scholarly journals Four years of mass balance on Chhota Shigri Glacier, Himachal Pradesh, India, a new benchmark glacier in the western Himalaya

2007 ◽  
Vol 53 (183) ◽  
pp. 603-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Wagnon ◽  
Anurag Linda ◽  
Yves Arnaud ◽  
Rajesh Kumar ◽  
Parmanand Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
Himachal Pradesh ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Chhota Shigri Glacier ◽  
Himalayan Glaciers

Little is known about the Himalayan glaciers, although they are of particular interest in terms of future water supply, regional climate change and sea-level rise. In 2002, a long-term monitoring programme was started on Chhota Shigri Glacier (32.2° N, 77.5° E; 15.7 km2, 6263–4050 ma.s.l., 9 km long) located in Lahaul and Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India. This glacier lies in the monsoon–arid transition zone (western Himalaya) which is alternately influenced by Asian monsoon in summer and the mid-latitude westerlies in winter. Here we present the results of a 4 year study of mass balance and surface velocity. Overall specific mass balances are mostly negative during the study period and vary from a minimum value of –1.4 m w.e. in 2002/03 and 2005/06 (equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) ∼5180 m a.s.l.) to a maximum value of +0.1 m w.e. in 2004/05 (ELA 4855 m a.s.l.). Chhota Shigri Glacier seems similar to mid-latitude glaciers, with an ablation season limited to the summer months and a mean vertical gradient of mass balance in the ablation zone (debris-free part) of 0.7mw.e.(100 m)–1, similar to those reported in the Alps. Mass balance is strongly dependent on debris cover, exposure and the shading effect of surrounding steep slopes.

scholarly journals Mass balance of Himalayan glaciers using AAR and ELA methods

1992 ◽  
Vol 38 (128) ◽  
pp. 101-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anil V. Kulkarni
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Positive Mass ◽  
Landsat Images ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Zero Mass ◽  
Himalayan Glaciers ◽  
Landsat Satellite ◽  
Accumulation Area Ratio

AbstractThe accumulation area ratio (AAR) for Himalayan glaciers representing zero mass balance is substantially lower than for North America and Europe. Regression analysis suggests 0.44 for the AAR representing zero mass balance in the western Himalaya. A good correlation was observed when this method was applied to individual glaciers such as Gara and Gor-Garang in Himachal Pradesh, India. The correlation coefficients (r), using 6 and 7 years of data, respectively, were 0.88 and 0.96 for Gara and Gor-Garang Glaciers, respectively. However, when data from six western Himalayan glaciers were correlated, the correlation was 0.74. The AAR was also estimated by using Landsat images which can be useful in obtaining a trend in mass balance for a large number of Himalayan glaciers for which very little information exists.A higher correlation was observed between equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) and mass balance. The field data from Gara and Gor-Garang Glaciers shows a high correlation coefficient, i.e. −0.92 and −0.94, respectively. The ELA values obtained from the Landsat satellite images combined with topographic maps suggest positive mass balance for the year 1986–87 and negative for 1987–88.

scholarly journals Seasonal changes in surface albedo of Himalayan glaciers from MODIS data and links with the annual mass balance

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 3437-3474 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Brun ◽  
M. Dumont ◽  
P. Wagnon ◽  
E. Berthier ◽  
M. F. Azam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Surface Albedo ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Monsoon Period ◽  
Chhota Shigri Glacier ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Himalayan Glaciers

