In:
Annals of Glaciology, International Glaciological Society, Vol. 55, No. 66 ( 2014), p. 61-68
Abstract:
We use remote-sensing and GIS technologies to monitor glacier changes in the Koshi River basin, central Himalaya. The results indicate that in 2009 there were 2061 glaciers in this region, with a total area of 3225 ±90.3 km 2 . This glacier population is divided into 1290 glaciers, with a total area of 1961 ±54.9 km 2 , on the north side of the Himalaya (NSH), and 771 glaciers, with a total area of 1264 ± 35.4 km 2 , on the south side of the Himalaya (SSH). From 1976 to 2009, glacier area in the basin decreased by about 19±5.6% (0.59±0.17%a– 1 ). Glacier reduction was slightly faster on SSH (20.3 ±5.6%) than on NSH (18.8±5.6%). The maximum contribution to glacier area loss came from glaciers within the 1-5 km 2 area interval, which accounted for 32% of total area loss between 1976 and 2009. The number of glaciers in the Koshi River catchment decreased by 145 between 1976 and 2009. Glacier area on SSH decreased at a rate of 6.2 ±3.2% (0.68 ±0.36% a– 1 ), faster than on NSH, where the rate was 2.5 ±3.2% (0.27±0.36% a– 1 ) during 2000-09. Based on records from Tingri weather station, we infer that temperature increase and precipitation decrease were the main causes of glacier thinning and retreat during the 1976-2000 period. Glacier retreat during the 2000-09 period appears to be controlled by temperature increase, since precipitation increase over this period did not offset ice losses to surface melting.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0260-3055
,
1727-5644
DOI:
10.3189/2014AoG66A057
Language:
English
Publisher:
International Glaciological Society
Publication Date:
2014
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2122400-6
SSG:
14
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