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<p>The glaciers in the Himalayas are rapidly melting. Risks in the downstream areas are increased by unstable glacial lakes. Lack of long-term monitoring in Sikkim emphasizes the necessity of routine assessments of glacier thinning using remote sensing based analysis to evaluate the related hazards. This study presents a ten-year evaluation (2014–2024) of glacier dynamics in the Sikkim Himalayas, utilizing Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) techniques to analyze surface displacement and related hazards across ten hydrological years (HYs). Forty-two glaciers were examined, revealing widespread thinning, with annual Line-of-Sight (LOS) displacement rates ranging from 12&#xa0;cm/year to 55&#xa0;cm/year, and an average rate of 19&#xa0;cm/year. The greatest surface lowering has been observed in western Sikkim, particularly at lower-elevation glacier termini, where increased ablation occurs. Notably, Zemu, South Lhonak, and Pauhunri glaciers experienced significant mass loss, with South Lhonak Glacier contributing to the devastating GLOF event in October 2023. Surge-like signals in Changsang and Talung glaciers indicate complex flow behaviour and higher hazard potential. Glacier responses varied by morphology, with debris-covered glaciers thinning more slowly than clean-ice ones due to surface debris acting as insulation. Climate data from Gangtok over the same period revealed substantial interannual variability in temperature and precipitation, which directly impacted glacier mass balance. The study highlights the increasing vulnerability of Sikkim’s glaciers to climate stressors and the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in unstable regions. Better hazard prediction and adaptive planning depend on integrating climatic data with InSAR-based glacier monitoring. In this environmentally sensitive and disaster-prone Himalayan region, these findings support the advancement of SDGs 6 (clean water), 11 (sustainable communities), and 13 (climate action).</p>

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Decadal glacier displacement and emerging hazards in Sikkim, Eastern Himalaya from InSAR observations (2014–2024)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月23日

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  • Sivaranjani Sivalingam,
  • Saravanan Subbarayan,
  • Anjeet Kumar,
  • Vikramaditya Agrawal

摘要

The glaciers in the Himalayas are rapidly melting. Risks in the downstream areas are increased by unstable glacial lakes. Lack of long-term monitoring in Sikkim emphasizes the necessity of routine assessments of glacier thinning using remote sensing based analysis to evaluate the related hazards. This study presents a ten-year evaluation (2014–2024) of glacier dynamics in the Sikkim Himalayas, utilizing Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) techniques to analyze surface displacement and related hazards across ten hydrological years (HYs). Forty-two glaciers were examined, revealing widespread thinning, with annual Line-of-Sight (LOS) displacement rates ranging from 12 cm/year to 55 cm/year, and an average rate of 19 cm/year. The greatest surface lowering has been observed in western Sikkim, particularly at lower-elevation glacier termini, where increased ablation occurs. Notably, Zemu, South Lhonak, and Pauhunri glaciers experienced significant mass loss, with South Lhonak Glacier contributing to the devastating GLOF event in October 2023. Surge-like signals in Changsang and Talung glaciers indicate complex flow behaviour and higher hazard potential. Glacier responses varied by morphology, with debris-covered glaciers thinning more slowly than clean-ice ones due to surface debris acting as insulation. Climate data from Gangtok over the same period revealed substantial interannual variability in temperature and precipitation, which directly impacted glacier mass balance. The study highlights the increasing vulnerability of Sikkim’s glaciers to climate stressors and the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in unstable regions. Better hazard prediction and adaptive planning depend on integrating climatic data with InSAR-based glacier monitoring. In this environmentally sensitive and disaster-prone Himalayan region, these findings support the advancement of SDGs 6 (clean water), 11 (sustainable communities), and 13 (climate action).