Relative Health Status of Western Himalaya (Jammu
and Kashmir)Glaciers: Categorization into Classes
Based on Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques
Under the guidance of
Dr Ajay
SPACE APPLICATIONS CENTRE (ISRO)
Ahmedabad , Gujarat.
Prof. S.Palria
Head of the Department
Remote Sensing & Geoinformatics
MDSU, , Ajmer
By SWATI TAK
.
MAHARSHI DAYANAND SARASWATI UNIVERSITY (MDSU) ,
AJMER
INTRODUCTION
Glacier --. Glacier are defined as huge mass of snow, ice and rock debris moving
down from high altitude continuously due to gravity.
Glaciers are formed in
•
•
In areas where precipitation falls as snow; snow must accumulate.
In high (polar) latitudes or at High elevations (in mountains) even at the
equator.
GLACIERS IMPORTANCE
Glaciers studies are required for a variety of applications such as
a) Planning and operation of mini and micro hydroelectric power stations.
b) disaster warning
c) estimation of irrigation potential,
d) Climate change measurement etc. needed for the overall development of
the Himalayan region.
GLACIERS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
•
Glacier changes are recognised as climate change indicator (GCOS 2004,
GTOS 2008).
•
Glacier length change (i.e., the advance or retreat) and Glacier mass balance
(i.e., the change in thickness/volume) are signal to climate change
•
Glaciers are also influenced by changes in atmospheric conditions (e.g., solar
radiation, air temperature, precipitation, wind, cloudiness).
•
The climatic sensitivity of a glacier also depends on local topographic effects
and the distribution of the glacier area with elevation.
GLACIER MONITORING
Glacier monitoring
• The worldwide inventory was initiated by International Hydrological Decade
declared by UNESCO during1965–1974 (Hoelzle and Trindler 1998, UNESCO
1970).
• The Temporal Technical Secretariat for the World Glacier Inventory (TTS/WGI)
was established in 1975 to prepare guidelines for the compilation of inventory and
to collect available data sets from different countries (WGMS 1989).
• Preliminary estimates of the global distribution of glaciers and ice caps covering
some 685 000 km2 are available, including detailed information on about 100 000
glaciers, and digital outlines for about 62, 000 glaciers.
• The latest assessment report of IPCC (2007) quotes the total area of land ice as
510 000–540 000 km2.
• Study by SAC, ISRO estimate 71182 km2 area under 32392 glacier in Indus,
Ganga and Brahmaputra basins (Ajai et al 2012)
GLACIER BUDGET
•
Definition : difference between annual gain and loss of snow and ice
– When accumulation exceeds ablation the net budget is positive and glacier
grows.
– AAR is used for Glacier Mass Balance and health assessment
Zones :
–Accumulation – area where
precipitation is adding snow & ice
to glacier
–Ablation – area where ice is
removed by melting, sublimation,
wind-erosion
(ablation),
and
sometimes calving
–Equilibrium line – separated the
two areas (where process is
balanced)
HIMALAYAS
• Himalayas, as the word suggests ‘him’ meaning ice and ‘alaya’ meaning abode
are enormous sources for ice and hence fresh water.
• Located in the northern and northeastern borders of india.
• The himalayan glacier region extends in the south-east from latitude 250 39’ n
and longitude 970 46’ e (approx.) To north-west up to latitude 370 05’ n and
longitude 720 14’ e (approx.) Across four countries viz. India, nepal, bhutan and
china (tibet).
• It covers ganga, brahmaputra and major part of indus river basins in the
himalayas within political boundary of india as well as outside but draining into
india.
• The glacierized regions of the indus, ganga and brahmaputra basins,
encompass about 0.32 million km2, 0.18 million km2 and 0.44 million km2 areas
respectively.
STUDY AREA DETAILS
STUDY AREA
OBJECTIVES
• Preparation of glacier inventory maps at 1:50,000
scale for Jammu & Kashmir region.
• Creation of (spatial / non spatial) digital database in
GIS.
• Generation of glacier inventory data sheets
• Computation of Indices.
• Assessment of Health of Glacier
DATA USED
SATELLITE DATA AND ANCILLARY DATA
•
Landsat ETM + scenes acquired between
2000 and 2002 period,
•
•
SRTM-DEM digital elevation model (DEM) and
The ASTER Global DEM (GDEM)
SAMPLE DATASHEET FOR GLACIER
Results
METHODOLOGY
GENERATION OF GLACIER MAP AND INVENTORY DATA SHEETS
(Source: Sharma et al2006)
GLACIER MORPHOLOGHY
Figure- Glacier ClassificationForm a) Compound basins,
b) Compound basin
c) Simple basin
d) Cirque
e) Niche
(Source: Muller 1970)
Figure- Glacier Classification- Form a) Compound basins, b)
Compound basin
c) Simple basin d) Cirque e) Niche
(After Sharma et al, 2006)
Results Discussions
SIGNIFICANT STATISTICS – JAMMU & KASHMIR
REGION
Sr.
