Sensitivity of Glaciers in Part of the Suru Basin, Western Himalaya to Ongoing Climatic Perturbations

Shukla, Anurag; Garg, Siddhi; Kumar, V. Ravi; Mehta, Manish; Shukla, Uma Kant

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-29684-1_18

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Similar retreat estimates have been put forth for the Zanskar region for the glacier area changes carried between 1989 and 2007 [43]. However, very conservative area changes (0.16% a −1 ) have been reported for the neighboring Suru basin [44] for the glacier area changes assessed for the 1977-2017 period. In another study carried out in the Lidder watershed of the Jhelum basin, the glaciers were reported to be shrinking at 0.51% a −1 [17].…”

supporting

confidence: 78%

Linking the Recent Glacier Retreat and Depleting Streamflow Patterns with Land System Changes in Kashmir Himalaya, India

Rashid

Majeed

Aneaus

et al. 2020

Water

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This study reports the changes in glacier extent and streamflow similar to many Himalayan studies, but takes the unusual step of also linking these to downstream land use changes in Kashmir Valley. This study assessed changes in the area, snout, and equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of four parts of the Kolahoi Glacier using earth observation data from 1962 to 2018. Changes in the discharge of the two streams flowing out from Kolahoi Glacier into the Jhelum basin were also assessed between 1972 and 2018. Additionally, satellite data was used to track the downstream land system changes concerning agriculture, orchards, and built-up areas between 1980 and 2018. This analysis suggested a cumulative deglaciation of 23.6% at a rate of 0.42% per year from 1962 to 2018. The snout of two larger glaciers, G1 and G2, retreated at a rate of 18.3 m a −1 and 16.4 m a −1 , respectively, from 1962 to 2018, although the rate of recession accelerated after 2000. Our analysis also suggested the upward shift of ELA by ≈120 m. The streamflows measured at five sites showed statistically significant depleting trends that have been a factor in forcing extensive land system changes downstream. Although the area under agriculture in Lidder watershed shrunk by 39%, there was a massive expansion of 176% and 476% in orchards and built-up areas, respectively, from 1980 to 2018. The conversion of irrigation-intensive agriculture lands (rice paddy) to less water-intensive orchards is attributed to economic considerations and depleting streamflow.Water 2020, 12, 1168 2 of 18 to decrease in the streamflows in the Himalayan Rivers [7,[27][28][29], which could affect water availability downstream [30]. Studies suggest that the glacier recession in the Kashmir valley has already resulted in the depleted streamflows downstream [31,32]. The land system changes in the region [33][34][35][36] have been linked to depleting streamflows, economic considerations, and unplanned land transformation.The use of remote sensing data for quantifying land system changes over the Kashmir region has been widely documented [37][38][39][40]. At the same time, there is substantial scientific literature detailing the glacier retreat prevalent over the region. A recent study indicated that the glaciers in the Ladakh region are retreating at 0.55% a −1 [41], whereas another study [42] reported few stable and advancing glaciers in the Zanskar region of Jammu and Kashmir. Similar retreat estimates have been put forth for the Zanskar region for the glacier area changes carried between 1989 and 2007 [43]. However, very conservative area changes (0.16% a −1 ) have been reported for the neighboring Suru basin [44] for the glacier area changes assessed for the 1977-2017 period. In another study carried out in the Lidder watershed of the Jhelum basin, the glaciers were reported to be shrinking at 0.51% a −1 [17]. Glacier mass change over the western Himalayas has accelerated from 0.33 to 0.5 m w.e. (water equivalent) per year between 1970-2000 and 2000-2010, respectively [45]. Ther...

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supporting

confidence: 78%

Linking the Recent Glacier Retreat and Depleting Streamflow Patterns with Land System Changes in Kashmir Himalaya, India

Rashid

Majeed

Aneaus

et al. 2020

Water

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“…This compares with a decrease in glacier area by an average of −0.57% yr −1 (1960–2010) over High Mountain Asia, but with high spatial variability with some 65% of datapoints statistically identical to zero change ( Cogley, 2016 ). In the western Himalayas region (1977–2016) Landsat data show that the snow line elevation increased by 116 ± 17 m, glaciers decreased in area (by 6.25 ± 0.0012% or 0.16% yr −1 ), average glacier snout recession rate increased (from 16 ± 3.4 m yr −1 in 1977 to 23 ± 3.4 m yr −1 in 2016), and glacier debris cover area increased by 80% ( Shukla et al, 2020 ). In the Karakoram, Landsat data (1976–2012) show that 79% of glacier termini were stable, 5% advanced, 8% retreated, and 8% belong to oscillating (surging) glaciers ( Rankl, Kienholz & Braun, 2014 ), confirmed by more recent mass balance studies ( Farinotti et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scientists’ warning of the impacts of climate change on mountains

