Université de Fribourg

Anthropogenic climate change and glacier lake outburst flood risk: local and global drivers and responsibilities for the case of lake Palcacocha, Peru

Huggel, Christian ; Carey, Mark ; Emmer, Adam ; Frey, Holger ; Walker-Crawford, Noah ; Wallimann-Helmer, Ivo

In: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 2020, vol. 20, no. 8, p. 2175–2193

Evidence of observed negative impacts on natural and human systems from anthropogenic climate change is increasing. However, human systems in particular are dynamic and influenced by multiple drivers and hence identifying an anthropogenic climate signal is challenging. Here we analyze the case of lake Palcacocha in the Andes of Peru, which offers a representative model for other glacier lakes...

Université de Fribourg

Potential future lakes from continued glacier shrinkage in the Aosta Valley Region (Western Alps, Italy)

Viani, Cristina ; Machguth, Horst ; Huggel, Christian ; Godio, Alberto ; Franco, Diego ; Perotti, Luigi ; Giardino, Marco

In: Geomorphology, 2020, vol. 355, p. 107068

Aosta Valley (Western Alps, Italy) is the region with the largest glacierized area of Italy. Like other high mountain regions, it has shown a significant glacier retreat starting from the end of the ‘Little Ice Age’ that is expected to continue in the future. As a direct consequence of glacier shrinkage, glacier-bed overdeepenings become exposed, offering suitable geomorphological ...

Université de Fribourg

Joint knowledge production in climate change adaptation networks

Muccione, Veruska ; Huggel, Christian ; Bresch, David N ; Jurt, Christine ; Wallimann-Helmer, Ivo ; Mehra, Meeta K ; Pabón Caicedo, José Daniel

In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 2019, vol. 39, p. 147–152

Adaptation to changing and new environmental conditions is of fundamental importance to sustainability and requires concerted efforts amongst science, policy, and practice to produce solution-oriented knowledge. Joint knowledge production or co-production of knowledge have become increasingly popular terms to describe the process of scientists, policy makers and actors from the civil society...

Université de Fribourg

Climate change research in bilateral development programmes: experiences from India and Peru

Muccione, Veruska ; Orlowsky, Boris ; Allen, Simon K. ; Huggel, Christian ; Salzmann, Nadine ; Montoya, Nilton ; Randhawa, Surjeet Singh ; Stoffel, Markus

In: Development in Practice, 2019, vol. 29, no. 3, p. 336–348

This article reflects on the merits and shortfalls of bilateral research programmes aimed at strengthening climate change research capabilities, using the experience from two programmes, the PACC and IHCAP in Peru and India, respectively. The study highlights key aspects of these types of bilateral programmes, namely: capacity; performance, salary and appreciation; funding; bureaucracy and...

Université de Fribourg

Rapid decline of snow and ice in the tropical Andes – Impacts, uncertainties and challenges ahead

Vuille, Mathias ; Carey, Mark ; Huggel, Christian ; Buytaert, Wouter ; Rabatel, Antoine ; Jacobsen, Dean ; Soruco, Alvaro ; Villacis, Marcos ; Yarleque, Christian ; Timm, Oliver Elison ; Condom, Thomas ; Salzmann, Nadine ; Sicart, Jean-Emmanuel

In: Earth-Science Reviews, 2018, vol. 176, p. 195–213

Glaciers in the tropical Andes have been retreating for the past several decades, leading to a temporary increase in dry season water supply downstream. Projected future glacier shrinkage, however, will lead to a long-term reduction in dry season river discharge from glacierized catchments. This glacier retreat is closely related to the observed increase in high-elevation, surface air...

Université de Fribourg

Toward mountains without permanent snow and ice

Huss, Matthias ; Bookhagen, B. ; Huggel, Christian ; Jacobsen, D. ; Bradley, R.S. ; Clague, J.J. ; Vuille, M. ; Buytaert, W. ; Cayan, D. R. ; Greenwood, G. ; Mark, B. G. ; Milner, A.M. ; Weingartner, R. ; Winder, M.

In: Earth’s Future, 2017, vol. 5, no. 5, p. 2016EF000514

The cryosphere in mountain regions is rapidly declining, a trend that is expected to accelerate over the next several decades due to anthropogenic climate change. A cascade of effects will result, extending from mountains to lowlands with associated impacts on human livelihood, economy, and ecosystems. With rising air temperatures and increased radiative forcing, glaciers will become smaller...

Université de Fribourg

The freezing level in the tropical Andes, Peru: An indicator for present and future glacier extents: the freezing level in the tropical Andes

Schauwecker, Simone ; Rohrer, Mario ; Huggel, Christian ; Endries, Jason ; Montoya, Nilton ; Neukom, Raphael ; Perry, Baker ; Salzmann, Nadine ; Schwarb, Manfred ; Suarez, Wilson

In: Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 2017, vol. 122, no. 10, p. 5172–5189

Along with air temperatures, the freezing level height (FLH) has risen over the last decades. The mass balance of tropical glaciers in Peru is highly sensitive to a rise in the FLH, mainly due to a decrease in accumulation and increase of energy for ablation caused by reduced albedo. Knowledge of future changes in the FLH is thus crucial to estimating changes in glacier extents. Since in situ...

Université de Fribourg

Glacier monitoring and capacity building: important ingredients for sustainable mountain development

Nussbaumer, Samuel U. ; Hoelzle, Martin ; Hüsler, Fabia ; Huggel, Christian ; Salzmann, Nadine ; Zemp, Michael

In: Mountain Research and Development, 2017, vol. 37, no. 1, p. 141–152

Glacier observation data from major mountain regions of the world are key to improving our understanding of glacier changes: they deliver fundamental baseline information for climatological, hydrological, and hazard assessments. In many mountain ecosystems, as well as in the adjacent lowlands, glaciers play a crucial role in freshwater provision and regulation. This article first presents the...

Université de Fribourg

Scientific knowledge and knowledge needs in climate adaptation policy: a case study of diverse mountain regions

Muccione, Veruska ; Salzmann, Nadine ; Huggel, Christian

In: Mountain Research and Development, 2016, vol. 36, no. 3, p. 364–375

Mountain ecosystems around the world are recognized to be among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The need to develop sound adaptation strategies in these areas is growing. Knowledge from the natural sciences has an important role to play in the development of adaptation strategies. However, the extent of and gaps in such knowledge have not been systematically investigated...

Université de Fribourg

Glacial lake outburst flood risk in Himachal Pradesh, India: an integrative and anticipatory approach considering current and future threats

Allen, Simon K. ; Linsbauer, Andreas ; Randhawa, S. S. ; Huggel, Christian ; Rana, P. ; Kumari, A.

In: Natural Hazards, 2016, vol. 84, no. 3, p. 1741–1763

Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are a serious and potentially increasing threat to livelihoods and infrastructure in most high-mountain regions of the world. Here, we integrate modelling approaches that capture both current and future potential for GLOF triggering, quantification of affected downstream areas, and assessment of the underlying societal vulnerability to such climate-related...