Measurement and simulation of runoff from Nepalese head watersheds

The contribution of meltwater from snow and glaciers strongly determines runoff from high mountain regions, Hydrometeorological data are required in order to make an assessment of water resources; however, monitoring in remote areas is difficult, and typically, data series are discontinuous. This paper describes a procedure to bridge data gaps in daily values of precipitation and air temperature from high mountain stations in Nepal based on continuous measurement records of the meteorological service network with stations located mainly in lowland areas, In a Second step, a conceptual precipitation-runoff model is calibrated and verified in three Himalayan head watersheds. Discharge is calculated using a daily time step over a total of seven hydrological years. This approach enables the assessment of the temporal and spatial distribution df runoff from high mountain areas such as the Nepalese Himalaya, and forms a valuable basis for water resources planning and management, i.e. hydropower generation.