Knight¹

2022

PeerJ

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Mountains are highly diverse in areal extent, geological and climatic context, ecosystems and human activity. As such, mountain environments worldwide are particularly sensitive to the effects of anthropogenic climate change (global warming) as a result of their unique heat balance properties and the presence of climatically-sensitive snow, ice, permafrost and ecosystems. Consequently, mountain systems—in particular cryospheric ones—are currently undergoing unprecedented changes in the Anthropocene. This study identifies and discusses four of the major properties of mountains upon which anthropogenic climate change can impact, and indeed is already doing so. These properties are: the changing mountain cryosphere of glaciers and permafrost; mountain hazards and risk; mountain ecosystems and their services; and mountain communities and infrastructure. It is notable that changes in these different mountain properties do not follow a predictable trajectory of evolution in response to anthropogenic climate change. This demonstrates that different elements of mountain systems exhibit different sensitivities to forcing. The interconnections between these different properties highlight that mountains should be considered as integrated biophysical systems, of which human activity is part. Interrelationships between these mountain properties are discussed through a model of mountain socio-biophysical systems, which provides a framework for examining climate impacts and vulnerabilities. Managing the risks associated with ongoing climate change in mountains requires an integrated approach to climate change impacts monitoring and management.

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“…Besides the overall degenerative responses of these glaciers, their degeneration rates have also varied, with Dulung being more responsive towards climate change than the Chilung Glacier. Despite sharing similar geographic and climate settings (Shukla et al, 2020a), the Dulung Glacier has shown an increased mass loss, nearly twice that of the Chilung from 2000-2017. Meanwhile, the SLA change also reveals a higher increase for Dulung compared to the Chilung Glacier during 1977-2018 (Figure 4).…”

Section: Impact Of Proglacial Lake On Glacier Stabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Dulung Proglacial Lake, Suru Sub-Basin, Western Himalaya: Evolution, Controls and Impacts on Glacier Stability

Garg

Yousuf

et al. 2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Proglacial lakes are continually developing and expanding across the Himalayan glaciered terrain in response to climate change. These lakes are known to destabilize the glaciers by enhancing their frontal ablation, causing higher than average glacier area and mass losses. Thus, to comprehend the dynamics of proglacial lakes and their influence on the overall glacier health, we study the lake-terminating Dulung Glacier located in the Suru sub-basin, Ladakh, western Himalaya and compare it with the adjacent land-terminating Chilung Glacier. The pronounced melting of the Dulung Glacier, supported by glacier topography (surface gradient between accumulation and ablation zone) and valley morphology (wider near the snout and narrower downwards), seems to be the prime reason for the formation, accommodation and sustenance of the proglacial lake. The expansion in proglacial lake (.008 km2a−1) during 1977–2018 is accompanied by an enhanced degeneration of the Dulung Glacier (mass balance: −.47 ± .06 m w.e.a−1, shrinkage rate: .3 ± .001% a−1; retreat rate: 32 ± .7 ma−1, surface ice velocity reduction: 16%), which has accelerated post-1993. In comparison, land-terminating Chilung Glacier shows lower degeneration rates (mass balance: −.28 ± .02 m w.e.a−1; shrinkage rate: .2 ± .001% a−1; retreat rate: 17 ± 0.7 ma−1, surface ice velocity reduction: 8%) during 1971–2018. This suggests a substantial impact of the proglacial lake in enhancing the Dulung Glacier’s sensitivity towards climate change compared to the Chilung Glacier. If the current rate of lake expansion continues, it would further enhance the Dulung Glaciers’ degeneration rates, thus impacting its stability.

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Sensitivity of Glaciers in Part of the Suru Basin, Western Himalaya to Ongoing Climatic Perturbations

Cited by 8 publications

References 39 publications

Linking the Recent Glacier Retreat and Depleting Streamflow Patterns with Land System Changes in Kashmir Himalaya, India

Linking the Recent Glacier Retreat and Depleting Streamflow Patterns with Land System Changes in Kashmir Himalaya, India

Scientists’ warning of the impacts of climate change on mountains

Dulung Proglacial Lake, Suru Sub-Basin, Western Himalaya: Evolution, Controls and Impacts on Glacier Stability

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