1. Studies on Human-Environmental Dynamics in the Western HKH-region
Matthias WINIGER
Department of Geography, University of Bonn (GIUB)
UIB-Workshop, Gilgit, April 16, 2014

2. Karakorum – Shyok Valley
Karakorum-Mountains: Deserts in Valleys - Forests on upper slopes – Glaciers on peaks K2
Karakorum – Shyok Valley
Google Earth 2009

3. Vertical characteristics
Extensive use of
natural vegetation
Vertical characteristics
Cultivation depending
on water and land
(Draft: Winiger, 2008)

4. Phyto-ecologic inventory
Comparison between conventional vegetation map and supervised classification of
digital LANDSAT-scene (example of Hunza/Nager).
(G. Braun, 1996: Vegetationsgeographische Untersuchungen im NW-Karakorum (Pakistan). Bonner Geogr. Abh., Vol.93)

5. Monitoring the
actual climate
 Vertical gradients
AWS Maidun (Batura)

6. Where to set-up meteorological station?
UIB-Programme:
Where to set-up meteorological station?
How to assess rainfall/snowfall at high altitudes?
 Example Kunjerab-Pass 56
Met.Stations: WAPDA GIUB
(Photo: Winiger, Sept. 28, 2012)

7. Monitoring of glacial dynamics44
1954
Batura Glacier seen from Patundas:
1954 (Pillewizer) and 2013 (Winiger)
2013

8. Longterm climatic fluctuations
Precipitation reconstruction for
northern Pakistan, long-term
precipitation variations and
temperature for different regions
in the northern hemisphere:
a: Treydte et al 2006
b: Sheppard et al 2004
c: Anderson et al, 2002
d: Cook et al, 2004
e: Wilson et al, 2005
f: Temperature reconstructions
(red) western central Asia, Esper
et al, 2006
(blue) Northern hemisphere, Mann
et al, 1999
(black) Northern hemisphere,
Esper et al, 2002
(green) Northern hemisphere,
Moberg et al, 2005
Source: Treydte et al, 2006

9. Local Scales:
Spatial location of irrigated land and dynamics of cryosphere
Passu
Borit

10. Subcontinental Scale: Indus-River: from HKH to the Sea

11. ‚Karakoram Anomaly – a reality? Positive or negative mass-balance?
Batura-Glacier
U. Börst, M. Winiger,
Bodo Bookhagen, 2013:
presented at AGU-Annual
Meeting

12. Understanding the complex diversity of cryosphere processes
Glacial Regimes depending on spatial variables
 Snow pits
(Source: K. Hewitt (2014): Glaciers of the Karakoram Himalaya. p.155
 Snow pits added by M.W.)

13. Vertical gradients/processes
Cryosphere : Models - Data/Field Evidence - Scales
Global to Regional Scales
General
Glacier
Model
General Atmospheric
Model-Input
Data
Continental
Topographic control
Satellite Data (Atmospheric and Surface Parameters) 59
Regional/Local
Topographic control
Regional/Local
Meteorological
Data
Data quality
Data quality
Local
Glacier
Model
Proxy-Data
Field studies
Regional to Local Scales
Vertical gradients/processes
(Draft M.W., 2011)

14. Passu-Janabad - GIUB/CIIT-Field-Trip – May 2013