Integrated approach for snowmelt run-off estimation using temperature index model, remote sensing and GIS

Abstract

The snow and glacier melt run-off is one of the most important sources of freshwater for the perennial Himalayan rivers. The water from these rivers sustains billions of people in South Asia, especially during lean season. The study has been done to integrate temporal snow cover area (SCA) and digital elevation model (DEM) derived from satellite remote sensing data with Geographic Information System (GIS) and finally into temperature index-based snowmelt run-off estimation model. The study area for snowmelt run-off estimation is part of head reach sub-basins of Ganga river, i.e. Alakhnanda and Bhagirathi river basins up to Joshimath and Uttarkashi respectively. The temporal SCA (2002-07 for Bhagirathi river and 2000, 2008 for Alakhnanda river) was derived from remote sensing data and DEM was used to find elevation zones and aspect maps. Snowmelt run-off model (SRM) is a temperature index-based snowmelt run-off simulation model, which has been used in this study for simulating snowmelt run-off. The daily hydro meteorological data from India Meteorological Department and Central Water Commission were used for estimating snowmelt. Overall accuracy of SRM for Alakhnanda river in terms of coefficient of correlation (R 2 ) is 0.84-0.90 for years 2000 and 2008, and 0.74-0.84 in Bhagirathi river for 2002-2007.