AUTHOR=Balasubramanian Suryanarayanan , Hoelzle Martin , Lehning Michael , Bolibar Jordi , Wangchuk Sonam , Oerlemans Johannes , Keller Felix 

TITLE=Influence of Meteorological Conditions on Artificial Ice Reservoir (Icestupa) Evolution

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Earth Science

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/earth-science/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.771342

DOI=10.3389/feart.2021.771342

ISSN=2296-6463

ABSTRACT=Mountain communities in Ladakh, India have been using Artificial Ice Reservoirs (AIRs) for additional
  irrigation water supply. However, there is a large variability associated with this water supply due to the
  local weather influences at the chosen location. This study compared the ice volume evolution of three AIRs
  built in Ladakh, India and Guttannen, Switzerland using a surface energy balance model.  Model input consisted
  of meteorological data in conjunction with fountain discharge rate (mass input of an AIR). Model calibration
  and validation were completed using ice volume and surface area measurements taken from several drone surveys.
  The model achieved an RMSE within 18 \% of the maximum ice volume with the ice volume observations for all
  the AIRs. The location in Ladakh had a maximum ice volume around four times larger compared to the Guttannen
  site.  However, the corresponding water losses for all the AIRs were more than three-quarters of the total
  fountain discharge due to high fountain wastewater. Drier and colder locations in relatively cloud-free
  regions are expected to produce AIRs with a faster freezing rate and slower melting rate. This is a promising
  result for dry mountain regions, where AIR technology could provide a relatively affordable and sustainable
  strategy to mitigate climate change induced water stress.