Ice Stupa Project

Context:
Mountains are the water towers of the world. They provide freshwater to half the world’s
population for irrigation, industry, domestic use and hydropower. But mountains are also among
the regions most sensitive to climate change. Inevitably mountain communities are the first faced
with the task of adapting and mitigating to the various challenges such changes present.

World-wide glacier retreat is one of the most obvious and impressive manifestations of climate
warming. On a regional scale, glaciers fluctuations may affect landscape, meltwater supply
(reservoirs, irrigation), security of infrastructure and buildings (ice avalanches, outbursts of glacial
lakes), and tourist industry (ski areas, attractiveness of alpine scenery).

To counter this in the swiss alps, a study based on a 20 year weather data shows that the
Morteratsch Glacier (Swiss Alps) can reglaciate and advance again using artificially produced
summer snow produced just by gravity. In the Himalayas, the Icestupa Artificial Glacier Technology
(Rolex Award for Enterprises 2016 recipient) was pioneered to compensate for reduced runoff by
reutilising unused winter meltwater for irrigation. Ice Stupa Artificial Glacier is a simple technique
of piping water away and downstream from mountain streams in winter. The natural pressure that
builds upon the pipe is used to cause a fountain of water at the outlet that then freezes in the shape
of a huge cone when it comes in contact with subzero ambient temperatures. Due to its shape the
ice and snow melts only in late spring when farmers need water the most. At higher altitudes, a web
of ice stupas has potential to merge and behave like a real glacier.

Such interventions can sustain the mountain regions as water towers of the world and also provide
economic stability by strengthening agricultural production and tourism development.

Current Activities:
Ladakh, Himalayas: Mountain farmers in many villages in Ladakh have adopted the Ice Stupas as a
water storage technology to use the winter glacial meltwater in the high demand irrigation season
of April and May.

Sikkim, Himalayas: South Lhonak Lake, one of the largest glacial lakes in the Himalayan Range,
is currently being drained to not just reduce the risks of a GLOF but also reglaciate the region using
the siphoned water every winter.
Graubunden, Swiss Alps: Morteratsch glacier, one of the most popular glaciers in the world and a
living symbol of climate change is planned to be preserved using cable car run snow machines that
compensate for the poor precipitation over the past winters by spraying a 5m thick artificial snow
cover on a climate sensitive region of the glacier.
Expected Outcomes:

Controlled discharge of glacial lakes : Combined with a siphon drainage system and automated
construction mechanism of artificial glaciers, the glacial lakes can be drained and simultaneously
snow covered ice sheets can be designed that melt as per requirement in the summer and continue
growing until the glacial water reservoir is exhausted.

Sustainable Economy for mountain farmers: The technology can be crowdsoursed to farmers
who have these “Ice Hotels” as a touristic attraction in the winter which turns into a water reservoir
in early spring.

Current Support:
 Indiegogo Crowdfunding Campaign 2014:https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ice-
stupa-artificial-glaciers-of-ladakh#/story
 Jain Irrigation System donated pipelines for the project’s activities.
 The United Nations Mountain Partnership Ambassador, His Holiness Drikung Kyabgon
Chetsang Rinpochey is an outspoken supporter and has initiated many ladakhi
communities to adopt the technology
 United Nations Development Agency via the Green Climate Funded is funding the South
Lhonak Glacial Lake Project
 The Project won the Rolex Awards for enterprise 2016:
http://www.rolexawards.com/40/laureate/sonam-wangchuk
 Gemeinde Pontresina funds the project activities in Switzerland.
 Bhutan, Nepal and Peru Governments has invited the project to solve its glacial lake
problems.

Relevant Contacts:

 Founder, Ice Stupa Project: Sonam Wangchuk (sonamsolar@gmail.com)

 President, Ice Stupa International: Felix Keller (f.keller@academia-engiadina.ch)
 Manager and Researcher: Suryanarayanan B(gayashiva91@gmail.com)