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Spatio-temporal variability of near-surface air temperature in the Dokriani glacier catchment (DGC), central Himalaya

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Abstract

Air temperature is one of the most important meteorological factors that affect melting of glaciers, distribution of snowfall and rain at higher altitudes in the Himalaya. However, studies on spatio-temporal variability of air temperature in the central Himalaya are limited. In the present study, seasonal and annual characteristics (July 2011 to December 2015) of near-surface temperature and lapse rate in the Dokriani glacier catchment (DGC) of the central Himalaya are investigated using data from three automatic weather stations (AWSs). An attempt is also made to quantify 0 °C isotherm and temperate sustainability over the glacierized area. The results reveal that the average near-surface temperature lapse rate (NSTLR) of the catchment varies from 4.6 to 7.5 °C km−1 during all measurement seasons, suggesting that the standard environmental lapse rate (SELR, 6.5 °C km−1) is not a promising input for realistic glacio-hydrological modeling. The seasonal variability of the NSTLR indicates that the monsoon (warm and humid period) lowers the temperature lapse rate in this catchment due to the presence of high moisture content in the air. The steepest lapse rate is investigated during the pre-monsoon season due to clear and drier weather conditions. In addition to this, the results reveal strong variability in NSTLR at diurnal and sub-diurnal levels, with high variability in the day time and low in the night-time hours. A higher air temperature is examined in the ablation zone of the Dokriani Glacier during the monsoon season (i.e., JJAS: June, July, August, September), while other seasons (pre-monsoon, post-monsoon, winter) show both higher as well as lower temperatures. A large variation in 0 °C isotherm is also observed ranging from 5000 to 5500 m asl during 2012–2015. The present work emphasizes that the study of monthly, seasonal, and annual variability of the NSTLR are very important for glacio-hydrological research in the central Himalaya.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Director, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun for providing the necessary facilities and support to carry out this study. The authors would like to thank the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, for providing funds to carry out this research work. AKG thanks the DST, New Delhi for J.C. Bose fellowship. JSY is thankful to Dr. Kishor Kumar for improving the manuscript. JSY is thankful to Dr. Rakesh Bhamri, Dr. Amit Kumar, Mr. Akshaya Verma, Mr. Anshuman Misra, and Mr. Anupam Anand Gokhale for their encouragement and unending support. Authors are indebted to the Editor-in-Chief Dr. Hartmut Graßl and reviewers for critical reviews and suggestions, which improved the quality of manuscript significantly.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Glaciology, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, 248001, India

    Jairam Singh Yadav, D. P. Dobhal & Sameer K. Tiwari

  2. Department of Geophysics, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, 136119, India

    Jairam Singh Yadav & R. B. S. Yadav

  3. National Centre for Antarctic & Ocean Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Headland Sada, Vasco da Gama, Goa, 403804, India

    Bhanu Pratap

  4. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, 248001, India

    Anil K. Gupta

  5. Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, 721302, India

    Anil K. Gupta

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  1. Jairam Singh Yadav
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Yadav, J.S., Pratap, B., Gupta, A.K. et al. Spatio-temporal variability of near-surface air temperature in the Dokriani glacier catchment (DGC), central Himalaya. Theor Appl Climatol 136, 1513–1532 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-018-2544-z

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