Abstract. Few glaciological field data are available on glaciers in the Hindu Kush – Karakoram – Himalaya (HKH) region, and remote sensing data are thus critical for glacier studies in this region. The main objectives of this study are to document, using satellite images, the seasonal changes of surface albedo for two Himalayan glaciers, Chhota Shigri Glacier (Himachal Pradesh, India) and Mera Glacier (Everest region, Nepal), and to reconstruct the annual mass balance of these glaciers based on the albedo data. Albedo is retrieved from MODerate Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images, and evaluated using ground based measurements. At both sites, we find high coefficients of determination between annual minimum albedo averaged over the glacier (AMAAG) and glacier-wide annual mass balance (Ba) measured with the glaciological method (R2 = 0.75). At Chhota Shigri Glacier, the relation between AMAAG found at the end of the ablation season and Ba suggests that AMAAG can be used as a proxy for the maximum snowline altitude or equilibrium line altitude (ELA) on winter accumulation-type glaciers in the Himalayas. However, for the summer-accumulation type Mera Glacier our approach relied on the hypothesis that ELA information, mostly not accessible from space during the monsoon, was still preserved later thanks to strong winter winds blowing away snow and in turn exposing again the late monsoon surface. AMAAG was subsequently revealed in the post-monsoon period. Reconstructed Ba at Chhota Shigri Glacier agrees with mass balances previously reconstructed using a positive degree-day method. Reconstructed Ba at Mera Glacier is affected by heavy cloud cover during the monsoon, which systematically limited our ability to observe AMAAG at the end of the melting period. In addition, the relation between AMAAG and Ba is constrained over a shorter time period for Mera Glacier (6 years) than for Chhota Shigri Glacier (11 years). Thus the mass balance reconstruction is less robust for Mera Glacier than for Chhota Shigri Glacier. However our method shows promising results and may be used to reconstruct the annual mass balance of glaciers with contrasted seasonal cycles in the western part of the HKH mountain range since the early 2000s when MODIS images became available.

scholarly journals Mass balance of Himalayan glaciers using AAR and ELA methods

1992 ◽  
Vol 38 (128) ◽  
pp. 101-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anil V. Kulkarni
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Positive Mass ◽  
Landsat Images ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Zero Mass ◽  
Himalayan Glaciers ◽  
Landsat Satellite ◽  
Accumulation Area Ratio

AbstractThe accumulation area ratio (AAR) for Himalayan glaciers representing zero mass balance is substantially lower than for North America and Europe. Regression analysis suggests 0.44 for the AAR representing zero mass balance in the western Himalaya. A good correlation was observed when this method was applied to individual glaciers such as Gara and Gor-Garang in Himachal Pradesh, India. The correlation coefficients (r), using 6 and 7 years of data, respectively, were 0.88 and 0.96 for Gara and Gor-Garang Glaciers, respectively. However, when data from six western Himalayan glaciers were correlated, the correlation was 0.74. The AAR was also estimated by using Landsat images which can be useful in obtaining a trend in mass balance for a large number of Himalayan glaciers for which very little information exists.A higher correlation was observed between equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) and mass balance. The field data from Gara and Gor-Garang Glaciers shows a high correlation coefficient, i.e. −0.92 and −0.94, respectively. The ELA values obtained from the Landsat satellite images combined with topographic maps suggest positive mass balance for the year 1986–87 and negative for 1987–88.

scholarly journals Understanding the interrelationships among mass balance, meteorology, discharge and surface velocity on Chhota Shigri Glacier over 2002–2019 using in situ measurements

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (259) ◽  
pp. 727-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arindan Mandal ◽  
Alagappan Ramanathan ◽  
Mohd. Farooq Azam ◽  
Thupstan Angchuk ◽  
Mohd Soheb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Chhota Shigri Glacier ◽  
Himalayan Glaciers ◽  
Ice Velocity ◽  
Long Term Observation ◽  
Surface Ice ◽  
Substantial Change

AbstractThe Himalayan glaciers contribute significantly to regional water resources. However, limited field observations restrict our understanding of glacier dynamics and behaviour. Here, we investigated the long-term in situ mass balance, meteorology, ice velocity and discharge of the Chhota Shigri Glacier. The mean annual glacier-wide mass balance was negative, −0.46 ± 0.40 m w.e. a−1 for the period 2002–2019 corresponding to a cumulative wastage of −7.87 m w.e. Winter mass balance was 1.15 m w.e. a−1 and summer mass balance was −1.35 m w.e. a−1 over 2009–2019. Surface ice velocity has decreased on average by 25–42% in the lower and middle ablation zone (below 4700 m a.s.l.) since 2003; however, no substantial change was observed at higher altitudes. The decrease in velocity suggests that the glacier is adjusting its flow in response to negative mass balance. The summer discharge begins to rise from May and peaks in July, with a contribution of 43%, followed by 38% and 19% in August and September, respectively. The discharge pattern closely follows the air temperature. The long-term observation on the ‘Chhota Shigri – a benchmark glacier’, shows a mass wastage which corresponds to the slowdown of the glacier in the past two decades.

