Monitoring glacial parameters in parts of Zanskar basin, Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

Alteration in glacial parameters are pertinent indicators of glacier health and their response to climate change. In the present study, five glaciers of Zanskar basin including Penslilungpa, Durung Drung, Kangi, Hogshu and one unnamed glacier have been studied for temporal changes in glacial extent, glacial mass balance via accumulation area ratio (AAR) and ELA. For this purpose various multi-temporal satellite datasets of the study area and ASTER DEM have been used. ELA has been derived by using normalized difference glacier index (NDGI) technique and DEM together. Glacier boundaries have been derived by manual digitization. The mapping of glaciers during the period 1980-2000 & 2000 to 2011 reveals that the glacier cover reduced from 291.98 km2 to 259.11 km2, and 259.11 km2 to 250.96 km2 witnessing deglaciation of 11.25% and 3.14% respectively. Moreover, that there has been an increase in SLA of the sub basin from 5126 m a.s.l to 5297 m a.s.l from 1977 to 2000 and 5297 m a.s.l to 5361 m a.s.l from 2000 to 2011. Besides, the minimum and maximum AAR derived mass balance for the study area during the period of study has been 42.61cm and-13.17cm, respectively. An increase in the mean ELA in the area is followed by pronounced glacier recession and deglaciation.