Research/Capacity Development

South Asia’s prosperity relies on dependable monsoon patterns. However, climate change is changing these cycles, leading to more frequent and severe floods, droughts, and landslides. These disasters endanger the entire region’s water supply, agricultural production, energy generation, and infrastructure. This project applies an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the changing precipitation patterns and their consequences. The project will enhance the understanding of precipitation shifts and precipitation phase change in montane and dryland South Asia and China. The project will also facilitate the development of actionable strategies for disaster risk reduction and water, food, and energy security.

The project will develop actionable strategies through climate data analysis, modeling, and collaboration with stakeholders. These initiatives will prioritize catastrophe risk reduction and climate resilience in South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan) and China along with the technical expertise support from Japan and the USA. The project will capacitate early-career researchers in climate data analysis methodologies through training, workshops, and seminars. Modern climate data analysis and modeling tools will be employed to study the precipitation patterns evolving in the mountain and dryland northern rim of South Asia and China. The effect of changing precipitation patterns on water resources, agriculture, and energy security will be evaluated. Actionable strategies will be developed for disaster risk reduction in collaboration with policymakers that will increase regional scientific capabilities.