Can peak water be considered a tipping point for water security in mountain river basins?

Peak water describes the point in time beyond which glacier and snow melt irreversibly reduce. It is widely seen as a tipping point at which hydrological processes in glacierized catchments are forever altered and water security is put increasingly at risk. Through TIPPING-RIVERS, I will systematically quantify the impact of the point in time beyond which glacier and snow melt irreversibly reduce peak water on water security. Using a comprehensive risk assessment approach (risk = hazard x exposure x vulnerability), I will quantify the risk of a ‘tipping’ from a water secure to an insecure region in two case study catchments. Given my background in hydrology, I will put a strong focus on the hazard-component, identifying ecohydrological catchment characteristics which accelerate, delay or hinder negative impacts of melt water loss. To translate the natural hazard into risk for society, I will combine the hydrological analysis with the assessment of the exposure as well as the vulnerability of downstream communities. The assessment of local tipping points conducted in this project, will be based on the planetary boundaries framework. Its use for the identification of local boundaries has thus far been limited but highly demanded to better anticipate and prevent irreversible and adverse changes to the environment. TIPPING-RIVERS will advance the science in this field by developing a framework for local freshwater boundary assessments.