4.4-Chemical and sediment load characteristics of Chandra river, Lahaul valley, Himachal Pradesh (India)

Abstract

An analytical study.on major cations and anions in the water of glacial-fed Chandra river of Lahaul galley in Himachal Pradesh in India is attempted in the present work. Water samples for this purpose were collected at regular intervals of time during the summer ablation period (14 th to 18 th August) of 1988 at the upstream and downstream sides of the points of confluence of meltwater from Bara Shigri and Chhota Shigri glaciers. It is observed that the electrical conductivity has gradually decreased from morning and again starts increasing in the late afternoon. It is also .bserved that the mixing of meltwater causes dilution o'f river water. Calcium and magnesium among the cations and bicarbonate among anion.: are found to be dominant. The suspended sediment concentration shows good negative correlation with electrical conductivity.