scholarly journals Glacier changes in the Koshi River basin, central Himalaya, from 1976 to 2009, derived from remote-sensing imagery

2014 ◽  
Vol 55 (66) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donghui Shangguan ◽  
Shiyin Liu ◽  
Yongjian Ding ◽  
Lizong Wu ◽  
Wei Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Temperature Increase ◽  
Central Himalaya ◽  
Glacier Area ◽  
Area Loss ◽  
Glacier Changes ◽  
Precipitation Decrease ◽  
Koshi River Basin ◽  
The Himalaya

AbstractWe use remote-sensing and GIS technologies to monitor glacier changes in the Koshi River basin, central Himalaya. The results indicate that in 2009 there were 2061 glaciers in this region, with a total area of 3225 ±90.3 km2. This glacier population is divided into 1290 glaciers, with a total area of 1961 ±54.9 km2, on the north side of the Himalaya (NSH), and 771 glaciers, with a total area of 1264 ± 35.4 km2, on the south side of the Himalaya (SSH). From 1976 to 2009, glacier area in the basin decreased by about 19±5.6% (0.59±0.17%a–1). Glacier reduction was slightly faster on SSH (20.3 ±5.6%) than on NSH (18.8±5.6%). The maximum contribution to glacier area loss came from glaciers within the 1-5 km2 area interval, which accounted for 32% of total area loss between 1976 and 2009. The number of glaciers in the Koshi River catchment decreased by 145 between 1976 and 2009. Glacier area on SSH decreased at a rate of 6.2 ±3.2% (0.68 ±0.36% a–1), faster than on NSH, where the rate was 2.5 ±3.2% (0.27±0.36% a–1) during 2000-09. Based on records from Tingri weather station, we infer that temperature increase and precipitation decrease were the main causes of glacier thinning and retreat during the 1976-2000 period. Glacier retreat during the 2000-09 period appears to be controlled by temperature increase, since precipitation increase over this period did not offset ice losses to surface melting.

scholarly journals How size and trigger matter: analyzing rainfall- and earthquake-triggered landslide inventories and their causal relation in the Koshi River basin, Central Himalaya

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianqiang Zhang ◽  
Cees J. van Westen ◽  
Hakan Tanyas ◽  
Olga Mavrouli ◽  
Yonggang Ge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Causal Relation ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Slope Angle ◽  
Central Himalaya ◽  
Triggering Mechanism ◽  
Susceptibility Maps ◽  
Triggering Mechanisms ◽  
Koshi River Basin ◽  
Frequency Area

Abstract. Inventories of landslides caused by different triggering mechanisms, such as earthquakes, extreme rainfall events or anthropogenic activities, may show different characteristics in terms of distribution, causal factors and frequency-area relationships. This research aims to study such differences in landslide inventories, and the effect they have on landslide susceptibility assessment. Koshi River basin in central Himalaya was taken as study area. Detailed landslide inventories were generated based on visual interpretation of remote sensing images and field investigation for different time periods and triggering mechanisms. Maps and images from the period 1992 to 2015 were used to map 5,858 rainfall-triggered landslides and after the 2015 April 25 Gorkha earthquake, an additional 1138 co-seismic landslides were mapped. A set of topographic, geological and land cover factors were employed to analyze their correlation with different types and sizes of landslides. The results show that the frequency – area distributions of rainfall and earthquake–triggered landslides varied considerably, with the former one having a larger frequency of small landslides. Also topographic factors varied considerably for the two triggering events, with both elevation and slope angle showing significantly different patterns for earthquake-triggered and rainfall-triggered landslides. Landslides were classified into two size groups, in combination with the main triggering mechanism (rainfall- or earthquake-triggered). Susceptibility maps for different combinations of landslide size and triggering mechanism were generated using logistic regression analysis. The different triggers and sizes of landslide data were used to validate the models. The results showed that susceptible areas for small and large size rainfall- and earthquake-triggered landslides differed substantially, while susceptibility maps for different size of earthquake-triggered landslides were similar.

scholarly journals Inventory of Glaciers in the Shaksgam Valley of the Chinese Karakoram Mountains, 1970–2014

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haireti Alifu ◽  
Yukiko Hirabayashi ◽  
Brian Johnson ◽  
Jean-Francois Vuillaume ◽  
Akihiko Kondoh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Thematic Mapper ◽  
Western China ◽  
Glacier Area ◽  
Glacier Inventory ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Glacier Terminus ◽  
Glacier Changes ◽  
Multi Temporal ◽  
Karakoram Mountains

