Peculiar Characteristics of Fragmentation of Glaciers: A Case Study of Western Himalaya, India
Author(s)
Rupal M. Brahmbhatt1,
B. P. Rathore2,
Sandhyarani Pattnaik2,
Purnesh Jani3,
I. Bahuguna2,
R. D. Shah1,
A. S. Rajawat2
Affiliation(s)
1 M.G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad, India. 2 Space Applications Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad, India. 3 Cept University, Ahmedabad, India.
1 M.G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad, India. 2 Space Applications Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad, India. 3 Cept University, Ahmedabad, India.
ABSTRACT
The areal extent of many Himalayan glaciers is decreasing where number of glaciers is increasing. This increasing number is subject to the fragmentation of limbs of main trunk glacier. However, disintegration of limbs is not observed in all the glacier system. This paper emphases the scenario of the fragmentation occurred in glaciers. Two glaciers from the two different basins have been taken into the consideration for this study. The peculiar characteristic of these glaciers is that, the tributary glaciers are showing less retreat in compare to main trunk glaciers. Due to this reason the rate of shift in snout is higher in main trunk glaciers than tributary glaciers. However, in recent data the tributary glaciers have experienced little higher loss in glacial ice than main glacier. But the shift of snout in main trunk glacier is no doubt surprising since past. Therefore, various parameters have been examined to identify the cause of such a behavior of glaciers. The common factors observed in both the glaciers are accumulation area ratio which is higher, snow line altitude which is lower in tributary glaciers for the period of 2005-2013. Another factor is the orientation as tributary glaciers are towards NE direction. In addition, slope of Dharlang glacier (main limb) is 4? where it is 18? in tributary glacier.
The areal extent of many Himalayan glaciers is decreasing where number of glaciers is increasing. This increasing number is subject to the fragmentation of limbs of main trunk glacier. However, disintegration of limbs is not observed in all the glacier system. This paper emphases the scenario of the fragmentation occurred in glaciers. Two glaciers from the two different basins have been taken into the consideration for this study. The peculiar characteristic of these glaciers is that, the tributary glaciers are showing less retreat in compare to main trunk glaciers. Due to this reason the rate of shift in snout is higher in main trunk glaciers than tributary glaciers. However, in recent data the tributary glaciers have experienced little higher loss in glacial ice than main glacier. But the shift of snout in main trunk glacier is no doubt surprising since past. Therefore, various parameters have been examined to identify the cause of such a behavior of glaciers. The common factors observed in both the glaciers are accumulation area ratio which is higher, snow line altitude which is lower in tributary glaciers for the period of 2005-2013. Another factor is the orientation as tributary glaciers are towards NE direction. In addition, slope of Dharlang glacier (main limb) is 4? where it is 18? in tributary glacier.
Cite this paper
Brahmbhatt, R. , Rathore, B. , Pattnaik, S. , Jani, P. , Bahuguna, I. , Shah, R. and Rajawat, A. (2015) Peculiar Characteristics of Fragmentation of Glaciers: A Case Study of Western Himalaya, India. International Journal of Geosciences, 6, 455-463. doi: 10.4236/ijg.2015.64035.
Brahmbhatt, R. , Rathore, B. , Pattnaik, S. , Jani, P. , Bahuguna, I. , Shah, R. and Rajawat, A. (2015) Peculiar Characteristics of Fragmentation of Glaciers: A Case Study of Western Himalaya, India. International Journal of Geosciences, 6, 455-463. doi: 10.4236/ijg.2015.64035.