1
2
3
4
5
Basin Characteristics
Total area
Total area under glaciers
Total no. of glaciers
Total Glacierized area (Glaciers + PS)
Total Ice volume
Area in km
2
222,936 sq.km
9,310 km
2
960
1643.1 Sq.km,
64.822 km
3
PARAMETERS FOR HEALTH ASSESSMENT
• Length
• Glacier Area
• Percent Debris
• Percent Ice Exposed
• Accumalation Area Ratio
• Percent Slope
• Orientation
• Number Of Glaciers
• Glacierised Area,
• Total Ice Volume,
• Percent Glacierised Area.
Derivation of dimensions (length / width / area), altitude and
azimuth information of glacier features in GIS
Assigning of Ranks and Weights
CONCLUSIONS
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Total estimated glaciated area is 222,936 sq.km covered by 960 numbers
of glaciers. Nearly 60% (3136) of these glaciers occupy the part of
Himalaya spread over Indus, Shyok, Jhelum and Chenab river basins of
Jammu and Kashmir state.
which cover a total Glacier cover area of 9,310 km2.
The glaciers oriented in NW direction dominate (48.28% number and
39.01% area) followed by SE direction (31.03% number and 35.96% area)
glaciers.
The glacier ice volume estimated is 64.822 km3. (As per Muller1970)
The glaciers are dirty due to higher percentage ( 26.3%) of Ablation-debris
cover area as compared to Ablation-ice exposed area (14.5%)
The glaciers are relatively stable due to higher mean AAR (>59)
Size distribution:1-5 km2 range 170 number of glaciers
Length distribution:2-5km length range having 114 nos of glaciers
Majority of glaciers are at higher altitude of 4300-5600 m absl.
Parameters For Health Assessment studied are Length, Are Percent
debris, Percent Ice Exposed, Accumulation Area Ratio,Percent Slope,
Orientation, Elevation
Glacier Health Assessment based on Remote Sensing and GIS using
multi-parameter approach through ranking and weighted analysis is
possible.
REFERENCES
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
A.K. Sharma*, S.K. Singh, A.V. Kulkarni+ and Ajai,Space Applications Centre (ISRO),
Ahmedabad – 380 015, India.
Ajai and 53 others (2011). Snow and Glaciers of the Himalayas. Space ApplicationsCentre
Sati, Vishwambhar Prasad. 2004. Uttaranchal: Dilemma of Plenties and Scarsities,
published by Mittal Publications, New Delhi, www.vedamsbooks.com/38930
Anonymous, 1990. Watershed Atlas of India, All India Soil and Land use Survey,
Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, New Delhi.
Anonymous, 1996. Glacier Atlas of Satluj, Beas and Spiti region at 1: 50k scale using IRS
1A / 1B (1992-93) data - By SAC, Ahmedabad, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology,
Dehradun and HP Remote Sensing Cell, Shimla.
Anonymous, 2000. NRIS Node design and standards NNRMS, ISRO HQ, Bangalore.
Anonymous, 2001 Census of India 2001
Anonymous, 2003. Snow and glacial studies, Project Proposal
Anonymous, 2005. Snow and glacial studies, Project Execution Document
Anonymous, 2005. NNRMS standards, DOS ISRO, Bangalore.
Bahuguna, I.M., Kulkarni, A.V., Arrawatia, M.L. and Shresta, D.G., 2001. Glacier Atlas of
Tista basin (Sikkim Himalayas), SAC/RESA/MWRG-GLI/SN/16/2001
Census, 2001, Primary Census abstract, Census of India, 2001.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Chaohai, L. and Sharma, C.K., 1988. Report on first expedition to glaciers in the Pumqu
(Arun) and Poiqu (bhote-Sun Kosi) river basins, Xi-Zang (Tibet). China. Science Press,
Bejing, China, p. 192
Dozier J., 1984. Snow reflectance from Landsat-4 Thematic Mapper. IEEE Transactions
on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, GE-22(3), pp. 323-328.
Muller F., 1970, Inventory of glacdiers in the mount everest region, in perennial ice and
snow masses – a guide for compilation and assemblage of data for world inventory.
UNESCO Technical papers.
Hall, D.K., Chang, A.T.C. and Siddalingaiah, H., 1988, Reflectance of glaciers as
calculated using Landsat-5 Thematic mapper data. Remote Sensing of Environment, 25,
pp. 311-321.
Kulkarni, A.V., Philip, G., Thakur, V.C., Sood, R.K., Randhawa, S.S. and Ram Chandra,
1999. Glacier inventory of Satluj basin using remote sensing technique, Himalayan
Geology, 20(2), pp 45-52.
Kulkarni, A.V., Rathore, B.P., Randhawa, S.S., Sood, R.K. and Kaul, Manoj, 2005, Glacier
Atlas of Chenab basin.
Kulkarni, A.V. and Buch, A.M., 1991, Glacier Atlas of Indian Himalaya, SAC/RSAGMWRD/SN/05/91, 62 p.
www.glims web site Global Land Ice Measurements from Space.
ACKNOWLEGMENTS
Thanking Prof.Ajai, Space Applications Centre, Ahemdabad ,for
granting permission to carry out my under his guidance.
I also wish to express my sincere thanks to Prof. Sarvesh Palria, HOD,
Department of Remote Sensing & Geoinformatics for encouraging
me for this work.And also thanking Dr.A.S.Rajawat,Space Applications
Centre(SAC),Ahmedabad.
SWATI TAK
THANK YOU