The Shaksgam Valley, located on the north side of the Karakoram Mountains of western China, is situated in the transition zone between the Indian monsoon system and dry arid climate zones. Previous studies have reported abnormal behaviors of the glaciers in this region compared to the global trend of glacier retreat, so the region is of special interest for glacier-climatological studies. For this purpose, long-term monitoring of glaciers in this region is necessary to obtain a better understanding of the relationships between glacier changes and local climate variations. However, accurate historical and up-to-date glacier inventory data for the region are currently unavailable. For this reason, this study conducted glacier inventories for the years 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2014 (i.e., a ~10-year interval) using multi-temporal remote sensing imagery. The remote sensing data used included Corona KH-4A/B (1965–1971), Hexagon KH-9 (1980), Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) (1990/1993), Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) (2000/2001), and Landsat Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) (2014/2015) multispectral satellite images, as well as digital elevation models (DEMs) from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), DEMs generated from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) images (2005–2014), and Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) World 3D 30 m mesh (AW3D30). In the year 2014, a total of 173 glaciers (including 121 debris-free glaciers) (>0.5 km2), covering an area of 1478 ± 34 km2 (area of debris-free glaciers: 295 ± 7 km2) were mapped. The multi-temporal glacier inventory results indicated that total glacier area change between 1970–2014 was not significant. However, individual glacier changes showed significant variability. Comparisons of the changes in glacier terminus position indicated that 55 (32 debris-covered) glaciers experienced significant advances (~40–1400 m) between 1970–2014, and 74 (32 debris-covered) glaciers experienced significant advances (~40–1400 m) during the most recent period (2000–2014). Notably, small glaciers showed higher sensitivity to climate changes, and the glaciers located in the western part of the study site were exhibiting glacier area expansion compared to other parts of the Shaksgam Valley. Finally, regression analyses indicated that topographic parameters were not the main driver of glacier changes. On the contrary, local climate variability could explain the complex behavior of glaciers in this region.

scholarly journals Glacier changes in the Karlik Shan, eastern Tien Shan, during 1971/72–2001/02

2009 ◽  
Vol 50 (53) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yetang Wang ◽  
Shugui Hou ◽  
Yaping Liu
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Temperature Increase ◽  
Satellite Images ◽  
Summer Temperature ◽  
Tien Shan ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Topographic Maps ◽  
Glacier Area ◽  
Upward Trend ◽  
Glacier Changes

AbstractGlacier changes in the Karlik Shan, eastern Tien Shan, from 1971/72 to 2001/02 were monitored in this study. Topographic maps of 1 : 50 000 scale based on aerial photographs from 1971/72 and satellite images (Landsat TM, Landsat ETM+ and ASTER) from 1992, 2001 and 2002 were used to map glacier extent through a process of manual digitizing. The total glacier area decreased by 5.3% from 1971/72 to 2001/02. The rate of glacier area shrinkage was 0.13% a–1 between 1972 and 1992, but it was 0.27% a–1 from 1992 to 2001/02, suggesting accelerated glacier retreat in recent decades. Glacier changes in the region are a response to summer temperature increase. Annual precipitation also showed an upward trend, but this could not compensate for the mass loss due to ablation.

scholarly journals Glacier area changes in the Pumqu river basin, Tibetan Plateau, between the 1970s and 2001

2005 ◽  
Vol 51 (175) ◽  
pp. 607-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Jin ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Tao Che ◽  
Lizong Wu ◽  
Pradeep Mool
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Glacier Area ◽  
Remote Sensing Images ◽  
Glacier Inventory ◽  
The Past ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Elevation Model

AbstractGlacier area changes in the Pumqu river basin, Tibetan Plateau, between the 1970s and 2001 are analyzed, based on the Chinese Glacier Inventory and ASTER images. A new glacier inventory is obtained by visually interpreting the remote-sensing images and the digital elevation model. By comparing the two inventories, glacier area changes over the past 30 years are revealed. The results show that the area loss is about 9.0% and the shrinkage trend continues according to the meteorological data.

scholarly journals Glacier changes in the Garhwal Himalaya, India, from 1968 to 2006 based on remote sensing

2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (203) ◽  
pp. 543-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rakesh Bhambri ◽  
Tobias Bolch ◽  
Ravinder Kumar Chaujar ◽  
Subhash Chandra Kulshreshtha
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Satellite Images ◽  
Thermal Emission ◽  
Garhwal Himalaya ◽  
Glacier Area ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Glacier Changes ◽  
Climate Interactions ◽  
Recession Rates

