Journal of Scientific Research and Reports

Cold-arid mountain communities depend heavily on seasonal snow and glacier melt, yet climate-driven changes in cryospheric processes are altering the timing and reliability of water availability. This review critically examines ice stupa technology as an artificial glacier system designed to store winter streamflow as ice and release meltwater during the critical spring irrigation period. The review synthesises evidence on the historical development, physical principles, engineering design, hydrological performance, agricultural relevance, ecological implications, socio-economic dimensions, economics, policy relevance and future research needs of ice stupas. The available evidence indicates that ice-stupa performance is governed primarily by meteorological conditions, surface-energy exchange, hydraulic head and cone geometry. Their compact vertical form can delay ablation, while gravity-fed systems enable operation without pumping energy. Recent advances in automated fountain scheduling substantially improve water-use efficiency and reduce operational failures associated with pipe freezing. However, storage remains primarily village-scale, hydrological performance varies considerably between years and economic, ecological and long-term socio-economic outcomes remain insufficiently quantified. Ice stupas therefore function most appropriately as supplementary seasonal water-storage systems rather than substitutes for natural glaciers or large-scale reservoirs. Their effectiveness depends on careful siting, appropriate engineering, reliable monitoring, community participation and integration with broader catchment-management strategies. Future research should prioritise long-term hydrological monitoring, standardised performance assessment, economic evaluation, ecological measurement and climate-sensitive scaling frameworks.