Heterogeneity in fluctuations of glacier with clean ice-covered, debris-covered and proglacial lake in the Upper Ravi Basin, Himachal Himalaya (India), during the past four decades (1971-2013)

Abstract

Comprehensive multi-temporal observations of Himalayan glaciers during the past half century indicate the continuous shrinkage of most of the glaciers. In addition to this, the present study analyses the fluctuations of glacier with clean ice-covered, debris-covered and proglacial lake in the upper Ravi basin, Himachal Himalaya (India), from 1971 to 2013 using high-resolution satellite datasets with supplement of field observations for selected glaciers. The study reveals the heterogeneity in fluctuations of glacier as higher terminus and frontal area change for the clean ice-covered glaciers compared to debris-covered glaciers. Field measurements for selected glaciers also suggest a retreating trend and validate the measured glacier changes using remotely sensed temporal data. Glacier retreat rates especially for debris-covered glaciers in the Ravi basin were lower than previously reported for selected glaciers in the similar basin and other basins of the Himachal Himalaya.