Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Hydro-chemical analysis and ionic flux of meltwater runoff from Khangri Glacier, West Kameng, Arunachal Himalaya, India

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The detailed hydro-chemical study of meltwater draining from Khangri glacier Arunachal Pradesh has been carried out to evaluate the major ion chemistry and weathering processes in the drainage basin. The investigative results shows that the meltwater is almost neutral to slightly acidic in nature with Mg–HCO3-dominated hydro-chemical facies. In glacial meltwater, Ca+ 2 is the most dominated cation followed by Mg+2, Na+, and K+, while HCO3− is the most dominant anion followed by SO42−, NO3−, and Cl−. The dominant cations such as Ca+2 and Mg+2 show a good relation with the minerals abundance of the rocks. Calcite (CaCO3) and biotite [K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(F,OH)2] are the most abundant minerals in the deformed carbonate-rich metasedimentary rocks near to the snout with some K feldspar (KAlSi3O8) and quartz (SiO2). This suggests Ca+2 have definitely entered into the water due to the dissolution of calcite and Ca feldspar (CaAl2Si2O8), while one of the source of Mg+2 is biotite. Na feldspar (NaAlSi3O8) has contributed towards the availability of sodium ion, while potassium ion is derived from the chemical weathering of K feldspar and biotite. The chemical weathering is the foremost mechanism controlling the hydro-chemistry of the Khangri glacier because of the least anthropogenic interferences. The mineralogy of surrounding rocks is studied to understand better, the rock–water interaction processes, and their contribution towards ionic concentration of meltwater. The meltwater discharge and individual ion flux of the catchment area have also been calculated, to determine the ionic denudation rate for the ablation season. The high elemental ratio of (Ca + Mg)/(Na + K) (7.91 ± 0.39 mg/l) and low elemental ratio of (Na + K)/total cations (0.11 ± 0.004) indicate that the chemical composition of meltwater is mainly controlled by carbonate weathering and moderately by silicate weathering. The scatter plot result between (Ca + Mg) and total cations confirms that carbonate weathering is a major source of dissolved ions in Khangri glacier meltwater. In addition, the statistical analysis was also used to determine the correlation between physical parameters of glacier meltwater which controlled the solute dynamics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • APHA (American Public Health Association) (1995) Standards methods for the examination of water and wastewater, APHA, AWWA, WEF/1995. APHA Publication, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • APHA (American Public Health Association) (2005) Standard methods for examination of water and wastewater, 21st edn. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Bakliwal PC, Das AK (1971) Geology of parts of Kameng district, NEFA. Unpub. Prog. Rep. GSI for FS-1970-71

  • Bhadra A, Mishra P, Rajkumari S, Kumar A, Tripathy S (2016) Temporal variation in dry and wet snow cover for Nuranang Catchment of Arunachal Pradesh India. In: 7th International conference on water resources and environment (ICWRER) Kyoto Japan June 5–9, pp 1–6

  • Bhattacharjee S, Nandy S (2007) Geology of Western Arunachal Himalaya in Parts of Tawang and West Kameng Districts, Arunachal Pradesh. J Geol Soc India 72:199–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhattacharjee S, Nandy S (2017) Petrology and geochemistry of the Himalayan granites from Western Arunachal Pradesh, India. Indian J Geosci 71(2):439–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhusan SK, Bindal CM, Aggarwal RK (1991) Geology of Bomdila Group in Arunachal Pradesh. J Himal Geol 2(2):207–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Bora L, Kar A, Baruah I, Kalita MC (2006) Hot springs of Tawang and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Curr Sci 91(8):1011–1013

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown GH, Fuge R (1998a) Trace element chemistry of glacial meltwaters in an Alpine headwater catchment, Headwater control IV: hydrology, water resources and ecology in headwaters, Meran/Merano, Italy, 20–23 April 1998. Int Assoc Hydrol Sci Publ 248:435–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown GH, Tranter M, Sharp M (1996) Subglacial chemical erosion- seasonal variations in solute provenance, Haut glacier d’Arolla, Switzerland. Ann Glaciol 22:25–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clow DW, Mast MA (2010) Mechanisms for chemostatic behavior in catchments: implications for CO2 consumption by mineral weathering. Chem Geol 269:40–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins DN (1979a) Hydrochemistry of meltwater draining from an Alpine glacier. Arc Alp Res 11:307–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson WR (1970) Interpreting detrital modes of greywake and arkose. J Sediment Pet 40:695–707

