This study presents a map reporting valuable information on the cryosphere of the Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP, the largest protected area of Pakistan and the highest park in the world). All the information is provided considering the CKNP as a whole, and in detail by dividing it into five basins (i.e. Shigar, Hunza, Shyok, Upper Indus, and Gilgit). The glacier inventory reports 608 ice bodies covering 3680 km2 (∼35% of the CKNP area), with a total glacier volume of ca. 532 km3. In addition, we modeled the meltwater from glacier ice ablation over the period 23 July to 9 August 2011. The total melt amount is ca. 1.5 km3. Finally, we considered glacial lakes (202 water-bodies, covering 4 km2). For these latter glacier features, we also analyzed their potentially dangerous conditions and two lakes were found having such conditions.
Funding
This research was developed in the context of the ‘Social Economic Environment Development’ (SEED) project which focused on the Central Karakoram National Park (CKNP) Gilgit Baltistan Region, Phase II, funded by the Government of Italy and the Government of Pakistan in the framework of the Pakistan-Italian Debt for development Swap Agreement (PIDSA see also http://openaid.esteri.it/en/projects/initiative/008942/). The main aim of the Project is the promotion of an integrative development of the CKNP region through the support of the implementation and management of the CKNP, the improvement of local wellbeing and livelihood options, through poverty alleviation, community development, livelihood improvement and conservation by means of an integration of intrinsic scientific ecosystem management-oriented research, indigenous practices for natural resource management and ecotourism principles to support the development and implementation of the CKNP. The present study was also carried out by early career researchers supported by DARA (Department of Regional Affairs and Autonomies) of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Government through the GlacioVAR project (P.I. G. Diolaiuti grant number: COLL_MIN15GDIOL_M).
