Tropical Glaciers

This IIED published research address the issue on the effects of climate change on glacier melting and on the hydrology of the La Paz Valley. It extensively describes the possible impact of climate change on water resources in the metropolitan area of La Paz and El Alto, and thus on water provision for urban domestic uses. Eighty per cent of the glaciers in the Bolivian tropical Andes are melting, much has already disappeared and the Tuni-Condoriri system, important for water provision in the cities of La Paz and El Alto will disappear towards 2025 and 2045. These studies also provide information related to the water balance (precipitation, consumption, water losses) in the water systems of La Paz and El Alto.