    Google Scholar 

  • Fang F, Zhongqin L, Shuang J, Jhiwen D, Feiteng W (2012) Hydrochemical Characteristics and Solute Dynamics of Meltwater Runoff of Urumqi Glacier No.1, Eastern Tianshan, Northwest China. J Mt Sci 9:472–482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaillardet J, Dupre B, Louvat P, Allegre CJ (1999) Global silicate weathering and silicate weathering and CO2 consumption rates deduced from the chemistry of large rivers. Chem Geol 159:3–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gazzi P (1966) Le Arenarie del Flysch Sopracretaceo dell’Appennino Modenese: correlazioni con il Flysch di Monghidoro. Mineralogica e Petrographica Acta 12:69–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Godsey SE, Kirchner JW, Clow DW (2009) Concentration-discharge relationships reflect chemostatic characteristics of US catchments. Hydrol Proc 23:1844–1864

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hasnain SI, Thayyen RJ (1999) Controls on the major-ion chemistry of the Dokriani glacier meltwaters, Ganga basin, Garhwal Himalaya, India. J Glaciol 45:87–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hem JD (1985) Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water. 3rd ed. In: U.S. Geol Survey, Water-Supply Paper 2254:65–100

  • Hodson A, Tranter M, Vaten G (2000) Contemporary rates of chemical denudation and atmospheric CO2 sequestration in glacier basin: an Arctic perspective. Earth Surf Proc Land 25:1447–1471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbard B, Glassar N (2005) Field techniques in glaciology and glacial geomorphology. Wiley, England

    Google Scholar 

  • Jain LS, Basu RS (1978) Geological mapping of crystallines and other rocks of Higher Himalaya and preliminary investigation for the base metal in the area. Unpub. Prog. Rep. GSI for FS-1976-77

  • Kesari GK (2010) Geology and Mineral Resources of Arunachal Pradesh. Geol. Survey of India, Miscellaneous Publication, No. 30 (4), Vol 1(i) Arunachal Pradesh

  • Kothari CR (2004) Research methodology methods and techniques (second revised edition). New Age International (P) Limited, Publishers, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar G (2013) Geology of Arunachal Pradesh. Geol Society of India, Banglore

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar K, Miral MS, Joshi P, Panda YS (2002) Discharge and suspended sediment in the meltwater of Gangotri glacier, Garhwal Himalaya, India. Hydrol Sci J 47(4):611–619

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar K, Miral MS, Joshi S, Pant N, Joshi V, Joshi LM (2008) Solute dynamics of meltwater of Gangotri glacier, Garhwal Himalaya, India. Environ Geology 58:1151–1159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meybeck M (1984) Atmospheric inputs and river transport of dissolve substances. In: Webb BW (ed) Dissolved loads of rivers and surface water quantity/quality relationships, vol 141. IAHS Publication, Wallingford, pp 173–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Negrel P, Allegre CJ, Dupre B, Lewin E (1993) Erosion sources determined by inversion of major and trace element ratios in river water: The Congo basin case. Earth Planet Sci Lett 120:59–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliva P, Viers J, Dupré B (2003) Chemical weathering in granitic environments. Chem Geology 202:225–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ostrem G (1975) Sediment transport in glacial meltwater stream. In: Jopling AV, McDonald BC (eds) Glacio-fluvial and Glacio-lacustrine sedimentation. Soc of econom palaeontol and mineral, vol 23. SEPM Publisher, USA, pp 101–122

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Piper AM (1944) A graphical procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analysis. Trans Am Geophys Union 25:914–923

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raina VK, Srivastava D (2008) Glacier atlas of India. Geol Soc of India, Bangalore

    Google Scholar 

  • Rainwater FH, Guy HP (1961) Some observations on the hydrochemistry and sedimentation of the Chamberlain Glacier Area Alaska. In: US Geol Sur Professional Paper 414, pp l–14

  • Raiswell R (1984) Chemical models of solute acquisition in glacial meltwater. J Glaciol 30(104):49–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramanathan AL (2011) Status Report on Chhota Shigri glacier (Himachal Pradesh). Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi. Himalayan glaciology technical report, Number 1:88

  • Raymahasay BC (1986) Geochemistry of bicarbonate in river water. J of Geol Soc India 27:114–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Rumsey DJ (2016) Statistics for dummies. Wiley, England