scholarly journals Seasonal changes in surface albedo of Himalayan glaciers from MODIS data and links with the annual mass balance

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 341-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Brun ◽  
M. Dumont ◽  
P. Wagnon ◽  
E. Berthier ◽  
M. F. Azam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Surface Albedo ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Snow Accumulation ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Monsoon Period ◽  
Chhota Shigri Glacier ◽  
Himalayan Glaciers

Abstract. Few glaciological field data are available on glaciers in the Hindu Kush–Karakoram–Himalayan (HKH) region, and remote sensing data are thus critical for glacier studies in this region. The main objectives of this study are to document, using satellite images, the seasonal changes of surface albedo for two Himalayan glaciers, Chhota Shigri Glacier (Himachal Pradesh, India) and Mera Glacier (Everest region, Nepal), and to reconstruct the annual mass balance of these glaciers based on the albedo data. Albedo is retrieved from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images, and evaluated using ground based measurements. At both sites, we find high coefficients of determination between annual minimum albedo averaged over the glacier (AMAAG) and glacier-wide annual mass balance (Ba) measured with the glaciological method (R2 = 0.75). At Chhota Shigri Glacier, the relation between AMAAG found at the end of the ablation season and Ba suggests that AMAAG can be used as a proxy for the maximum snow line altitude or equilibrium line altitude (ELA) on winter-accumulation-type glaciers in the Himalayas. However, for the summer-accumulation-type Mera Glacier, our approach relied on the hypothesis that ELA information is preserved during the monsoon. At Mera Glacier, cloud obscuration and snow accumulation limits the detection of albedo during the monsoon, but snow redistribution and sublimation in the post-monsoon period allows for the calculation of AMAAG. Reconstructed Ba at Chhota Shigri Glacier agrees with mass balances previously reconstructed using a positive degree-day method. Reconstructed Ba at Mera Glacier is affected by heavy cloud cover during the monsoon, which systematically limited our ability to observe AMAAG at the end of the melting period. In addition, the relation between AMAAG and Ba is constrained over a shorter time period for Mera Glacier (6 years) than for Chhota Shigri Glacier (11 years). Thus the mass balance reconstruction is less robust for Mera Glacier than for Chhota Shigri Glacier. However our method shows promising results and may be used to reconstruct the annual mass balance of glaciers with contrasted seasonal cycles in the western part of the HKH mountain range since the early 2000s when MODIS images became available.

scholarly journals A New Methodology for Estimating the Surface Temperature Lapse Rate Based on Grid Data and Its Application in China

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Qin ◽  
Guoyu Ren ◽  
Tianlin Zhai ◽  
Panfeng Zhang ◽  
Kangmin Wen
Keyword(s):  
Surface Temperature ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
North China ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Regional Climate Change ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
Lapse Rate ◽  
Grid Data ◽  
Temperature Lapse Rate

Land surface temperature (LST) is an important parameter in the study of the physical processes of land surface. Understanding the surface temperature lapse rate (TLR) can help to reveal the characteristics of mountainous climates and regional climate change. A methodology was developed to calculate and analyze land-surface TLR in China based on grid datasets of MODIS LST and digital elevation model (DEM), with a formula derived on the basis of the analysis of the temperature field and the height field, an image enhancement technique used to calculate gradient, and the fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering applied to identify the seasonal pattern of the TLR. The results of the analysis through the methodology showed that surface temperature vertical gradient inversion widely occurred in Northeast, Northwest, and North China in winter, especially in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, the northern and the western parts of the Greater Khingan Mountains, the Lesser Khingan Mountains, and the northern area of Northwest and North China. Summer generally witnessed the steepest TLR among the four seasons. The eastern Tibetan Plateau showed a distinctive seasonal pattern, where the steepest TLR happened in winter and spring, with a shallower TLR in summer. Large seasonal variations of TLR could be seen in Northeast China, where there was a steep TLR in spring and summer and a strong surface temperature vertical gradient inversion in winter. The smallest seasonal variation of TLR happened in Central and Southwest China, especially in the Ta-pa Mountains and the Qinling Mountains. The TLR at very high altitudes (>5 km) was usually steeper than at low altitudes, in all months of the year.

