Water and Sediment Yields into the Sutlej River from the High Himalaya

Abstract

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.. International Mountain Society is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Mountain Research and Development.ABSTRACT Extensive high-quality hydrologic and sediment yield data would greatly aid planning for the use of water resources of the Sutlej River system. The total catchment within the mountains is 47,480 km2, with the Spiti and Kinnaur tributaries accounting for 5,875 and 5,157 km2, respectively, in India. By far the largest part lies in Tibet. This paper attempts to utilize the available data to provide a first estimate of the magnitude of the problem facing development engineers. It is concluded that extensive sediment control treatment will be necessary to improve the safety and efficiency of the many hydroelectric projects that are being planned for the Sutlej and its tributaries which drain from the Himalaya.Nine years of discharge and sediment yield data collected daily from calibrated sections of the rivers form the basis for this study. While the monthly and annual runoff data show little variation throughout the period, sediment yield was extremely variable. About 80 percent of the annual flow occurs between May and September, mainly from snowmelt. Sediment yield increased exponentially with increased discharge, with especially high concentrations from June through August. The main sediment sources are gully erosion, stream-bank erosion, landslides, road construction, and glacier erosion. The sediment from this region accounts for half the annual accumulation in the Bhakra reservoir farther downstream. RESUME Rendements en eau et en sidiments dans le Sutlej, en provenance du Grand Himalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Inde. Des donn~es abondantes et fiables concernant les rendements en eau et en sediments aideraient beaucoup h planifier l'utilisation des ressources en eau du bassin du Sutlej. Le bassin versant total dans les montagnes couvre 47 480 km2, dont 5 875 et 5 157 km2 en Inde pour les affluents Spiti et Kinnaur respectivement. La majorit6 du bassin versant se trouve au Thibet. Cet article essaie d'utiliser les donn~es disponibles pour fournir une premiere estimation du problkme confrontant les ing~nieurs de d~veloppement. La conclusion en est que des travaux importants de lutte contre les sediments sont n~cessaires pour ambliorer la s~curit6 et l'efficacit6 des nombreux aminagements hydro-6lectriques privus pour le Sutlej et ses affluents qui drainent les eaux de l'Himalaya.Des donn~es relatives aux rendements en eau et en sediments ont &td recueillies quotidiennement pendant neuf ans dans des sections calibries des cours d'eau, et forment la base de cette etude. Alors que les rendements en eau mensuel et annuel sont rest~s relativement s...

Particle size characteristics of suspended sediment transported in meltwater from the Gangotri Glacier, central Himalaya — An indicator of subglacial sediment evacuation

“…For example, measurements of sediment concentration were initiated on the meltwater stream of the Gangotri Glacier in the nineteenth century (Everest, 1832), but such studies were neither continued for this glacier nor attempted for other glaciers in this region. Moreover, most of the studies in the Himalayan region have been carried out for lower altitude basins/sites (Sharma et al, 1991;Rao et al, 1997). Only a few studies based on observations made over limited time periods are available for a few specific glaciers, and therefore, we believe that such studies are necessary in developing suitable methodologies, which is essential for an integrated approach in understanding glacial geomorphology, glacier dynamics, and watershed resources development and management.…”

Sediment Yield Assessment of a Large Basin using PSIAC Approach in GIS Environment

“…This region is also very prone to landslides and slips which may be one of the major sources of sediment to this river. The natural factors such as steep topographic gradient and poor structural characteristics of soils; attribute to high levels of sediment transport to the study region too (Sharma et al 1991). Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), the controlling agency of the reservoir, carried out capacity surveys (using Range Survey method) for Gobindsagar reservoir annually from 1963 to 1977 to measure the actual silt deposited and thereafter these surveys are being carried out on alternate year.…”

Characterization of suspended sediment in Meltwater from Glaciers of Garhwal Himalaya

“…Diurnal variation in suspended sediment from the high altitude region is controlled by the snow accumulation and meteorological condition (Singh et al ., ); therefore, long‐term observation of discharge and sediment load becomes necessary to understand subglacial sediment transfer processes. Research interests pertaining to sediment transport in higher Himalayan river basins have become important because of the huge hydropower potential in the region, and several studies have been carried out in recent times (Sharma et al ., ; Hasnain and Thayyen, ; Bhutiyani, ; Kumar et al ., ; Pandey et al ., ; Jain et al ., ; Owen et al ., ; Bajracharaya et al ., ; Singh et al ., ; Ali and De Boer, ; Haritashya et al ., ; Singh et al ., ; Haritashya et al ., ).…”