Transitioning from equilibrium of glacier mass balance in the Upper Bhagirathi Valley, Central Himalaya
This study analyses key glaciers in the Upper Bhagirathi Valley, Central Himalaya, India, between 1973 and 2024 based on multi-date digital elevation models (DEMs) to examine the shift from balanced to imbalanced glacier mass budget. From 1973 to 2000, ice loss was evident mainly at the terminus (-0...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-12-01
|
| Series: | Results in Earth Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211714825000421 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849727163824078848 |
|---|---|
| author | Sarmistha Halder Pritam Chand C. Scott Watson Ishtiaq Ahmed Rakesh Bhambri |
| author_facet | Sarmistha Halder Pritam Chand C. Scott Watson Ishtiaq Ahmed Rakesh Bhambri |
| author_sort | Sarmistha Halder |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study analyses key glaciers in the Upper Bhagirathi Valley, Central Himalaya, India, between 1973 and 2024 based on multi-date digital elevation models (DEMs) to examine the shift from balanced to imbalanced glacier mass budget. From 1973 to 2000, ice loss was evident mainly at the terminus (-0.10 ± 0.04 m w.e. a⁻¹), with a data gap (∼16 km²) in the higher ablation and accumulation zone of Gangotri Glacier, where elevation changes through the main glacier flow path indicated a mass stability or a minor positive mass balance. A marginal increase in mass (+0.11 ± 0.04 m w.e. a−1) was observed from 2000 to 2015, followed by substantial losses during 2015–2020 (-0.27 ± 0.09 m w.e. a−1) and 2020–2024 (-0.62 ± 0.39 m w.e. a−1). Notably, thinning and ice loss expanded from the low-altitude to high-altitude zones (∼>5200 m asl). Gangotri Glacier's mass loss intensified over time, increasing from −0.17 ± 0.01 m w.e. a⁻¹ (1973–2000) to −1.03 ± 0.58 m w.e. a⁻¹ (2020–2024). Similar trends were observed in former tributary glaciers like Raktavaran and Chaturangi. The contact zone between debris-mantled and bare ice exhibited the highest thinning rates, highlighting the influence of surface debris on melting rates. This study reveals surge activity for the first time in the Chaturangi Glacier's tributary (1973–2006), highlighting localized dynamics. The recent shift to an imbalanced state underscores climate change’s impact on ice melt, threatening water supply and ecosystems, and highlighting the need for regular monitoring and adaptive strategies in the warming Himalaya. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8b20f60badcd49119cbc83281ebd5ed1 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2211-7148 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Earth Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-8b20f60badcd49119cbc83281ebd5ed12025-08-20T03:09:56ZengElsevierResults in Earth Sciences2211-71482025-12-01310010010.1016/j.rines.2025.100100Transitioning from equilibrium of glacier mass balance in the Upper Bhagirathi Valley, Central HimalayaSarmistha Halder0Pritam Chand1C. Scott Watson2Ishtiaq Ahmed3Rakesh Bhambri4Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India; AcSIR, Sector 19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, IndiaDepartment of Geography, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab 151401, India; Corresponding author.School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UKDepartment of Geography, School of Environment and Earth Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, Punjab 151401, IndiaWadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001, India; AcSIR, Sector 19, Kamla Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, IndiaThis study analyses key glaciers in the Upper Bhagirathi Valley, Central Himalaya, India, between 1973 and 2024 based on multi-date digital elevation models (DEMs) to examine the shift from balanced to imbalanced glacier mass budget. From 1973 to 2000, ice loss was evident mainly at the terminus (-0.10 ± 0.04 m w.e. a⁻¹), with a data gap (∼16 km²) in the higher ablation and accumulation zone of Gangotri Glacier, where elevation changes through the main glacier flow path indicated a mass stability or a minor positive mass balance. A marginal increase in mass (+0.11 ± 0.04 m w.e. a−1) was observed from 2000 to 2015, followed by substantial losses during 2015–2020 (-0.27 ± 0.09 m w.e. a−1) and 2020–2024 (-0.62 ± 0.39 m w.e. a−1). Notably, thinning and ice loss expanded from the low-altitude to high-altitude zones (∼>5200 m asl). Gangotri Glacier's mass loss intensified over time, increasing from −0.17 ± 0.01 m w.e. a⁻¹ (1973–2000) to −1.03 ± 0.58 m w.e. a⁻¹ (2020–2024). Similar trends were observed in former tributary glaciers like Raktavaran and Chaturangi. The contact zone between debris-mantled and bare ice exhibited the highest thinning rates, highlighting the influence of surface debris on melting rates. This study reveals surge activity for the first time in the Chaturangi Glacier's tributary (1973–2006), highlighting localized dynamics. The recent shift to an imbalanced state underscores climate change’s impact on ice melt, threatening water supply and ecosystems, and highlighting the need for regular monitoring and adaptive strategies in the warming Himalaya.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211714825000421Bhagirathi basin glaciersDigital elevation modelsGeodetic mass balanceBalance to imbalance |
| spellingShingle | Sarmistha Halder Pritam Chand C. Scott Watson Ishtiaq Ahmed Rakesh Bhambri Transitioning from equilibrium of glacier mass balance in the Upper Bhagirathi Valley, Central Himalaya Results in Earth Sciences Bhagirathi basin glaciers Digital elevation models Geodetic mass balance Balance to imbalance |
| title | Transitioning from equilibrium of glacier mass balance in the Upper Bhagirathi Valley, Central Himalaya |
| title_full | Transitioning from equilibrium of glacier mass balance in the Upper Bhagirathi Valley, Central Himalaya |
| title_fullStr | Transitioning from equilibrium of glacier mass balance in the Upper Bhagirathi Valley, Central Himalaya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transitioning from equilibrium of glacier mass balance in the Upper Bhagirathi Valley, Central Himalaya |
| title_short | Transitioning from equilibrium of glacier mass balance in the Upper Bhagirathi Valley, Central Himalaya |
| title_sort | transitioning from equilibrium of glacier mass balance in the upper bhagirathi valley central himalaya |
| topic | Bhagirathi basin glaciers Digital elevation models Geodetic mass balance Balance to imbalance |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211714825000421 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarmisthahalder transitioningfromequilibriumofglaciermassbalanceintheupperbhagirathivalleycentralhimalaya AT pritamchand transitioningfromequilibriumofglaciermassbalanceintheupperbhagirathivalleycentralhimalaya AT cscottwatson transitioningfromequilibriumofglaciermassbalanceintheupperbhagirathivalleycentralhimalaya AT ishtiaqahmed transitioningfromequilibriumofglaciermassbalanceintheupperbhagirathivalleycentralhimalaya AT rakeshbhambri transitioningfromequilibriumofglaciermassbalanceintheupperbhagirathivalleycentralhimalaya |