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Asynchronous Behavior of Glaciers of Ladakh Himalaya, J & K State, India

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Earth System Processes and Disaster Management

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Abstract

Response of Himalayan glaciers to climate change has been a subject of debate since the controversial report on Himalayan glaciers was published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in their Assessment Report 4. Intensive and extensive studies on the glaciers of Himalaya, particularly in Northwest Himalaya, have brought forth sufficient convincing evidences that contradict the much-hyped idea of fast melting of glaciers in the Himalaya. Data from major glaciers from Ladakh Himalaya, namely the Siachen, Durung Drung and Kangriz, are presented herein to emphasize that changes in the geometry and morphology of the glaciers are not exclusively the result of change in climate but are influenced by various micro-climatic factors, terrain morphology and neotectonics. The secular movements of snout of glaciers in Ladakh Himalaya are complex phenomenon and are not related exclusively with change in climate as commonly believed and hyped.

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Acknowledgements

The substantial funding received in the form of various research projects from Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi and Space Applications Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation, Ahmedabad to conduct the research studies in Ladakh is duly acknowledged.

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Correspondence to R. K. Ganjoo .

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Ganjoo, R.K., Koul, M.N. (2013). Asynchronous Behavior of Glaciers of Ladakh Himalaya, J & K State, India. In: Sinha, R., Ravindra, R. (eds) Earth System Processes and Disaster Management. Society of Earth Scientists Series. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28845-6_3

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