    Google Scholar 

  • Senzeba KT, Bhadra A, Bandyopadhyay A (2015) Snowmelt runoff modelling in data scarce Nuranang catchment of eastern Himalayan region. Remote Sensing Appl Soc Environ 1:20–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma P, Ramanathan AL, Pottakkal J (2013) Study of solute sources and evolution of hydrogeochemical processes of the Chota Shigri Glacier meltwaters, Himanchal Himalaya, India. Hydrol Sci J 58(5):1128–1143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh S (1998) Geology of Tawang-Woming La and Gashe La area, Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh. Unpub. Prog. Rep. GSI for FS 1997-98

  • Singh AK, Hasnain SI (1998) Major ion chemistry and weathering control in a high altitude basin: Alaknanda river, Garhwal Himalaya, India. Hydrol Sci J 43(6):825–843

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh P, Ramasastri KS, Kumar N, Bhatnagar NK (2003) Suspended sediment transport from the Dokriani Glacier in the Garhwal Himalayas. Nordic Hydrol 34(3):221–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh AK, Mondal GC, Singh PK, Singh S, Singh TB, Tewary BK (2005) Hydrochemistry of reservoirs of Damodar river basin, India: weathering processes and water quality assessment. Environ Geology 48:1014–1028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh P, Haritashya UK, Kumar N (2008) Modelling and estimation of different components of stream flow for Gangotri glacier basin Himalayas. Hydrol Sci J 53:309–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh VB, Ramanathan AL, Pottakkal JG, Sharma P, Linda A, Azam MF, Chatterjee C (2012) Chemical characterization of meltwater draining from Gangotri glacier, Garhwal Himalaya, India. J Earth Sys Sci 121(3):625–636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Souchez RA, Lemmens MM (1987) Solutes. In: Gurnell AM, Clark MJ (eds) Glacio-fluvial sediment transfer. Wiley, UK, pp 285–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava RK (2013) Geochemistry of Proterozoic Granitoids exposed between Dirang and Tawang, western Arunachal Himalaya, north-eastern India: petrogenitic and tectonic significance. Int J Earth Sci 102:2043–2060

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stumm W, Morgan JJ (1981) An introduction emphasizing chemical equilibria in natural waters. In: Stumm W, Morgan JJ (eds) Aquatic chemistry, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York, pp 230–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas AG, Raiswell R (1984) Solute acquisition in glacial meltwaters, II Glacier d’Argentiere (French Alps): bulk meltwaters with open system characteristics. J Glaciol 30(104):44–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tranter M, Sharp M, Brown GH, Willis IC, Hubbard BP, Nielsen MK, Smart CC, Gordon S, Tulley M, Lamb HR (1997) Variability in the chemical composition of in-situ subglacial meltwaters. Hydrol Proc 11:59–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi C, Jain LS, Basu RS (1979) A note on the find of sulphide mineralization in Lumla area, Kameng district, Arunachal Pradesh. Indian Miner 33(2):55

    Google Scholar 

  • Valdiya KS (1998) Dynamic Himalaya. Universities Press, Hyderabad, pp 3–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Wadham JL, Hodson AJ, Tranter M, Dowdeswell JA (1998) The hydrochemistry of meltwater draining a polythermal-based, high Arctic glacier, south Svalbard. Hydrol Proc 12:1825–1849

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White AF, Bullen TD, Vivit DV, Schulz MS, Clow DW (1999) The role of disseminated calcite in the chemical weathering of granitoid rocks. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 63:1939–1953

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Director G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, for extending all necessary facilities during the field and laboratory work. We thank Space Application Center (SAC), Ahmedabad for their financial support to carry out this study. The authors are grateful to everyone who helped in the field for collecting water samples. The authors are thankful to Mr. Mohit Tewari for their valuable contribution in analysis of water samples and to Vikas Arya for correcting the document.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand, 263643, India

    Harish Bisht & Kireet Kumar

  2. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560012, India

    Prakash Chandra Arya

Authors
  1. Harish Bisht
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Prakash Chandra Arya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kireet Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Harish Bisht.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bisht, H., Arya, P.C. & Kumar, K. Hydro-chemical analysis and ionic flux of meltwater runoff from Khangri Glacier, West Kameng, Arunachal Himalaya, India. Environ Earth Sci 77, 598 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7779-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7779-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation