Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Contrasting Signals of Glacier Changes in Zanskar Valley, Jammu & Kashmir, India Using Remote Sensing and GIS

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The study of advancement and recession of the glaciers in the Himalayas is essential due to their contrasting response towards climatic change. In the present study, Survey of India (SOI) topographical maps of 1962, IRS: LISS-III image of 2001 and LANDSAT-5: TM (Thematic Mapper) image of 2009 were used to analyze the glacier fluctuations in a part of Zanskar valley. The analysis carried out on 212 glaciers indicated decrease of 57 km2 (8 %) of glacier area over many glacier which was partly compensated with area increase by 42 km2 (6 %) in other glaciers, resulting an overall glacier area decrease by only 15 km2 (2 %) from 1962–2001. Due to glacier fragmentation the number of glaciers increased from 212 in 1962 to 238 by 2001. Although majority of glaciers (88 %) exhibited retreat (up to 13 my−1), minor advancement (<15 my−1) also took place in few glaciers during this period. Advancement took place mainly in larger glaciers (2–5 km2 and >5 km2) located over wider altitudinal range (700 m–1,000 m) whereas smaller glaciers (<2 km2) with narrow altitudinal range (100 m–500 m) exhibited retreat. The supraglacial debris analysis indicated that percentage of debris cover over glaciers ranges from 1.43 % to 18.15 %. Smaller glaciers (<2 km2) were debris free in comparison to the larger glaciers (>5 km2). During 2001–2009 majority of the glaciers were apparently stable in terms of their area and snout position indicating less impact of climate forcing in parts of Zanskar valley as compared to other parts of the Himalaya.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmad, S., & Hasnain, S. I. (2004). Analysis of satellite imageries for characterization of glacio-morphological features of the Gangotri Glacier, Ganga headwater, Garhwal Himalayas. Geological Survey of India Special Publication, 80, 60–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bahr, D. B., Pfeffer, W. T., Sassolas, C., & Meier, M. F. (1998). Response time of glaciers as a function of size and mass balance: 1. Theory. Journal of Geophysical Research., 103(B5), 9777–9782.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bahuguna, I. M., Kulkarni, A. V., Nayak, S., Rathore, B. P., Negi, H. S., & Mathur, P. (2007). Himalayan glacier retreat using IRS 1C PAN stereo data. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 28(2), 437–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belo, M., Mayer, C., Smiraglia, C., & Andrea, T. (2008). The recent evolution of Liligo glacier, Karakoram, Pakistan, and its present quiescent phase. Annals of Glaciology, 48(1), 171–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhambri, R., & Bolch, T. (2009). Glacier mapping: a review with special reference to the Indian Himalayas. Progress in Physical Geography, 33(5), 672–704.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhambri, R., Bolch, T., Chaujar, R. K., & Kulshreshtha, S. C. (2011a). Glacier changes in the Garhwal Himalaya, India, from 1968 to 2006 based on remote sensing. Journal of Glaciology, 57(203), 543–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhambri, R., Bolch, T., & Chaujar, R. K. (2011b). Mapping of debris-covered glaciers in the Garhwal Himalayas using ASTER DEMs and thermal data. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 32(23), 8095–8119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhambri, R., Bolch, T., Kawishwar, P., Dobhal, D. P., Srivastava, D., & Pratap, B. (2012). Heterogeneity in Glacier response from 1973 to 2011 in the Shyok valley, Karakoram, India. The Cryosphere Discussions, 6, 3049–3078.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, M. P., Haritashya, U. K., Shroder, J. F., Jr., & Bulley, H. N. N. (2007). Glacier fluctuations across the Pakistan Himalaya and Afghanistan Pamir. GSA Denver Annual Meeting, 28–31 October 2007. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, 39(6), 594.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolch, T., Buchroithner, M., Pieczonka, T., & Kunert, A. (2008). Planimetric and volumetric glacier changes in the KhumbuHimal, Nepal, since 1962 using Corona, Landsat TM and ASTER data. Journal of Glaciology, 54(187), 592–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brahmbhatt, R. M., Bahuguna, I. M., Rathore, B. P., Kulkarni, A. V., Nainwal, H. C., Shah, R. D., & Ajai. (2012a). A comparative study of deglaciation in two neighbouring basins (Warwan and Bhut) of Western Himalaya. Current Science, 103(3), 298–304.

