Climate-Induced Glacier Retreats and Associated Hazards: Need for Robust Glaciers and Glacial Lake Management Policy in Sikkim Himalaya, India

Sharma, R. K.; Kumar, Rajesh; Pradhan, Pranay; Sharma, Arpan

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-92782-0_8

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Warming has been reported throughout the Himalayan region at rates ranging from 0.15 • C to 0.60 • C/10 yr, which is very high when compared to the global mean warming rate of 0.74 • C/100 yr [18][19][20]. As a result of this warming trend, Himalayan glaciers are losing mass at a faster pace [21][22][23], resulting in the evolution and expansion of various glacial lake types [24][25][26]. Among these, potentially dangerous glacial lakes pose a major threat to the communities and infrastructure in the neighboring regions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Hazard and Risk Assessment of Gangabal Lake in the Upper Jhelum Basin of Kashmir Himalaya Using Geospatial Technology and Hydrodynamic Modeling

et al. 2022

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Climate warming-induced glacier recession has resulted in the development and rapid expansion of glacial lakes in the Himalayan region. The increased melting has enhanced the susceptibility for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in the region. The catastrophic failure of potentially dangerous glacial lakes could be detrimental to human life and infrastructure in the adjacent low-lying areas. This study attempts to assess the GLOF hazard of Gangabal lake, located in the Upper Jhelum basin of Kashmir Himalaya, using the combined approaches of remote sensing, GIS, and dam break modeling. The parameters, such as area change, ice thickness, mass balance, and surface velocity of the Harmukh glacier, which feeds Gangabal lake, were also assessed using multitemporal satellite data, GlabTop-2, and the Cosi–Corr model. In the worst-case scenario, 100% volume (73 × 106 m3) of water was considered to be released from the lake with a breach formation time (bf) of 40 min, breach width (bw) of 60 m, and producing peak discharge of 16,601.03 m3/s. Our results reveal that the lake area has increased from 1.42 km2 in 1972 to 1.46 km2 in 1981, 1.58 km2 in 1992, 1.61 km2 in 2001, 1.64 km2 in 2010, and 1.66 km2 in 2020. The lake area experienced 17 ± 2% growth from 1972 to 2020 at an annual rate of 0.005 km2. The feeding glacier (Harmukh) contrarily indicated a significant area loss of 0.7 ± 0.03 km2 from 1990 (3.36 km2) to 2020 (2.9 km2). The glacier has a maximum, minimum, and average depth of 85, 7.3, and 23.46 m, respectively. In contrast, the average velocity was estimated to be 3.2 m/yr with a maximum of 7 m/yr. The results obtained from DEM differencing show an average ice thickness loss of 11.04 ± 4.8 m for Harmukh glacier at the rate of 0.92 ± 0.40 m/yr between 2000 and 2012. Assessment of GLOF propagation in the worst-case scenario (scenario-1) revealed that the maximum flood depth varies between 3.87 and 68 m, the maximum flow velocity between 4 and 75 m/s, and the maximum water surface elevation varies between 1548 and 3536 m. The resultant flood wave in the worst-case scenario will reach the nearest location (Naranaag temple) within 90 min after breach initiation with a maximum discharge of 12,896.52 m3 s−1 and maximum flood depth and velocity of 10.54 m and 10.05 m/s, respectively. After evaluation of GLOF impacts on surrounding areas, the area under each inundated landuse class was estimated through the LULC map generated for both scenarios 1 and 2. In scenario 1, the total potentially inundated area was estimated as 5.3 km2, which is somewhat larger than 3.46 km2 in scenario 2. We suggest a location-specific comprehensive investigation of Gangbal lake and Harmukh glacier by applying the advanced hazard and risk assessment models/methods for better predicting a probable future GLOF event.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Hazard and Risk Assessment of Gangabal Lake in the Upper Jhelum Basin of Kashmir Himalaya Using Geospatial Technology and Hydrodynamic Modeling

et al. 2022

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“…Traditional agro-ecosystem in the marginal environment provides various ecosystem goods and services such as regulation of soil and water quality, biological pest control, pollination, support to biodiversity, etc. for sustaining the life and livelihoods of the local communities (Power, 2010;Gauchan et al, 2020;Sharma and Rai, 2012). The diverse agriculture and the associated Indigenous knowledge and skills practised by the Indigenous communities across the world have been reckoned essential climate resilient agriculture (Bisht, 2021;Erisman et al, 2016;Mekbib et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unlike modern agriculture, the traditional farming is based on organic inputs, biological pest management system, local crop varieties, selfseed conservation and locally invented soil and water management systems. Therefore, these farming practices are considered as ecologically sustainable, economically viable and culturally acceptable (Deka, 2012;Sharma and Rai, 2012). It also provides scope for development of agro-and ecotourism as an alternative opportunity for livelihood (Amloy et al, 2024;Ba et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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2023

