Evaluating snow cover changing trends of the Western Indian Himalaya

Abstract

The extent of snow cover in the Western Indian Himalaya determines the fluctuations in river discharge during the summer months and affects the water supply for hydroelectric generation, agriculture and related socio-economic systems which further affect the livelihood of the population in the area and downstream. Despite this importance, there is a lack of information about this region primarily due to the complexities of the processes involved in snow hydrology and the lack of snow cover and depth data in the high elevation areas. Periodical monitoring of the snow cover area (SCA) is an indispensable demand for short-term forecasts of the daily river flows and seasonal forecasts of run-off volume. Therefore, this study is an attempt to assess the annual, seasonal and monthly variations in the extent of snow cover of the Western Indian Himalaya. SCA was estimated using the MODIS/Terra Snow Cover 8-Day L3 Global 500 m (MOD10A2) data for the period 2000–2015. Monthly composite maps of SCA were prepared from 8 days composite snow cover area maps for the Kashmir, Himachal and Kumaon Himalaya. The study found a reduction in snow cover in the Indian Western Himalaya. The inter-seasonal variation in SCA was also observed in the study area. The study found an inter-regional variations in the extent of snow cover in the Western Indian Himalaya during the period of analysis. Emerging changes in the extent of snow cover would influence the availability of water in the near future.