Four years of mass balance on Chhota Shigri Glacier, Himachal Pradesh, India, a new benchmark glacier in the western Himalaya
- 1 January 2007
- journal article
- Published by International Glaciological Society in Journal of Glaciology
- Vol. 53 (183), 603-611
- https://doi.org/10.3189/002214307784409306
Abstract
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 (32.28 8 N, 77.58 E; 15.7 km2, 6263-4050 m a.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 0.7 m w.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.Keywords
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- Remote sensing estimates of glacier mass balances in the Himachal Pradesh (Western Himalaya, India)Remote Sensing of Environment, 2006
- Mass balance of glaciers and ice caps: Consensus estimates for 1961–2004Geophysical Research Letters, 2006
- Recent glacier changes in the Alps observed by satellite: Consequences for future monitoring strategiesGlobal and Planetary Change, 2006
- Analysis of trends in maximum and minimum temperature, diurnal temperature range, and cloud cover over IndiaGeophysical Research Letters, 2005
- Using remote-sensing data to determine equilibrium-line altitude and mass-balance time series: validation on three French glaciers, 1994–2002Journal of Glaciology, 2005
- Do the western Himalayas defy global warming?Geophysical Research Letters, 2004
- Glacier-climate interaction at low latitudesJournal of Glaciology, 2001
- Remote-sensing science and technology for studying glacier processes in high AsiaAnnals of Glaciology, 2000
- Effect of Uncertainties in Measured Variables on the Calculated Mass Balance of storglaciarenGeografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography, 1999
- Annual cycle of energy balance of Zongo Glacier, Cordillera Real, BoliviaJournal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 1999