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The Himalaya is experiencing significant changes in land use and cropping patterns. This paper examines the major causes and consequences of these changes in the Central Himalaya, focusing on two districts: Dehradun (Garhwal region) and Nainital (Kumaon region). Data on land use and cropping patterns for both districts were collected from the district statistical diaries and, subsequently, were analyzed. The analysis reveals that cropping patterns are undergoing substantial changes in both districts, although the change is not uniform across the regions. Various factors contribute to the shifting cropping patterns. In the recent past, there has been a notable increase in climate variability and change, with a persistent warming observed in the river valleys and midaltitudes. Other significant factors influencing the changing cropping patterns include decline in the area and production of crops, alterations in food habits, population growth, and out-migration in the Central Himalaya. KeywordsCropping patterns; Land use; Climate change; Food habits; Central Himalaya the environmental conditions of the specific locality (Martin and Sauerborn, 2013; Thrall, Bever and Burdon, 2010). Over the past decades, there has been a noticeable decrease in the cultivated area (Joshi and Palni, 2005

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“…Glaciers are the principal supply of freshwater in frigid locations and are critical for the water resources of billions of people, notably in High Mountain Asia (HMA) ( where climate change effects are most prominent (Negi et al, 2021;Wester et al, 2019). Global warming poses a threat to glaciers (Compagno et al, 2022;Immerzeel et al, 2010) resulting rapid retreat globally (Shean et al, 2020), while warming reported in the Himalayan region is higher than the global mean warming (Bhutiyani et al, 2007;Negi et al, 2018;Shrestha et al, 2012), causing glaciers to lose mass at a faster pace (Nie et al, 2021;Sabin et al, 2020;Sharma et al, 2022). Although some advancing glaciers were observed in the Karakoram Mountains during the rst decade of the twenty-rst century but retreating rates differed greatly amongst glacial basins (Dehecq et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lakes expansion and emergence of potentially dangerous glacier lakes in Astore River Basin, Western Himalaya during 1993-2021

Akbar,

Wang,

Ullah

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Glaciers in High Mountain Asia ensure freshwater to billions of people downstream but this supply is dwindling owing to rapid melting due to climate change. On the same note, glaciers in the Astore River Basin, of the Upper Indus Basin (UIB), are rapidly melting leading to accelerated expansion of glacial lakes, emergence of new glacial lakes, and increasing the risk of Glacial Lakes Outburst Floods (GLOFs). This study investigates seasonal and decadal fluctuations in glacier lakes using Landsat data between 1993 and 2021 and differential Global Positioning System (dGPS) field observations. We found an increase in the number of glacial lakes and areal expansion of existing glacial lakes in the study area. During the 2021 ablation period (Jun-Oct), the number of contemporary glacial lakes grew fivefold (18 to 100), while the area expanded sixfold (0.62 to 3.86 km2), the newly developed lakes were greater than 0.01 km2. Over the past decade, PDGLs have doubled. To lessen the risk of GLOF, continuous monitoring of these lakes is necessary in the future. The implementation of GLOF monitoring and early warning systems, as well as sustainable water management practices, ought to be prioritized for mitigation and adaptation measures.

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Climate-Induced Glacier Retreats and Associated Hazards: Need for Robust Glaciers and Glacial Lake Management Policy in Sikkim Himalaya, India

Cited by 8 publications

References 63 publications

Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Hazard and Risk Assessment of Gangabal Lake in the Upper Jhelum Basin of Kashmir Himalaya Using Geospatial Technology and Hydrodynamic Modeling

Glacial Lake Outburst Flood Hazard and Risk Assessment of Gangabal Lake in the Upper Jhelum Basin of Kashmir Himalaya Using Geospatial Technology and Hydrodynamic Modeling

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Lakes expansion and emergence of potentially dangerous glacier lakes in Astore River Basin, Western Himalaya during 1993-2021

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