Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Title : | Estimating Mass balance of glaciers in the Bhaga Basin, Western Himalaya using GPR and Remote Sensing methods |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences |
Focus area : | Cryosphere |
Principal Investigator : | Dr.Raaj Ramasanakaran, IIT Bombay, Maharashtra Powai |
Timeline Start Year : | 2019 |
Timeline End Year : | 2023 |
Details
Executive Summary : | The proposed research work aims to calculate total glacier mass balance of two glaciers namely, Patsio and Panchi II in Bhaga basin in the Indian western Himalayas by using Field based studies (GPR, DGPS and Glaciological method) and Remote sensing methods (DEMs of Difference). The mass balance study to be carried out in this project will provide a broader and bigger picture of the effect of Climate change on Indian western Himalayan Glaciers. In this study, few hypothesis would be tested like; i) Is the total gloacier mass balance for debris free (Patsio) and debris covered (Panchi II) glacier using GPR and other standard methods are uniform if it is then whether we can establish a correlation with surface MB estimations that are derived from other mehtods; ii) Do the mass change estimates derive from field and high resolution with high accuracy DEM based methods are correlatable to the accepted levels of accuracy in Himalayan Glaciers; iii) What is th effect of meltwater forcing on glacier ice velocity; and iv) Does surface melt contribution have effect on glacier sliding in Indian Himalalayan. For receding glaciers, the study would be helpful in timely planning and management of water resource in downstream areas before sudden discharge. |
Total Budget (INR): | 70,60,920 |
Organizations involved