Climate Change from Himalayan Glaciers’ Perspective—Case Studies from India

Abstract

Glaciers are the most visible indicator of climatic change and are the store houses of fresh water as well as hydropower energy. The study of glaciers is important to understand climate change and the societal impacts of glacier response to climate change in terms of water resource management. Mass balance, length, area, equilibrium line altitude (ELA) and accumulation area ratio (AAR) are some of the parameters, which are directly or indirectly related to climatic conditions. This study attempts to infer the climatic conditions of Indian Himalaya (west to east) by analysing the glacier responses. Available mass balance, snout positions and ELA/AAR of three glaciers viz. Chhota Shigri, Dokriani and Changme Khangpu glaciers have been considered as representatives of the three parts of Himalaya i.e. Western, Central and Eastern Himalaya respectively.