Glacier Dynamics in Changme Khangpu Basin, Sikkim Himalaya, India, between 1975 and 2016
This study provides a high resolution glacier database in the Changme Khangpu Basin (CKB) using LANDSAT 8 (2014) and Sentinel-2A image (2016), mapping of 81 glaciers that cover a 75.78 ± 1.54 km<sup>2</sup> area. Composite maps of land surface temperature, slope and Normalized d...
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MDPI AG
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Geosciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/9/6/259 |
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| author | Manasi Debnath Milap Chand Sharma Hiambok Jones Syiemlieh |
| author_facet | Manasi Debnath Milap Chand Sharma Hiambok Jones Syiemlieh |
| author_sort | Manasi Debnath |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study provides a high resolution glacier database in the Changme Khangpu Basin (CKB) using LANDSAT 8 (2014) and Sentinel-2A image (2016), mapping of 81 glaciers that cover a 75.78 ± 1.54 km<sup>2</sup> area. Composite maps of land surface temperature, slope and Normalized differential Snow Index have been successfully utilized in delineating near accurate debris cover boundary of glaciers. The cumulative controlling parameters of aspect, elevation, slope, and debris cover have been assessed to evaluate the nature of glacier distribution and dynamics. The local topographic settings seem to have significantly determined the glacier distribution in the CKB. Almost 20% area erstwhile under glacier cover has been lost since 1975 at an average rate of −0.453 ± 0.001 km<sup>2</sup>a<sup>−1</sup>. The recent decade (2001−2016) has witnessed a higher rate of area shrinkage (−0.665 ± 0.243 km<sup>2</sup>a<sup>−1</sup>), compared to a relatively lower rate of recession (−0.170 ± 0.536 km<sup>2</sup>a<sup>−1</sup>) between 1988 and 2001. The lower rates of glacial recession can most likely be induced regionally due to relatively cooler decadal late summer temperatures and peak in the monsoon spell. Glaciers with western and north-western aspects showed more vulnerability to area loss than the rest of the aspects. Lower altitude glaciers have receded faster than ones perched up on higher elevations. The rate of glacier area recession has been nearly twice that on clean glaciers as compared to debris-covered glaciers in the CKB. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:17:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-14971944987249f9bbc47055f40e4de4 |
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| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T12:17:46Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
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| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-14971944987249f9bbc47055f40e4de42022-12-22T01:07:36ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632019-06-019625910.3390/geosciences9060259geosciences9060259Glacier Dynamics in Changme Khangpu Basin, Sikkim Himalaya, India, between 1975 and 2016Manasi Debnath0Milap Chand Sharma1Hiambok Jones Syiemlieh2Department of Geography, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya 793022, IndiaCentre for the Study of Regional Development, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, IndiaDepartment of Geography, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya 793022, IndiaThis study provides a high resolution glacier database in the Changme Khangpu Basin (CKB) using LANDSAT 8 (2014) and Sentinel-2A image (2016), mapping of 81 glaciers that cover a 75.78 ± 1.54 km<sup>2</sup> area. Composite maps of land surface temperature, slope and Normalized differential Snow Index have been successfully utilized in delineating near accurate debris cover boundary of glaciers. The cumulative controlling parameters of aspect, elevation, slope, and debris cover have been assessed to evaluate the nature of glacier distribution and dynamics. The local topographic settings seem to have significantly determined the glacier distribution in the CKB. Almost 20% area erstwhile under glacier cover has been lost since 1975 at an average rate of −0.453 ± 0.001 km<sup>2</sup>a<sup>−1</sup>. The recent decade (2001−2016) has witnessed a higher rate of area shrinkage (−0.665 ± 0.243 km<sup>2</sup>a<sup>−1</sup>), compared to a relatively lower rate of recession (−0.170 ± 0.536 km<sup>2</sup>a<sup>−1</sup>) between 1988 and 2001. The lower rates of glacial recession can most likely be induced regionally due to relatively cooler decadal late summer temperatures and peak in the monsoon spell. Glaciers with western and north-western aspects showed more vulnerability to area loss than the rest of the aspects. Lower altitude glaciers have receded faster than ones perched up on higher elevations. The rate of glacier area recession has been nearly twice that on clean glaciers as compared to debris-covered glaciers in the CKB.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/9/6/259glacierChangme KhangpuSentinel-2Asupraglacial debrisSikkim Himalaya |
| spellingShingle | Manasi Debnath Milap Chand Sharma Hiambok Jones Syiemlieh Glacier Dynamics in Changme Khangpu Basin, Sikkim Himalaya, India, between 1975 and 2016 Geosciences glacier Changme Khangpu Sentinel-2A supraglacial debris Sikkim Himalaya |
| title | Glacier Dynamics in Changme Khangpu Basin, Sikkim Himalaya, India, between 1975 and 2016 |
| title_full | Glacier Dynamics in Changme Khangpu Basin, Sikkim Himalaya, India, between 1975 and 2016 |
| title_fullStr | Glacier Dynamics in Changme Khangpu Basin, Sikkim Himalaya, India, between 1975 and 2016 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Glacier Dynamics in Changme Khangpu Basin, Sikkim Himalaya, India, between 1975 and 2016 |
| title_short | Glacier Dynamics in Changme Khangpu Basin, Sikkim Himalaya, India, between 1975 and 2016 |
| title_sort | glacier dynamics in changme khangpu basin sikkim himalaya india between 1975 and 2016 |
| topic | glacier Changme Khangpu Sentinel-2A supraglacial debris Sikkim Himalaya |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/9/6/259 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT manasidebnath glacierdynamicsinchangmekhangpubasinsikkimhimalayaindiabetween1975and2016 AT milapchandsharma glacierdynamicsinchangmekhangpubasinsikkimhimalayaindiabetween1975and2016 AT hiambokjonessyiemlieh glacierdynamicsinchangmekhangpubasinsikkimhimalayaindiabetween1975and2016 |