office
and to upgrade the networks.
 DHM has been getting support in Hydro & Met
services from UNESCO and foreign countries.
International Supports & Cooperation
DHM is the focal point of IPCC for Nepal
DHM actively cooperates in programs of like ICIMOD,
WWF, etc
Regional Cooperation
Nepal is represented by DHM in SMRC and participates
in the meteorological activities of SAARC
 Flood forecasting activities with India (bilateral
project), and data sharing with Bangladesh
Keeps linkage with ICIMOD – a regional center for
Hindu-Kush mountain region.
DHM cooperating through MOUs

Glaciology Expedition in Nepal (GEN):DHM &

Data Centre for Glacier Research (Japanese
Society of Snow and Ice)
Ev-K2-CNR Committee Provide logistic and
resource for Pyramid International
Laboratory-Observatory at Lobuche at 5050
meter asl.

Kathmandu Participatory River Monitoring - A

Model for South Asia. February : 2008 to
January 2013

IRD France-Research Unit Great Ice is

seeking MOU ”on Hydrology of the Himalaya
mountain range and its links with glacier and
snow cover variability”
Infrastructure development and Capacity Building of DHM
CMA (China Meteorological Administration) donated
Receiver for receiving FY-2 Geostationary Satellite
Imagery. Images are received on hourly basis and are
being used in monitoring and forecasting of weather
systems.
DHM is requesting support from KMA to establish
Numerical Weather Prediction System (NWP). Team of
experts lead by DG of KOICA visited DHM in September
2007. Prepared project proposal ( 2 yr duration) and is the
process of getting approval from concerned agencies to
officially submit the request form to KOICA.
DHM is in need of the following
– Upper-air observation including a weather radar
– Global Telecommunication system upgrade
– Installation of CDMS and Data rescue
– TV weather presentation system
Procedure for requesting support
• Need identification and documentation
• Preparation of project proposal
• Approval through line ministry and from national
planning commission
• Approved and forwarded through finance ministry.
The ministry lists projects in priority and forward to
the concerned Gov. through ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
• Projects are generally approved if they appear in
higher priority.
• Projects addressing to poverty alleviations are in
high priority in national and in donor communities.
 International Conference
on
Hydrology and Climate Change in the Mountainous Areas

Organizing by
the Department of Hydrology and
Meteorology & The Society of
Hydrologists and Meteorologists
Nepal
November 15-17, 2008, Kathmandu

Web: www.soham.org.np
Contact: soham@soham.org.np
Soham_npl@yahoo.com
• Climate change impacts and adaptations • Snow and glacier hydrology
• Sedimentation and Mass wasting • Hydrological modeling
• Flood forecasting & early warning systems • Water induced disaster management
• Droughts and low flows • Climate Change & Bio-diversity
Thank you