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Many large societies depend on water resources from mountain systems. The Himalayas represent the most important water source for India and south China. Modern agro-technology in Arizona and California depends on the supply of irrigation from the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada. Some of these irrigation systems depend to a large part on glacier melt. A reduction in glacier runoff in combination with increasing summer drought will strongly affect (seasonal) availability of freshwater. There is an enhanced risk of floods in spring, and higher risks of drought in summer. |
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