OPERATIONAL REMOTE SENSING FOR SNOWCOVER RüNOFF AND AV ALANCHE APPL!CATIONS IN TI!E HIMALAYAS'

Snow in the Himalayas is a vital resource to India, but also a hazard in the form of avalanches. Therefore, hydrological records are in great demand. Tue Snowhydrology Team of NRSA today is providing seasonal and short-term snowmelt runoff forecasts for various basins on an operational basis. Tue model for avalanche hazard zone mapping is ready for implementation. Tue chosen concept development of method and models in Switzerland using similar but weil documented and accessible test sites in the Alps, extensive training, technology transfer, implementation with the necessary modi:fications in lndia, and execution of lhe operational activities at NRSA enabled an operationalization in a relatively shon time. But much more remains to bc done by extending the models to more basins, by providing additional information, by improving the methods, by use of new sensor and hardware teclmology, and by considering more specifically the requirements of more users.