The snow cover of the fragile and youngest folded mountain chain known to have the highest water tower on the earth, viz., the Himalayan is decreasing steadily due to worldwide warming. There is a necessary study the pattern of spatiotemporal dynamics in different Himalayan watersheds. The present objective and results of the study delivers a pattern and rate of spatiotemporal change of an Uttarakhand Himalayan watershed (ex. Gori Ganga) which is a major tributary river as well as watershed of the Kali River (Sharda River) that makes a boundary between India and Nepal. Present research analysed the NDSI for showing the snow cover delineation area. The study refers to mapping and monitoring the dynamics of snow cover from 1990 to 2022 and rapidly developed glacially impounded lakes over the study area. The study will help to determine snow and glacial lakes inventory. It is kinetic change rate and also useful to international level studies on SCCD and the risk of GLOF. The study reveals that in 1990, about 30.97% of the Gori Ganga basin was under snow cover, while in 2022, only 10.99% was found. If this depletion rate of snow cover continues, the study advocates that there shall be a finished snow cover area in the Gori Ganga basin before 2040. Therefore, there is an urgent need for mitigation of the depletion of snow cover area rapidly for the long-term survival of Himalayan glacial-fed rivers.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Monitoring Snow Cover and Glacially Impounded Lakes in the Uttarakhand Himalayan Watershed Gori Ganga by Using Geospatial Applications

  • D. S. Parihar

摘要

The snow cover of the fragile and youngest folded mountain chain known to have the highest water tower on the earth, viz., the Himalayan is decreasing steadily due to worldwide warming. There is a necessary study the pattern of spatiotemporal dynamics in different Himalayan watersheds. The present objective and results of the study delivers a pattern and rate of spatiotemporal change of an Uttarakhand Himalayan watershed (ex. Gori Ganga) which is a major tributary river as well as watershed of the Kali River (Sharda River) that makes a boundary between India and Nepal. Present research analysed the NDSI for showing the snow cover delineation area. The study refers to mapping and monitoring the dynamics of snow cover from 1990 to 2022 and rapidly developed glacially impounded lakes over the study area. The study will help to determine snow and glacial lakes inventory. It is kinetic change rate and also useful to international level studies on SCCD and the risk of GLOF. The study reveals that in 1990, about 30.97% of the Gori Ganga basin was under snow cover, while in 2022, only 10.99% was found. If this depletion rate of snow cover continues, the study advocates that there shall be a finished snow cover area in the Gori Ganga basin before 2040. Therefore, there is an urgent need for mitigation of the depletion of snow cover area rapidly for the long-term survival of Himalayan glacial-fed rivers.