Abstract
Abstract. Surface energy balance of a glacier governs the physical processes taking place at the surface-atmosphere interface and connects ice ablation/accumulation to climate variability. To understand the response of Himalayan glaciers to climatic variability, a study was taken to formulate energy balance equation on two of the Indian Himalayan glaciers, one each from Indus and Ganga basins, which have different climatic and physiographic conditions. Study was carried out over Gangotri glacier (Ganga basin) and Chhota Shigri(CS) glacier from Chandra sub-basin (Indus basin). Gangotri glacier is one of the largest glaciers in the central Himalaya located in Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand, India. Chhota Shigri glacier of Chandra sub-basin lies in Lahaul and Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh. Energy balance components have been computed using inputs derived from satellite data, AWS (Automatic Weather Station) data and field measurements. Different components of energy balance computed are net radiation (includes net shortwave and net longwave radiation), sensible heat flux and latent heat flux. In this study comparison has been made for each of the above energy balance components as well as total energy for the above glaciers for the months of November and December, 2011. It is observed that net radiation in Gangotri glacier is higher by approximately 43 % in comparison to Chhota Shigri glacier; Sensible heat flux is lesser by 77 %; Latent heat flux is higher by 66 % in the month of November 2011. Comparison in the month of December shows that net radiation in Gangotri glacier is higher by approximately 22 % from Chhota Shigri glacier; Sensible heat flux is lesser by 90 %; Latent heat flux is higher by 3 %.Total energy received at the glacier surface and contributes for melting is estimated to be around 32 % higher in Gangotri than Chhota Shigri glacier in November, 2011 and 1.25 % higher in December, 2011. The overall results contribute towards higher melting rate in November and December, 2011 in Gangotri than Chhota Shigri glacier.
Highlights
Glaciers and snow cover play a major role in the dynamics of the Earth with respect to both climate and hydrology
Total energy available for melting of the glaciers has been computed by taking the algebric sum of above mentioned energy fluxes
Total heat flux on Gangotri glacier is higher than Chhota Shigri because net radiation contribution and latent heat contribution is higher on Gangotri
Summary
Glaciers and snow cover play a major role in the dynamics of the Earth with respect to both climate and hydrology. Understanding of snow and ice surface melt rates is important for the proper estimation and management of water resources [Hamlet and Lettenmaier, 1999; Marsh 1999], including the prediction of seasonal or short-term discharge, for studies of glacier hydrology and dynamics [Fountain and Walder, 1998] and of glacier mass balance [Arnold et al, 1996; Richards et al, 1996]. This approach requires information on radiation energy, sensible and latent heat flux These models more properly describe the physical processes at the glacier surface and provides reliable estimate of ablation and melt rates. To understand the response of Himalayan glaciers to climatic variability, a study was taken to compare energy balance on two of the Himalayan glaciers, one each from Indus and Ganga basins, which have different climatic and physiographic conditions
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