Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2019-201
https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2019-201
15 Nov 2019
 | 15 Nov 2019
Status: this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors.

Glacier terminus retreat, mass budget, and surface velocity measurements for the Jankar Chhu Watershed, Lahaul Himalaya, India

Suresh Das and Milap Chand Sharma

Abstract. Characterization of glacier changes in the terminus, elevation, and surface velocity was worked out for the Jankar Chhu Watershed (JCW) of Lahaul Himalaya using freely available satellite remote sensing data and the limited number of field observations. We studied changes using Corona (1971), Landsat (1993–2017), Sentinel 2A (2016), the SRTM Digital Elevation Model (DEM; 2000), and the global TanDEM‒X DEM (2014). Change detection for nine select glaciers was studied in detail. Our results showed that changes in glacier terminus (−4.7 ± 0.4 m a−1) between 1971 and 2016 are smaller than previously reported. An intricate pattern of mass changes across the JCW was observed, with surface lowering on an average of −0.7 ± 0.4 m a−1 which equates to a geodetic mass balance of −0.6 ± 0.4 m w.e. a−1 during 2000–14. The computed glacier surface velocities (1993‒2017) reveal nearly stagnant debris-covered ablation zone but the dynamically active main trunk. Field observations/measurements also support the findings. This study provides valuable insights into the recent glacier variations, which are of critical importance to assess the future glacier dynamics on a regional scale in areas like the present one. The dataset is freely accessible at http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3383233 (Das and Sharma, 2019b).

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Suresh Das and Milap Chand Sharma

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Interactive discussion

Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Suresh Das and Milap Chand Sharma

Data sets

Datasets on multiparameter glacier change dynamics for the Jankar Chhu Watershed, Lahaul Himalaya, India S. Das and M. C. Sharma https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3383233

Suresh Das and Milap Chand Sharma

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Short summary
This study presents multi-temporal and multiparameter glacier change measurements between 1971 and 2016 for the Jankar Chhu Watershed (JCW), Lahaul Himalaya, India, based on satellite remote sensing data and the limited number of field observations. Present findings suggest a much lower retreat rate than previously reported. This study offers a valuable dataset on recent glacier variations, which are of critical importance to assess the future glacier dynamics on a regional scale.
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