References
[1] Balco, G. (2009) The Geographic Footprint of Glacier Change. Science (Invited Perspective), 324, 599. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1172468 [2] Embleton, C. and King, C.A. (1975) Glacial Geomorphology. Edward Arnold, London, Volume I, 9-40. [3] Flint, R.F. (1971) Glacial and Quaternary Geology. John Wiley, New York, 892 p. [4] Sugden, D.E. and John, B.S. (1976). Glaciers and Landscapes. Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd., London, 376p. [5] Cuffey, K.M. and Paterson, W.S.B. (2010) The Physics of Glaciers. Elsevier, Burlington. [6] Thomas, R., Frederick, E., Krabill, W., Manizade, S. and Martin, C. (2009) Recent Changes in Greenland Outlet Glaciers. Journal of Glaciology, 55, 147-162.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/002214309788608958 [7] Yamada, T., Shiraiwa, T., Iida, H., Kadota, T., Watanabe, T., Rana, B., Ageta, Y. and Fushimi, H. (1992) Fluctuations of the Glaciers from 1970s to 1989 in the Khumbu, Shorong and Langtang Regions, Nepal Himalaya. Bulletin of Glaciers Research, 10, 11-19. [8] Naithani, A.K., Nainwal, H.C., Sati, K.K. and Prasad, C. (2001) Geomorphological Evidences of Retreat of Gangotri Glacier and Its Characteristics. Current Science, 80, 87-94. [9] Dobhal, D.P., Gergan, J.T. and Thayyen, R.J. (2008) Mass Balance Studies of Dokriani Glacier from 1992-2000, Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. Bulletin of Glaciological Research, 25, 9-17. [10] Schmidt, S. and Nusser, M. (2012) Changes of High Altitude Glaciers from 1969 to 2010 in the Trans-Himalayan Kang 2 Yatze Massif, Ladakh, Northwest India. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 44, 107-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1657/1938-4246-44.1.107 [11] Kulkarni, A.V. and Bahuguna, I.M. (2002) Glacial Retreat in the Baspa Basin, Himalaya, Monitored with Satellite Stereo Data. Journal of Glaciology, 48, 171-172.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756502781831601 [12] Brahmbhatt, R.M., Bahuguna, I.M., Rathore, B.P., Kulkarni, A.V., Nainwal, H.C., Shah, R.D. and Ajai (2012) A Comparative Study of Deglaciation in Two Neighboring Basins (Warwan and Bhut) of Western Himalaya. Current Science, 103, 298-304. [13] Bahuguna, I.M., Rathore, B.P., Brahmbhatt, R.M., Sharma, M., Dhar, Sunil, Randhawa, S.S., Kumar, K., Rhomshoo, S., Shah, R.D., Ganjoo, R.K. and Ajai (2014) Are the Himalayan Glaciers Retreating? Current Science, 106, 1008-1013. [14] Kulkarni, A.V., Bahuguna, I.M., Rathore, B.P., Singh, S.K., Randhawa, S.S., Sood, R.K. and Dhar, Sunil (2007) Glacial Retreat in Himalaya Using Remote Sensing Satellite Data. Current Science, 92, 69-74. [15] Venkatesh, T.N., Kulkarni, A.V. and Srinivasan, J. (2012) Relative Effect of Slope and Equilibrium Line Altitude on the Retreat of Himalayan Glaciers. The Cryosphere, 6, 301-311. [16] Gardelle, J., Berthier, E., Arnaud, Y. and K??b, A. (2013) Region-Wide Glacier Mass Balances over the Pamir-Karakoram-Himalaya during 1999-2011. The Cryosphere, 7, 1263-1286.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1263-2013 [17] Kaa, A., Berthier, E., Nuth, C., Gardelle, J. and Arnaud, Y. (2012) Contrasting Patterns of Early Twenty-First-Century Glacier Mass Change in the Himalayas. Nature, 488, 495-498.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature11324 [18] Kaab, A., Nuth, C., Treichler, D. and Berthier, E. (2014) Brief Communication: Contending Estimates of Early 21st Century Glacier Mass Balance over the Pamir-Karakoram-Himalaya. The Cryosphere, 8, 5857-5874. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tcd-8-5857-2014 [19] Basnett, S., Kulkarni, A.V. and Bolch, T. (2013) The Influence of Debris Cover and Glacial Lakes on the Recession of Glaciers in Sikkim Himalaya, India. Journal of Glaciology, 59, 1035-1046.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/2013JoG12J184 [20] Hall, D.K., Bahr, K.J., Shoener, W., Bindschadler, R.A. and Chien, J.Y.L. (2003) Consideration of the Errors Inherent in Mapping Historical Glacier Positions in Austria from the Ground and Space (1893-2001). Remote Sensing of Environment, 86, 566-577.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0034-4257(03)00134-2 [21] Benn, D.I. and Evans, D.J.A. (2010) Glaciers and Glaciations. 2nd Edition, Arnold, London, 734 p. [22] Brahmbhatt, R.M., Nainwal, H.C. and Kulkarni, A.V. (2014) Impact of Accumulation Area Ratio (AAR) on Glacial Change: A Few Examples of Jammu & Kashmir. Journal of Geomatics, 8, 61-65.