scholarly journals An estimate of glacier mass balance for the Chandra basin, western Himalaya, for the period 1984–2012

2017 ◽  
Vol 58 (75pt2) ◽  
pp. 99-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayli Atul Tawde ◽  
Anil V. Kulkarni ◽  
Govindasamy Bala
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Ratio Method ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Temperature Index ◽  
Field Investigations ◽  
Basin Scale ◽  
Accumulation Area Ratio

ABSTRACTAn improved understanding of fresh water stored in the Himalaya is crucial for water resource management in South Asia and can be inferred from glacier mass-balance estimates. However, field investigations in the rugged Himalaya are limited to a few individual glaciers and short duration. Therefore, we have recently developed an approach that combines satellite-derived snowlines, a temperature-index melt model and the accumulation-area ratio method to estimate annual mass balance of glaciers at basin scale and for a long period. In this investigation, the mass balance of 146 glaciers in the Chandra basin, western Himalaya, is estimated from 1984 to 2012. We estimate the trend in equilibrium line altitude of the basin as +113 m decade−1and the mean mass balance as −0.61 ± 0.46 m w.e. a−1. Our basin-wide mass-balance estimates are in agreement with the geodetic method during 1999–2012. Sensitivity analysis suggests that a 20% increase in precipitation can offset changes in mass balance for a 1 °C temperature rise. A water loss of 18% of the total basin volume is estimated, and 67% for small and low-altitude glaciers during 1984–2012, indicating a looming water scarcity crisis for villages in this valley.

scholarly journals Non-Synchronous Response Of Rabots Glaciar and Storglaciaren To Recent Climatic Change

1990 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 331-332
Author(s):  
Keith A. Brugger
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Response Time ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Climatic Change ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Wave Model ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Climatic Oscillations ◽  
Basin Topography

Rabots glaciär and Storglaciären are small valley glaciers located in the Kebnekaise massif of northern Sweden. Rabots glaciär flows west from the summit of Kebnekaise (2114 m) and Storglaciären flows east; thus regional climate affecting the glaciers is the same. The glaciers are of comparable size and geometry, although differences exist in the variation of ice thickness and the subglacial bedrock topography within the respective basins. The thickness of Rabots glaciär appears to be relatively uniform over much of its length and its bed smooth. The bed over which Storglaciären flows is characterized by a “riegel and basin” topography and ice thicknesses vary accordingly. Advance and retreat of the glaciers during the last 100 years has been documented by historical records and photographs, measurements of ice retreats, and detailed glacial and geological studies. Both advanced to their maximum 20th century extents around 1916. In their subsequent retreat, Rabots glaciär has lagged behind Storglaciären by 10 years. Mass-balance studies for the years 1981–87 suggest that while the “local” climate for each glacier is slightly different (in terms of the magnitude of acumulation and ablation), variations in local climate are synchronous. Non-synchronous response of the glaciers is therefore attributed to differences in glacier dynamics, which are quite apparent when velocity profiles are compared. Ice velocities on Rabots glaciär vary little from an average of −7.5 m/yr, resulting in a longitudinal strain rate, r, of about 6 × 10−3yr −1. In contrast, values for r on Storglaciären are as high as 2.5 × 10−2 yr−1 owing to greater ice velocities and variation in ice velocity. Since the response time of a glacier is proportional to 1/r, the lower strain rates found on Rabots glaciär probably account for its more sluggish retreat. A simple, non-diffusive, kinematic wave model is used to analyze the response of the glaciers to a step-like perturbation in mass balance. This model predicts that the response time of Storglaciären is on the order of 30 years and that a new steady-state profile would be attained in about 50 years. The predicted response time of Rabots glaciär is about 75 years, its new steady-state profile being reached after more than 100 years. More accurate analyses of each glacier's response to climatic change use a time-dependent numerical model which includes the effects of diffusion. The climatic forcing in these modelling efforts is represented by the changes in mass balance resulting from changes in the equilibrium line altitude (ELA). ELAs can be correlated to regional meteorological variables which in turn are used to create a “synthetic” record of ELA variations where necessary. Therefore climatic oscillations since the turn of the century can be simulated by the appropriate changes in ELA. Using synchronous variations of ELAs and their 1916 profiles as datum states, the modeled behavior of Rabots glaciär and Storglaciären shows that: (a) the rates of ice retreat for each glacier are in reasonable agreement with those observed; and (b) Rabots glaciär took slightly longer than Storglaciären to react to the slight warming that occurred shortly after their 1916 advance.

