Abstract
The Urgos watershed is situated in the rain shadow zone of the Pir Panjal Range of the Lahul Himalaya, where western disturbances dominate with solid precipitation. Consequently ice, permafrost and snow meltwater is the main source of the Urgos Nala (stream), which supports agriculture and replenishes drinking water sources downstream in the watersheds. The effect of small amount of glacier retreat and changes in seasonal snow cover is critical for the functioning of meltwater and high natural resources dependent mountain communities. Agriculture, vegetation, fodder and pasture land in the watershed are all entirely dependent on meltwater. Therefore, the study aims to make a quantitative and large-scale map of the study area in relation to rural livelihood. Resource mapping (1:5000) and quantitative characterization of Urgos watershed are achieved using high-resolution satellite images, digital elevation models, Total Station mapping, differential Global Positioning System and collection of field evidences. The landform evolution in the watershed is a result of intense glaciofluvial processes in the past as well as present. The geomorphic features mapped in the area reveal multiple glacial advances in the watershed, in the past. This has direct links with climatic fluctuations and its impact on agriculture and allied activities for the sustenance of people. The analysis shows 22.49% area under glacier and only 1.04% area of the entire watershed under agriculture, fodder, pasture and vegetation land. This 1.04% area of the watershed plays a significant role in the livelihood of the people.
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Acknowledgements
This work has been carried out as a part of the Inter-University Consortium on Climate Change (IUCCC) project, funded by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. S Prakash is thankful to the Department of Geoinformatics—Z_GIS, University of Salzburg, Austria, for providing research facility and infrastructure. Thanks to anonymous reviewers for constructive suggestions which helped us to improve the content of the manuscript.
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Prakash, S., Sharma, M.C., Shahnawaz et al. Mapping Glacial Geomorphology and Livelihood Resources in Urgos Watershed, Lahul and Spiti District, Himachal Pradesh, India. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 47, 1295–1305 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-019-01002-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-019-01002-9