Mass-balance studies on Siachen Glacier in the Nubra valley, Karakoram Himalaya, India

Bhutiyani, Mahendra R.

doi:10.3189/s0022143000003099

Cited by 63 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…() for the north‐western Himalaya. Given the complexity of glacier dynamics in relation to topography, elevation and debris cover glacial dynamics will differ regionally and even locally (Bhutiyani, ; Mihalcea et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Factors responsible for driving the glaciation in the Sarchu Plain, eastern Zanskar Himalaya, during the late Quaternary

Sharma

Chand

Bisht

et al. 2016

J Quaternary Science

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Detailed geomorphological investigation supported by field stratigraphy and optical dating enabled us to identify three major events of glaciation in the eastern Zanskar Himalaya (Sarchu Plain). The oldest and most extensive glaciation is the Sarchu Glaciation Stage‐1 (SGS‐1) that pre‐dates the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and is assigned to the cold and wet Marine Isotope Stage‐4 (MIS‐4). The second glacial advance (SGS‐2) is optically dated to ∼20 ka and the youngest SGS‐3 is assigned to the 8.2 ka cooling event. Evidence of deglaciation is preserved as outwash terrace gravels and is assigned to the pluvial MIS‐3 and the early Holocene (∼9 ka). Increased strength of westerlies (winter precipitation) and associated temperature decline were responsible for driving the glaciation in the study area, a conclusion that accords well with modern meteorological data showing a reasonable correlation between the modern equilibrium line altitude, enhanced mid‐latitude westerlies (winter precipitation) and winter temperatures. The phases of deglaciation occurred during periods of warmer climatic excursions. Overall a broad correspondence between the Sarchu Plain glaciation phases and northern latitude ice sheet dynamics is suggested, implying that the glaciers in the trajectory of the mid‐latitude westerlies are likely to respond in phase with northern latitude glaciation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Factors responsible for driving the glaciation in the Sarchu Plain, eastern Zanskar Himalaya, during the late Quaternary

Sharma

Chand

Bisht

et al. 2016

J Quaternary Science

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“…Satellite‐derived images and snow cover data at different times clearly show the recession of this glacier in recent times (e.g., see Rasul, Dahe, & Chaudhry, ; Mukhopadhyay, ). Field‐based glacial mass balance studies of Siachen Glacier conducted by Bhutiyani () for a 5‐year period (1986–1991) showed negative mass balance for all years except for one (1988–1989), which experienced comparatively heavy winter snowfall amounts and comparatively low temperatures during the ablation season. Rankl et al () observed that out of 1334 Karakoram glaciers, 134 show advancing, or surging behavior with a marked increase since 2000.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A joint analysis of river runoff and meteorological forcing in the Karakoram, upper Indus Basin

Reggiani

Mukhopadhyay

Rientjes

et al. 2016

Hydrological Processes

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Satellite‐geodetic altimetry investigations in the Karakoram have indicated slight mass gain or loss of the glaciers during the early part of 21st century. Equivalent discharge in the upper Indus Basin due to these mass changes has been estimated at 5 to 10% of mean annual flow. However, satellite altimetry and geodetic glacier mass estimates in the extreme topography of the Karakoram have not yet been counter‐validated by hydrological analysis. Therefore, we present a first cross validation of three to five decades of river flow data from the three major watersheds in the Karakoram, with matching series of monthly precipitation, temperature, and evaporation provided by six atmospheric reanalysis products for 1979–2014. The analyses suggest that in most cases river flows have been increasing steadily from the end of the 1960s and 1970s to the middle of the 1990s and have stabilized or are in decline since then. Hunza watershed in Karakoram West shows consistently declining flows over the first half of the analysis period and stable flows during the second half for most of the summer melting season, suggesting mass accumulation. Rising river flows in the Shyok and Shigar watersheds, followed by stabilizing or slightly declining flows from 1995 onward, can be explained by consistently increasing precipitation during the first half of the analysis period, and successive stabilization or minor decline thereof. Flow data do not necessarily suggest considerable loss or gain of glacial mass in the Karakoram during the late 90s and early 2000s as suggested by satellite‐based altimetry studies.

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“…Additional verification to the present SWE reconstruction is again provided by the snow avalanche frequency in Lahaul region as recorded in tree rings [ Laxton and Smith , ]. The variability in snowfall anomalies is associated with the magnitude and frequency of snow avalanches in hilly terrains causing serious damages to life and property [ Bhutiyani , ]. The study of Himalayan cedar growth‐ring features from a site close to our study area showed that the low SWEs recorded in the 1970s in our reconstruction are consistent with fewer incidences of slope failures [ Laxton and Smith , ].…”

Section: Calibration and Reconstruction Of November–april Swe Datamentioning

confidence: 98%

Tree‐ring‐based snowfall record for cold arid western Himalaya, India since A.D. 1460

Yadav¹,

Bhutiyani

2013

JGR Atmospheres

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Understanding snowfall variations in high‐elevation cold arid regions of the western Himalaya is important as snowmelt water is the main source of water to meet the scores of socioeconomic needs. The ground‐based observational data, though limited to the last two decades, show decreasing snowfall, raising the concern of looming water scarcity in the region. The tree‐ring data of Himalayan cedar from a network of six moisture‐stressed sites, where snowmelt water is the sole source of soil moisture for tree growth, were used to develop the November–April snow water equivalent (SWE) extending back to A.D. 1460. The reconstruction revealed persistent severe droughts in the 1780s followed by the 1480s and relatively lesser magnitude droughts in the 1540s–1560s, 1740s, and early twentieth century. The pluvial conditions observed in 1948–1958 and 1986–1996 stand out over any other period of such duration. The SWE reconstruction revealed large‐scale spatial coherence with the corresponding month's Palmer Drought Severity Index over the western Himalayan region. Significant relationship observed between SWE reconstruction and January–March Chenab River flow revealed its potential utility in understanding water resource availability in the long‐term perspective.

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Mass-balance studies on Siachen Glacier in the Nubra valley, Karakoram Himalaya, India

Cited by 63 publications

References 7 publications

Factors responsible for driving the glaciation in the Sarchu Plain, eastern Zanskar Himalaya, during the late Quaternary

Factors responsible for driving the glaciation in the Sarchu Plain, eastern Zanskar Himalaya, during the late Quaternary

A joint analysis of river runoff and meteorological forcing in the Karakoram, upper Indus Basin

Tree‐ring‐based snowfall record for cold arid western Himalaya, India since A.D. 1460

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