ASSESSMENT OF CLIMATIC VARIABILITY IN GLACIERS AND ITS ROLE IN WATER SUPPLY: A CASE STUDY OF KOUHRANG SPRING IN THE ZARDKOUH HIGHLANDS

One of the primary sources of water supply in highland regions is springs, often formed by fault zones, whose discharge varies in response to precipitation patterns. The Kouhrang Spring, located in central Iran, is predominantly fed by glaciers in the Zardkouh Highlands and constitutes a major component of the region’s water resources. Hydrographic analysis of the spring’s catchment indicates that snowpack accumulation and glacial storage play a critical role in sustaining its flow. However, the occurrence of alternating wet and dry periods has significantly influenced glacier mass balance in the area. A 2021 study examining variations in snowpack and associated water supply challenges revealed that the boundary zone between the highland glaciers and the spring reservoir has undergone severe bedrock erosion due to prolonged glacial activity. Moreover, climatic stresses during summer months—coinciding with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events—have contributed to both reduced discharge and increased turbidity of the spring water. A decade-long assessment (concluding in 2021) of snowpack fluctuations within the Kouhrang catchment revealed a marked decline in glacial reserves, largely attributed to rising temperatures and declining precipitation. This reduction has exposed large portions of the catchment area, including sinkholes feeding the spring, leading to their structural collapse. Concurrently, increased seasonal runoff during warmer periods has damaged the karstic conduit network within the spring, resulting in both diminished discharge and elevated turbidity levels, rendering the water unsuitable for use.