AbstractGlacier outlines are mapped for the upper Bhagirathi and Saraswati/Alaknanda basins of the Garhwal Himalaya using Corona and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite images acquired in 1968 and 2006, respectively. A subset of glaciers was also mapped using Landsat TM images acquired in 1990. Glacier area decreased from 599.9 ± 15.6 km2(1968) to 572.5 ± 18.0 km2(2006), a loss of 4.6 ± 2.8%. Glaciers in the Saraswati/Alaknanda basin and upper Bhagirathi basin lost 18.4 ± 9.0 km2(5.7 ± 2.7%) and 9.0 ± 7.7 km2(3.3 ± 2.8%), respectively, from 1968 to 2006. Garhwal Himalayan glacier retreat rates are lower than previously reported. More recently (1990–2006), recession rates have increased. The number of glaciers in the study region increased from 82 in 1968 to 88 in 2006 due to fragmentation of glaciers. Smaller glaciers (<1 km2) lost 19.4 ± 2.5% (0.51 ± 0.07% a−1) of their ice, significantly more than for larger glaciers (>50 km2) which lost 2.8 ± 2.7% (0.074 ± 0.071 % a−1). From 1968 to 2006, the debris-covered glacier area increased by 17.8 ± 3.1% (0.46 ± 0.08% a−1) in the Saraswati/Alaknanda basin and 11.8 ± 3.0% (0.31 ± 0.08% a−1) in the upper Bhagirathi basin. Climate records from Mukhim (∼1900 m a.s.l.) and Bhojbasa (∼3780 m a.s.l.) meteorological stations were used to analyze climate conditions and trends, but the data are too limited to make firm conclusions regarding glacier–climate interactions.

Characteristics of landslide in Koshi River Basin, Central Himalaya

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1711-1722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-qiang Zhang ◽  
Rong-kun Liu ◽  
Wei Deng ◽  
Narendra Raj Khanal ◽  
Deo Raj Gurung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Central Himalaya ◽  
Koshi River Basin

scholarly journals Spatial patterns in glacier characteristics and area changes from 1962 to 2006 in the Kanchenjunga–Sikkim area, eastern Himalaya

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 505-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. E. Racoviteanu ◽  
Y. Arnaud ◽  
M. W. Williams ◽  
W. F. Manley
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Thermal Emission ◽  
Eastern Himalaya ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Glacier Area ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Area Loss ◽  
Debris Cover ◽  
Landsat 7 ◽  
The Himalaya

Abstract. This study investigates spatial patterns in glacier characteristics and area changes at decadal scales in the eastern Himalaya – Nepal (Arun and Tamor basins), India (Teesta basin in Sikkim) and parts of China and Bhutan – based on various satellite imagery: Corona KH4 imagery, Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Radiometer (ASTER), QuickBird (QB) and WorldView-2 (WV2). We compare and contrast glacier surface area changes over the period of 1962–2000/2006 and their dependency on glacier topography (elevation, slope, aspect, percent debris cover) and climate (solar radiation, precipitation) on the eastern side of the topographic barrier (Sikkim) versus the western side (Nepal). Glacier mapping from 2000 Landsat ASTER yielded 1463 ± 88 km2 total glacierized area, of which 569 ± 34 km2 was located in Sikkim and 488 ± 29 km2 in eastern Nepal. Supraglacial debris covered 11% of the total glacierized area, and supraglacial lakes covered about 5.8% of the debris-covered glacier area alone. Glacier area loss (1962 to 2000) was 0.50 ± 0.2% yr−1, with little difference between Nepal (0.53 ± 0.2% yr−1) and Sikkim (0.44 ± 0.2% yr−1. Glacier area change was controlled mostly by glacier area, elevation, altitudinal range and, to a smaller extent, slope and aspect. In the Kanchenjunga–Sikkim area, we estimated a glacier area loss of 0.23 ± 0.08% yr−1 from 1962 to 2006 based on high-resolution imagery. On a glacier-by-glacier basis, clean glaciers exhibit more area loss on average from 1962 to 2006 (34%) compared to debris-covered glaciers (22%). Glaciers in this region of the Himalaya are shrinking at similar rates to those reported for the last decades in other parts of the Himalaya, but individual glacier rates of change vary across the study area with respect to local topography, percent debris cover or glacier elevations.

Analysis of Ecological Elements of Comprehensive Harnessing in Tarim River Basin Using Remote Sensing

2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 604
Author(s):  
Kelong TAN ◽  
Xiaofeng WANG ◽  
Huijun GAO ◽  
Weiming CHENG
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Tarim River ◽  
Tarim River Basin
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