Estimation of recent glacial variations in baspa basin using remote sensing technique |
| |
| Authors: | Anil V Kulkarni Suja Alex |
| |
| Institution: | (1) FutureWater, Wageningen, The Netherlands;(2) Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;(3) Institute of Environmental Engineering, Hydrology and Water Resources Management, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;(4) International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal;(5) Deltares, Utrecht, The Netherlands |
| |
| Abstract: | The Himalayas has one of the largest concentrations of glaciers outside the Polar Regions. Various reports suggest that significant number of mountain glaciers is shrinking due to climatic variations. Monitoring of these glaciers is important to assess future availability of water resources in the Himalayan region. However, Himalayan glaciers are normally difficult to monitor due to the rugged, mountainous terrain. Therefore, images of Indian Remote Sensing Satellite were used to monitor glaciers in the Baspa basin. Investigations have shown the presence of 30 glaciers in the basin, with areal extent of 167 km2. Out of these, 19 glaciers, with areal extent of 140 km2 were selected to estimate retreat. Investigation suggests that almost all glaciers are retreating in the study basin and overall 19% deglaciation has been observed from 1962 to 2001. In general, altitude distribution appears to have significant influence on glacial retreat. Glaciers located around 5000 m altitude range are showing 24% loss as compared to 14% by glaciers located in altitude range higher than 5400 m. In addition, mean altitude of glacier terminus is shifted upward by 88 m, i.e. from 4482 to 4570 m in last 39 years. The glacial volumes were estimated using regression relationship between area and depth. The investigations have suggested that 19.10 km3 of glacial water stored in the 19 glaciers in 1962, has been reduced to 14.71 km3 in 2001, respectively, an overall loss of 23 percent in a period between 1962 and 2001. These investigations suggest that all glaciers in the Baspa Basin are reducing and in long term, such reducing trend can create scarcity of water in the region. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