  • Brahmbhatt, R. M., Bahuguna, I., Rathore, B. P., Kulkarni, A. V., Shah, R. D., Nainwal, H. C., & Ajai. (2012b). Variation of snowline and mass balance of glaciers of Warwan and Bhut basins of Western Himalaya using remote sensing technique. Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 40(4), 629–637.

  • Chaujar, R. K. (2009). Climate change and its impact on the Himalayan glaciers – a case study on the Chorabari glacier, Garhwal Himalaya, India. Current Science, 96(5), 703–707.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cruz, R. V., Harasawa, H., Lal, M., Wu, S., Anokhin, Y., Punsalmaa, B., et al. (2007). In M. L. Parry, O. F. Canziani, J. P. Palutikof, P. J. van der Linden, & C. E. Hanson (Eds.), Asia. Climate Change 2007: impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (pp. 469–506). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhar, S., Kulkarni, A. V., Rathore, B. P., & Kalia, R. (2010). Reconstruction of the moraine dammed lake, based on field evidence and paleo-history, SamudraTapu Glacier, Chandra Basin, Himachal Pradesh. Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 38, 133–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobhal, D. P., Gergan, J. T., & Thayyen, R. (2004). Recession and morphogeometrical changes of Dokriani glacier (1962–1995), Garhwal Himalaya, India. Current Science, 86(5), 692–696.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh, S., & Pandey, A. C. (2013). Estimating the variation in glacier area over the last 4 decade and recent mass balance fluctuations over the Pensilungpa Glacier, J&K, India. Global Perspectives on Geography, 1(4), 58–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, A. K., &Dobhal, D. P. (2011). Effect of Climate Change on the variability of snow and glacier melt. Indo-European Co-operation on climate Research and Innovation, 28 November 2011, New Delhi.

  • Hall, D. K., Bayr, K. J., Schoner, W., Bindschadler, R. A., & Chien, J. Y. L. (2003). Consideration of the errors inherent in mapping historical glacier positions in Austria from the ground and space (1893–2001). Remote Sensing of Environment, 86(4), 566–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, K. (2007). Tributary glacier surges: an exceptional concentration at Panmah Glacier, Karakoram Himalaya. Journal of Glaciology, 53(181), 181–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt, K. (2009). Glaciers and climate change in the Karakoram Himalaya: Developments affecting water resources and environmental hazards. Outline of Presentation at China Environment Forum, 12 February: 3. http://www.wilsoncenter.org/events/docs/resources_hewitt.pdf.

  • Kamp, U., Byrne, M., & Bolch, T. (2011). Glacier fluctuations between 1975 and 2008 in the greater Himalaya range of Zanskar, Southern Ladakh. Journal of Mountain Sciences, 8(3), 374–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni, A. V. (1991). Glacier inventory in Himachal Pradesh using satellite images. Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 19(3), 195–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni, A. V., Rathore, B. P., Mahajan, S., & Mathur, P. (2005). Alarming retreat of Parbati Glacier, Beas basin, Himachal Pradesh. Current Science, 88(11), 1844–1850.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni, A. V., Bahuguna, I. M., Rathore, B. P., Singh, S. K., Randhawa, S. S., Sood, R. K., & Sunil Dhar. (2007). Glacial retreat in Himalaya using Indian remote sensing satellite data. Current Science, 92(1), 69–74.

  • Kumar, R., Areendran, G., & Rao, P. (2009). Witnessing change:glaciers in the Indian Himalayas. Pilani, WWF-India and Birla Institute of Technology.

  • Mehta, M., Dobhal, D. P., & Bisht, M. P. S. (2011). Change of Tipra Glacier in the Garhwal Himalaya, India, between 1962 and 2008. Progress in Physical Geography, 35, 721–738.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mir, R. A., Jain, S. K., Saraf, A. K., & Goswami, A. (2013). Glacier changes using satellite data and effect of climate in Tirungkhad basin located in western Himalaya. Geocarto International. doi:10.1080/10106049.2012.760655.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nainwal, H. C., Negi, B. D. S., Chaudhary, M., Sajwan, K. S., & Gaurav, A. (2008). Temporal changes in rate of recession: evidence from Satopanth and BhagirathKharak glaciers, Uttarakhand, using Total Station Survey. Current Science, 94(5), 653–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nathawat, M. S., Pandey, A. C., Rai, P. K., & Bahuguna, I. M. (2008).Spatio-temporal dynamics of glaciers in Doda valley, Zanskar Range, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Proceedings of the International Workshop on Snow, Ice, Glacier and Avalanches, Bombay, January 7–9, 2008: IIT Bombay, 256–264.

