Abstract:
In the Himalayas, a large area is covered by glaciers and seasonal snow and changes in its extent can influence availability of water in the Himalayan Rivers. This paper discusses changes in glacial extent, glacial mass balance and seasonal snow cover. Glacial retreat was estimated for 466 glaciers in Chenab, Parbati and Baspa basins since 1962. The investigation has shown an overall reduction in glacier area from 2077 km2 to 1628 km2 since 1962, an overall deglaciation of 21%. Glacier mass balance was estimated using
accumulation area ratio method and investigations suggest a loss of 0.2347 km2 of glacial ice between 2000 and 2002. Seasonal snow cover was monitored in the Baspa river basin using NDSI technique. In early part of winter, i.e. from October to December end, large amount of snow retreat was observed. In addition, average stream runoff of the Baspa basin for the month of December has increased by 75%. This combination of glacial retreat, negative mass balance, early melting of seasonal snow cover and winter time increase in stream runoff suggest an influence of climate change on the Himalayan cryosphere.