[1] Balco, G. (2009) The Geographic Footprint of Glacier Change. Science (Invited Perspective), 324, 599. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1172468 [2] Embleton, C. and King, C.A. (1975) Glacial Geomorphology. Edward Arnold, London, Volume I, 9-40. [3] Flint, R.F. (1971) Glacial and Quaternary Geology. John Wiley, New York, 892 p. [4] Sugden, D.E. and John, B.S. (1976). Glaciers and Landscapes. Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd., London, 376p. [5] Cuffey, K.M. and Paterson, W.S.B. (2010) The Physics of Glaciers. Elsevier, Burlington. [6] Thomas, R., Frederick, E., Krabill, W., Manizade, S. and Martin, C. (2009) Recent Changes in Greenland Outlet Glaciers. Journal of Glaciology, 55, 147-162.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/002214309788608958 [7] Yamada, T., Shiraiwa, T., Iida, H., Kadota, T., Watanabe, T., Rana, B., Ageta, Y. and Fushimi, H. (1992) Fluctuations of the Glaciers from 1970s to 1989 in the Khumbu, Shorong and Langtang Regions, Nepal Himalaya. Bulletin of Glaciers Research, 10, 11-19. [8] Naithani, A.K., Nainwal, H.C., Sati, K.K. and Prasad, C. (2001) Geomorphological Evidences of Retreat of Gangotri Glacier and Its Characteristics. Current Science, 80, 87-94. [9] Dobhal, D.P., Gergan, J.T. and Thayyen, R.J. (2008) Mass Balance Studies of Dokriani Glacier from 1992-2000, Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. Bulletin of Glaciological Research, 25, 9-17. [10] Schmidt, S. and Nusser, M. (2012) Changes of High Altitude Glaciers from 1969 to 2010 in the Trans-Himalayan Kang 2 Yatze Massif, Ladakh, Northwest India. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 44, 107-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1657/1938-4246-44.1.107 [11] Kulkarni, A.V. and Bahuguna, I.M. (2002) Glacial Retreat in the Baspa Basin, Himalaya, Monitored with Satellite Stereo Data. Journal of Glaciology, 48, 171-172.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756502781831601 [12] Brahmbhatt, R.M., Bahuguna, I.M., Rathore, B.P., Kulkarni, A.V., Nainwal, H.C., Shah, R.D. and Ajai (2012) A Comparative Study of Deglaciation in Two Neighboring Basins (Warwan and Bhut) of Western Himalaya. Current Science, 103, 298-304. [13] Bahuguna, I.M., Rathore, B.P., Brahmbhatt, R.M., Sharma, M., Dhar, Sunil, Randhawa, S.S., Kumar, K., Rhomshoo, S., Shah, R.D., Ganjoo, R.K. and Ajai (2014) Are the Himalayan Glaciers Retreating? Current Science, 106, 1008-1013. [14] Kulkarni, A.V., Bahuguna, I.M., Rathore, B.P., Singh, S.K., Randhawa, S.S., Sood, R.K. and Dhar, Sunil (2007) Glacial Retreat in Himalaya Using Remote Sensing Satellite Data. Current Science, 92, 69-74. [15] Venkatesh, T.N., Kulkarni, A.V. and Srinivasan, J. (2012) Relative Effect of Slope and Equilibrium Line Altitude on the Retreat of Himalayan Glaciers. The Cryosphere, 6, 301-311. [16] Gardelle, J., Berthier, E., Arnaud, Y. and K??b, A. (2013) Region-Wide Glacier Mass Balances over the Pamir-Karakoram-Himalaya during 1999-2011. The Cryosphere, 7, 1263-1286.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1263-2013 [17] Kaa, A., Berthier, E., Nuth, C., Gardelle, J. and Arnaud, Y. (2012) Contrasting Patterns of Early Twenty-First-Century Glacier Mass Change in the Himalayas. Nature, 488, 495-498.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature11324 [18] Kaab, A., Nuth, C., Treichler, D. and Berthier, E. (2014) Brief Communication: Contending Estimates of Early 21st Century Glacier Mass Balance over the Pamir-Karakoram-Himalaya. The Cryosphere, 8, 5857-5874. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tcd-8-5857-2014 [19] Basnett, S., Kulkarni, A.V. and Bolch, T. (2013) The Influence of Debris Cover and Glacial Lakes on the Recession of Glaciers in Sikkim Himalaya, India. Journal of Glaciology, 59, 1035-1046.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/2013JoG12J184 [20] Hall, D.K., Bahr, K.J., Shoener, W., Bindschadler, R.A. and Chien, J.Y.L. (2003) Consideration of the Errors Inherent in Mapping Historical Glacier Positions in Austria from the Ground and Space (1893-2001). Remote Sensing of Environment, 86, 566-577.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0034-4257(03)00134-2 [21] Benn, D.I. and Evans, D.J.A. (2010) Glaciers and Glaciations. 2nd Edition, Arnold, London, 734 p. [22] Brahmbhatt, R.M., Nainwal, H.C. and Kulkarni, A.V. (2014) Impact of Accumulation Area Ratio (AAR) on Glacial Change: A Few Examples of Jammu & Kashmir. Journal of Geomatics, 8, 61-65.