  • Pandey, A. C., Ghosh, S., & Nathawat, M. S. (2011). Evaluating patterns of temporal glacier changes in Greater Himalayan Range, Jammu & Kashmir, India. Geocarto International, 26(4), 321–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pandey, A. C., Ghosh, S., Nathawat, M. S., & Tiwari, R. K. (2012). Area change and thickness variation over Pensilungpa Glacier (J&K) using remote sensing. Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 40(2), 245–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pankaj, A., Kumar, P., & Mishra, A. (2012). Extraction of glacio-geomorphological units of tons river watershed based on remote sensing techniques. Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, 40(4), 725–734.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, F., Huggel, C., & Kaab, A. (2004). Combining satellite multispectral image data and a digital elevation model for mapping debris-covered glaciers. Remote Sensing of Environment, 89, 510–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad, A. K., Yang, K.-H. S., El-Askary, H. M., & Kafatos, M. (2009). Melting of major Glaciers in the western Himalayas: evidence of climatic changes from long term MSU derived tropospheric temperature trend (1979–2008). AnnalesGeophysicae, 27, 4505–4519.

    Google Scholar 

  • Racoviteanu, A. E., Williams, M. W., & Barry, R. G. (2008). Optical remote sensing of glacier characteristics: a review with focus on the Himalaya. Sensors, 8(5), 3355–3383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raina, V. K. (2009). Himalayan glaciers: a state-of-art review of glacial studies, glacial retreat and climate change. Kosi-Katarmal, MiInistry of Environment and Forests.G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (MoEF Discussion Paper).

  • Raina, V. K., & Srivastava, D. (2008). Glacier atlas of India (p. 316). Bangalore: Geological Society of India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roy, S. S., & Balling, R. C., Jr. (2005). Analysis of trends in maximum and minimum temperature, diurnal temperature range, and cloud cover over India. Geophysical Research Letters, 32(12), 4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, S., & Nusser, M. (2009). Fluctuations of Raikot glaciers during the past 70 years: a case study from the Nanga Parbat massif, northern Pakistan. Journal of Glaciology, 55(194), 949–959.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shangguan, D. S., Lin, Y., Ding, L., Junli, X., & Jing, L. (2009). Glacier changes during the last forty years in the Tarim Interior River basin, Northwest China. Progress in Natural Science, 19(6), 727–732.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y., Hou, S., & Liu, Y. (2009). Glacier changes in the Karlik Shan, eastern Tien Shan, during 1971/72–2001/02. Annals of Glaciology, 50(53), 39–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, R. S., Jr., Hall, D. K., Sigurdsson, O., & Chien, J. Y. L. (1997). Comparison of satellite-derived with ground-based measurements of thefluctuations of the margins of Vatnajökull, Iceland, 1973–92. Annals of Glaciology, 24, 72–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yadav, R. R., Park, W. K., Singh, J., & Dubey, B. (2004). Do the western Himalayas defy global warming? Geophysical Research Letters, 31(17), 5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ye, Q., Kang, S., Chen, F., & Jinghua, W. (2006). Monitoring glacier variations on Geladandongmountain, central Tibetan Plateau, from 1969 to 2002 using remote-sensing and GIS technologies. Journal of Glaciology, 52(179), 537–545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yong, N., Yili, Z., Linshan, L., & Jiping, Z. (2010). Glacial change in the vicinity of Mt. Qomolangma (Everest), central high Himalayas since 1976. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 20(5), 667–686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Remote Sensing, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, 835215, India

    Swagata Ghosh

  2. Centre for Land Resource Management (CLRM), School of Natural Resource Management, Central University of Jharkhand, Brambe, Ranchi, 835205, India

    A. C. Pandey

  3. School of Sciences (SoS), Raman Bhawan, Block D, Academic Complex, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi, 110068, India

    M. S. Nathawat

  4. Space Application Centre, ISRO, P.O SAC, Ahemdabad, 380015, India

    I. M. Bahuguna &  Ajai

Authors
  1. Swagata Ghosh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. C. Pandey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. S. Nathawat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. I. M. Bahuguna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ajai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Swagata Ghosh.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ghosh, S., Pandey, A.C., Nathawat, M.S. et al. Contrasting Signals of Glacier Changes in Zanskar Valley, Jammu & Kashmir, India Using Remote Sensing and GIS. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 42, 817–827 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-014-0368-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-014-0368-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation