Himalayan Geology, Vol. 45 (1), 2024, pp. 75-88, Printed in India
Rapid expansion of proglacial lake and deglaciation of host glacier in Kishtwar Himalaya, Jammu and Kashmir, India, from 1993 to 2020
SHASHI KANT RAI1, RAKESH SAHU2, SUNIL DHAR1*, NAVEEN TRIPATHI3, ARUN KUMAR4
1Department of Environmental Sciences, Central University Jammu, Rahya-Suchani, (Bagla) Samba, 181143, J&K (UT), India
2Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Chandigarh University, Mohali, 140413, India
3Space Applications Centre, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
4Discipline of Geology, School of Sciences, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
*Email (Corresponding author): sunildhar99@yahoo.com; sunil.evs@cujammu.ac.in
Abstract: In the recent past the Himalayan terrain has witnessed several instances of glacier lake outburst flooding due to global warming. This peculiar phenomenon necessitates importance to investigate the connection between rising temperature, glacier melting, lake formation, and alterations to lake sizes. A large section of the population in the downstream glaciated regions of Himalaya is exposed to potential hazards arising from such glacial lakes. The current study aims to investigate the rapid expansion and development of proglacial lake in the Warwan Sub-basin of Chenab River in Kishtwar Himalaya of Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), India. In the present study, dimensional changes of proglacial lake and deglaciation of its host glacier using coarse-resolution Landsat images (TM; 30m, ETM+; 15m, OLI; 15m) and high-resolution Resource-Sat 2 LISS IV (5.8m) satellite data were carried out. To estimate spatial ice thickness distribution of glacier, GlabTop2 model and high-resolution Digital Elevation Model were used. Temporal analysis of satellite data reveals total deglaciation of host glacier as 0.615 km2 (13.16%) and proglacial lake area expansion of 0.228 ± 0.019 km2 (350%) between 1993 and 2020. Observation also reveals that the modelled ice thickness varied from 17.28 m to 170.68 m, with a mean thickness of 60 ± 6 m. It has revealed that large crevasses near snout and intense calving has contributed to the exponential expansion of proglacial lake, resulting in significant terminus change and deglaciation of host glacier. Periodic enlargement of the lake and its associated consequences can pose a potential threat to the various infrastructure established in the downstream region.
Keywords: Glacier recession, Proglacial Lake, GlabTop2, Glacier Ice thickness, Kishtwar Himalaya
