Suspended sediment from the Gangotri Glacier: Quantification, variability and associations with discharge and air temperature

Haritashya, U. K.; Singh, Pratap; Kumar, Naresh; Gupta, Ravi P.

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.07.037

Cited by 91 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…This initiation of glacial runoff generally corresponds to the evacuation of subglacial sediment (e.g. Haritashya et al, 2006). We suggest that sediments mobilized by glacial meltwaters most likely account for this peak SSC event.…”

Section: Extreme Melt Eventsmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…Collins and Hasnain, 1995;Haritashya et al, 2006;Singh et al, 2003). This argument is supported by studies of water and sediment discharge from the Gangotri and Dokriani Glacier (cf.…”

Section: Monsoonal Controls On Suspended Sediment Fluxmentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Fig. 1a), western Himalaya, which indicate that glacial sediment flux peaks during monsoonal rainstorms (Haritashya et al, 2006;Thayyen et al, 2007). In addition, we observe the most pronounced anticlockwise SSC-hysteresis loop in the glaciated Wanger catchment, which indicates an increase in SSC during the course of the monsoon season.…”

Section: Monsoonal Controls On Suspended Sediment Fluxmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Climatic and geologic controls on suspended sediment flux in the Sutlej River Valley, western Himalaya

Wulf

Bookhagen

Scherler

2012

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. The sediment flux through Himalayan rivers directly impacts water quality and is important for sustaining agriculture as well as maintaining drinking-water and hydropower generation. Despite the recent increase in demand for these resources, little is known about the triggers and sources of extreme sediment flux events, which lower water quality and account for extensive hydropower reservoir filling and turbine abrasion. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the spatiotemporal trends in suspended sediment flux based on daily data during the past decade (2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)) from four sites along the Sutlej River and from four of its main tributaries. In conjunction with satellite data depicting rainfall and snow cover, air temperature and earthquake records, and field observations, we infer climatic and geologic controls of peak suspended sediment concentration (SSC) events. Our study identifies three key findings: First, peak SSC events (≥ 99th SSC percentile) coincide frequently (57-80 %) with heavy rainstorms and account for about 30 % of the suspended sediment flux in the semi-arid to arid interior of the orogen. Second, we observe an increase of suspended sediment flux from the Tibetan Plateau to the Himalayan Front at mean annual timescales. This sediment-flux gradient suggests that averaged, modern erosion in the western Himalaya is most pronounced at frontal regions, which are characterized by high monsoonal rainfall and thick soil cover. Third, in seven of eight catchments, we find an anticlockwise hysteresis loop of annual sediment flux variations with respect to river discharge, which appears to be related to enhanced glacial sediment evacuation during late summer. Our analysis emphasizes the importance of unconsolidated sediments in the high-elevation sector that can easily be mobilized by hydrometeorological events and higher glacialmeltwater contributions. In future climate change scenarios, including continuous glacial retreat and more frequent monsoonal rainstorms across the Himalaya, we expect an increase in peak SSC events, which will decrease the water quality and impact hydropower generation.

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Section: Extreme Melt Eventsmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…Collins and Hasnain, 1995;Haritashya et al, 2006;Singh et al, 2003). This argument is supported by studies of water and sediment discharge from the Gangotri and Dokriani Glacier (cf.…”

Section: Monsoonal Controls On Suspended Sediment Fluxmentioning

confidence: 84%

Section: Monsoonal Controls On Suspended Sediment Fluxmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Climatic and geologic controls on suspended sediment flux in the Sutlej River Valley, western Himalaya

Wulf

Bookhagen

Scherler

2012

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…15 September-20 October 2001) were used. This year was considered as a better representation of recession of flow because the influence of rainfall on runoff was small over the whole melt period (Haritashya et al, 2006b). The slope of the fitted line was used to determine the value of the recession constant, k b , which in the present study is found to be about 38 days.…”

Section: Routing Of Different Components Of Runoffmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…These data sets were collected by establishing a meteorological observatory and a gauging site at the same location near the snout of the glacier. Singh et al (2006Singh et al ( , 2005 and Haritashya et al (2006b) have described the detailed procedure involved in obtaining these observations. …”

Section: Study Area and Data Availabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling and estimation of different components of streamflow for Gangotri Glacier basin, Himalayas / Modélisation et estimation des différentes composantes de l'écoulement fluviatile du bassin du Glacier Gangotri, Himalaya

Singh¹,

Haritashya

Kumar

2008

Hydrological Sciences Journal

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Contemporary glacigenic inputs to the dust cycle

Bullard

2012

Earth Surf Processes Landf

102

103

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The importance of glacigenic dust in the Earth's system during glacial periods is widely acknowledged. Under contemporary conditions, the world's largest dust sources are in low‐lying, hot, arid regions and this is where most aeolian research is focused. However the processes of dust production and emissions are still operating in cold climate regions, particularly in proglacial areas. This paper assesses current understanding of the relationship between glacierised landscapes and dust emissions and inputs to the global dust cycle. It focuses on how elements in the glacial and aeolian geomorphic sub‐systems interact to determine the magnitude, frequency and timing of aeolian dust emissions, and on feedback mechanisms between the systems. Where they have been measured, dust emission intensity and deposition rates in glacierised catchments are very high, in some cases far exceeding those in lower latitudes, however, few studies span long time scales. The impact of future glacier retreat on the balance between sediment supply, availability and aeolian transport capacity and implications for glacigenic dust emissions is also considered. This balance depends on relative spatial and temporal changes in meltwater suspended sediment concentration and wind strengths, which promote dust emissions, and patterns and rates of soil development and vegetation succession on recently‐deglaciated terrain which protect sediments from deflation. Retreat of the Antarctic ice sheet could mean that in future glacigenic contributions to the dust cycle exceed those of non‐glacigenic sources in the southern hemisphere. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Suspended sediment from the Gangotri Glacier: Quantification, variability and associations with discharge and air temperature

Cited by 91 publications

References 32 publications

Climatic and geologic controls on suspended sediment flux in the Sutlej River Valley, western Himalaya

Climatic and geologic controls on suspended sediment flux in the Sutlej River Valley, western Himalaya

Modelling and estimation of different components of streamflow for Gangotri Glacier basin, Himalayas / Modélisation et estimation des différentes composantes de l'écoulement fluviatile du bassin du Glacier Gangotri, Himalaya

Contemporary glacigenic inputs to the dust cycle

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