A review of atmospheric and land surface processes with emphasis on flood generation in the Southern Himalayan rivers

Floods in the southern rim of the Indian Himalayas are a major cause of loss of life, property, crops, infrastructure, etc. They have long term socio-economic impacts on the habitat living along/across the Himalayas. In the recent decade extreme precipitation events have led to numerous flash floods in and around the Himalayan region. Sporadic case-based studies have tried to explain the mechanisms causing the floods. However, in some of the cases, the causative mechanisms have been elusive. Various types of flood events have been debated at different spatial and temporal scales. The present study provides an overview of mechanisms that lead to floods in and around the southern rim of the Indian Himalayas. Atmospheric processes, landuse interaction, and glacier-related outbreaks are considered in the overview. •Floods in the southern rim of the Indian Himalayas are a major cause of loss of life, property, crops, infrastructure, etc.•In the recent decade extreme precipitation events have led to numerous flash floods in and around the Himalayan region. Sporadic case-based studies have tried to explain the mechanisms causing the floods.•However, in some of the cases, the causative mechanisms have been elusive.•The present study provides an overview of mechanisms that lead to floods in and around the southern rim of the Indian Himalayas.