scholarly journals Reconstruction of the annual mass balance of Chhota Shigri glacier, Western Himalaya, India, since 1969

2014 ◽  
Vol 55 (66) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Farooq Azam ◽  
Patrick Wagnon ◽  
Christian Vincent ◽  
Alagappan Ramanathan ◽  
Anurag Linda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Temperature Index ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Chhota Shigri Glacier ◽  
Decadal Scale ◽  
Climatic Drivers ◽  
Precipitation Records ◽  
Significant Mass Loss

AbstractThis study presents a reconstruction of the mass balance (MB) of Chhota Shigri glacier, Western Himalaya, India, and discusses the regional climatic drivers responsible for its evolution since 1969. The MB is reconstructed by a temperature-index and an accumulation model using daily air-temperature and precipitation records from the nearest meteorological station, at Bhuntar Observatory. The only adjusted parameter is the altitudinal precipitation gradient. The model is calibrated against 10 years of annual altitudinal MB measurements between 2002 and 2012 and decadal cumulative MBs between 1988 and 2010. Three periods were distinguished in the MB series. Periods I (1969-85) and III (2001-12) show significant mass loss at MB rates of -0.36±0.36 and -0.57±0.36mw.e.a-1 respectively, whereas period II (1986-2000) exhibits steady-state conditions with average MBs of -0.01 ±0.36mw.e.a–1. The comparison among these three periods suggests that winter precipitation and summer temperature are almost equally important drivers controlling the MB pattern of Chhota Shigri glacier at decadal scale. The sensitivity of the modelled glacier-wide MB to temperature is -0.52 m w.e. a–1 °C–1 whereas the sensitivity to precipitation is calculated as 0.16mw.e.a-1 for a 10% change.

scholarly journals Modelling 60 years of glacier mass balance and runoff for Chhota Shigri Glacier, Western Himalaya, Northern India

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (240) ◽  
pp. 618-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARKUS ENGELHARDT ◽  
AL. RAMANATHAN ◽  
TRUDE EIDHAMMER ◽  
PANKAJ KUMAR ◽  
OSKAR LANDGREN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Global Radiation ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Snow Accumulation ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Mass Balance Model ◽  
Glacier Melt ◽  
Chhota Shigri Glacier

ABSTRACTGlacier mass balance and runoff are simulated from 1955 to 2014 for the catchment (46% glacier cover) containing Chhota Shigri Glacier (Western Himalaya) using gridded data from three regional climate models: (1) the Rossby Centre regional atmospheric climate model v.4 (RCA4); (2) the REgional atmosphere MOdel (REMO); and (3) the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF). The input data are downscaled to the simulation grid (300 m) and calibrated with point measurements of temperature and precipitation. Additional input is daily potential global radiation calculated using a DEM at a resolution of 30 m. The mass-balance model calculates daily snow accumulation, melt and runoff. The model parameters are calibrated with available mass-balance measurements and results are validated with geodetic measurements, other mass-balance model results and run-off measurements. Simulated annual mass balances slightly decreased from −0.3 m w.e. a−1 (1955–99) to −0.6 m w.e. a−1 for 2000–14. For the same periods, mean runoff increased from 2.0 m3 s−1 (1955–99) to 2.4 m3 s−1 (2000–14) with glacier melt contributing about one-third to the runoff. Monthly runoff increases are greatest in July, due to both increased snow and glacier melt, whereas slightly decreased snowmelt in August and September was more than compensated by increased glacier melt.

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