From 14–18 September 2025 the International Mountain Conference (IMC) was held in Innsbruck, Austria, with over 1,000 scientists and 150+ sessions. The Mountain Hydrology Group attended with a 12-person delegation (nine members, three collaborators), contributing posters, talks and convened sessions on snow, glaciers, vegetation, drought, atmospheric modelling, precipitation dynamics and debris flows.
On Monday Oriol presented his PhD work on hybrid machine-learning models for improving snow water equivalent (SWE) predictions; René presented DROP-project results using high-resolution atmospheric modelling to examine precipitation dynamics in the Third Pole. Leon presented a poster on mountain greening and its hydrological effects on soil moisture, ground temperature and snow dynamics.
Tuesday included Caroline’s presentation on groundwater recharge and surface–groundwater interactions in the glacierized Langshisha Catchment (Nepal), and a session convened by Philip on High Mountain Asia cryo-hydrology and water-resource implications. Philip also presented global analyses showing the importance of the lower mountains. Posters by Raeven and Aris addressed glacier mass-balance proxies for high-altitude precipitation and field-based precipitation patterns in Nepal’s Langtang Valley. Pranisha presented high-resolution hydrological modelling of future water balance and streamflow extremes in Nepal’s Karnali Basin.
Wednesday opened with Arthur’s session on upstream–downstream connectivity in major water towers. In the afternoon Varya presented on glacier retreat and mountain greening effects on water availability, sediment yield and debris-flow hazards. Katrina presented a poster related to the MEGAWATT project on drought impacts in Spain’s Ebro Basin.
On Thursday the group attended final sessions and concluded with a teambuilding hike on Nordkette.
More details on the presentations:
- Aubry-Wake, C.; Immerzeel, W.; and Somers, L.: Glacier Retreat and Snowfall-to-Rainfall Shifts Reshape Groundwater and Streamflow Dynamics in the Langtang Himalaya, International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 – 18 2025, #IMC25-3.8998, 2025. https://imc2025.info/imc25/abstract/glacier-retreat-and-snowfall-to-rainfall-shifts-reshape-groundwater-and-streamflow-dynamics-in-the-langtang-himalaya/
- Bazilova, V.; Hirschberg, J.; Duurkoop, L.; de Haas, T.; and Immerzeel, W.: The impact of glacier retreat, greening and a changing sediment supply on debris flows in two monsoon-dominated Himalayan catchments, International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 – 18 2025, #IMC25-3.12863, 2025. https://imc2025.info/imc25/abstract/the-impact-of-glacier-retreat-greening-and-a-changing-sediment-supply-on-debris-flows-in-two-monsoon-dominated-himalayan-catchments/
- Duurkoop, L.; Brakkee, E.; van de Lisdonk, D.; Haagmans, D.; Immerzeel, W.; Wagner, F.; Kraaijenbrink, P.; and Eichel, J.: Mountain Greening in Alpine Catchments: Evaluating Vegetation Transitions and Environmental Controls on Hydrology, International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 – 18 2025, #IMC25-3.9226, 2025. https://imc2025.info/imc25/abstract/mountain-greening-in-alpine-catchments-evaluating-vegetation-transitions-and-environmental-controls-on-hydrology/
- Gelwick, K.; Stigter, E.; McCarthy, M.; Moreno, M.; Ayala, Á.; Zilker, F.; Contreras, S.; López-Moreno, I.; Fatichi, S.; Karger, D.; Pellicciotti, F.; and Immerzeel, W.: Drought, snowmelt, and vegetation stress in the Pyrenees: insights from ecohydrological modeling, International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 – 18 2025, #IMC25-3.13420, 2025. https://imc2025.info/imc25/abstract/drought-snowmelt-and-vegetation-stress-in-the-pyrenees-insights-from-ecohydrological-modeling/
- Kwadijk, A.; Immerzeel, W.: Climatic and Topographic Controls on Precipitation in the Langtang Valley, Nepal, International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 – 18 2025, #IMC25-3.12232, 2025. https://imc2025.info/imc25/abstract/climatic-and-topographic-controls-on-precipitation-in-the-langtang-valley-nepal/
- Kraaijenbrink, P.; Immerzeel, W.; and Shea, J.: Global mountain water yield dominated by rainfall runoff and the lower mountain reaches, International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 – 18 2025, #IMC25-3.8328, 2025. https://imc2025.info/imc25/abstract/global-mountain-water-yield-dominated-by-rainfall-runoff-and-the-lower-mountain-reaches/
- Pokhrel, P.; D. A. Kraaijenbrink, P.; Griffioen, J.; Bogaard, T.; and Immerzeel, W.: A comprehensive overview of climate change impacts on the Karnali River Basin, Nepal, International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 – 18 2025, #IMC25-3.13043, 2025. https://imc2025.info/imc25/abstract/a-comprehensive-overview-of-climate-change-impacts-on-the-karnali-river-basin-nepal/
- Pomarol Moya, O.; Nussbaum, M.; Mehrkanoon, S.; Kraaijenbrink, P.; Gouttevin, I.; Karssenberg, D.; and Immerzeel, W. W.: Spatiotemporal forecasting of snow water equivalent: the potential of hybrid machine learning models, International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 – 18 2025, #IMC25-3.10268, 2025. https://imc2025.info/imc25/abstract/spatiotemporal-forecasting-of-snow-water-equivalent-the-potential-of-hybrid-machine-learning-models/
- Van Den Acker, R.: Development of a Precipitation Proxy for High Mountain Asia, International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 – 18 2025, #IMC25-3.12191, 2025. https://imc2025.info/imc25/abstract/development-of-a-precipitation-proxy-for-high-mountain-asia/
- Wijngaard, R.; Immerzeel, W.: High resolution atmospheric modelling of high-altitude precipitation patterns and dynamics in the Third Pole region., International Mountain Conference 2025, Innsbruck, Sep 14 – 18 2025, #IMC25-3.12417, 2025. https://imc2025.info/imc25/abstract/high-resolution-atmospheric-modelling-of-high-altitude-precipitation-patterns-and-dynamics-in-the-third-pole-region/
More detail on the sessions:
- High Asia cryo-hydrology: processes and impacts across elevations. https://imc2025.info/imc25/sessions-n-workshops/focus-session/fs-3-101-high-mountain-asias-cryo-hydrosphere-process-understanding-downstream-impacts-and-prospects-for-operational-solutions/
- Upstream-downstream connectivity and impacts in the world’s water towers. https://imc2025.info/imc25/sessions-n-workshops/focus-session/fs-3-128-upstream-downstream-connectivity-and-impacts-of-global-change-in-the-worlds-water-towers/
