Most of the world's mountains are rich in water and, as such, play a pivotal role in the global water cycle. They provide water for diverse human uses and ecosystems. Growing water demands as well as climate change will lead to ever-increasing pressure on mountain waters. Overcoming water-use conflicts and maintaining the ecological functioning of mountain waters presents a highly challenging task and is indispensable for sustainable development.
This book extensively portrays the highly diverse attributes of mountain waters and demonstrates their paramount importance for ecological and societal development. The extensive summaries on the scientific basics of mountain waters are supplemented with considerations on the diverse water uses, needs for management actions, and challenges regarding sustainable water management. This overview concerns not only the mountain areas themselves but also downriver reaches and their surrounding lowlands, and, therefore, the relationship between mountain and lowland water issues.
From the reviews:
"The aim of this particular volume is to portray the highly diverse and complex nature of mountain waters ? . Alpine Waters - meets these aims in all respects ? . offers a good insight into the complex hydrological and biochemical nature of alpine regions, with a lot of sound analysis and good conclusions. ? I have no hesitation in recommending this volume to all who have an interest in freshwater in high mountain regions ? ." (Arthur J. Askew, Hydrological Sciences Journal, Vol. 56 (1), 2011)
"An exhaustive collection of reviews on the physical, chemical, and biological hydrology of the western Alps and will be welcomed by researchers in mountain areas everywhere. For workers in European mountains, it provides a starting point and source; for scientists elsewhere, it offers a generally good review of recent research in the Alps and a source of the primary materials on which that review is based. ? chapter includes reference lists ? which will, perhaps, be its greatest value to researchers and students outside Europe." (Nel Caine, Mountain Research and Development, Vol. 32 (1), February, 2012)
