Monitoring and assessment of changes in Glaciers, Snow, and Glacio-hydrology in the Hindu Kush - Himalaya International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development Kathmandu, Nepal The 3rd Third Pole Environment (TPE) Workshop Reykjavik, Iceland Aug. 29th Sept. 1st, 2011 Pradeep Mool International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Changing Glacier Environment ISRO:75% of Himalayan glaciers retreating (ToI, 16 May 2011) Fast retreating Gangapurna glacier at the northern slope of Annapurna Range, Manang Lake and Manang Village, Nepal 1957 Tony Hagen 2010 Nabin Baral, ICIMOD Rothlishberger, 1980 Nabin Baral, 2007
Melting of Glaciers in Himalaya and formation of glacial lakes China Poiqu Basin Gangxi Co lake at the tongue of Glacier 50191C0009 in 1987 Lumu Chimi lake at the tongue of Glacier 50191B0029 in 1987 Nepal 153 glaciers 244 km2 in 1988 232 km2 in 2000 5% loss in 12yrs. Glaciers and glacial lakes in Poiqu Basin (Source: Mool et.al. 2004)
Comprehensive report on glacial lakes and GLOF of the HKH region http://books.icimod.org/demo/index.php/downloads/pd/692 Ives, JD; Shrestha, RB; Mool, PK (2010) Formation of glacial lakes in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas and GLOF risk assessment. Kathmandu: ICIMOD Comprehensive report on glacial lakes and GLOF of Nepal http://www.icimod.org/publications/index.php/search/publication/750 http://www.icimod.org/dvds/201104_glof/ ICIMOD (2011) Glacial lakes and glacial lake outburst floods in Nepal. Kathmandu: ICIMOD
Data gap in the HKH region Himalayas: A blank spot in IPCC AR4
Glacier No.1 Urumqi, Tien Shan, China 43 07' N 86 48 E; 3800-4200 m asl Longest recorded glacier mass balance monitoring in ICIMOD RMCs 1962 1988 1993 1996 2001 2005 Morphological changes of Urumqi Glacier No. 1 in the years 1962, 1988, 1993,1996, 2001 and 2005. Source: Zhongqin et al., 2008 1962 1994 (a) Based on topographic map in 1962; (b) Based on terrestrial phograpmmetry map in 1994 ; Source: Shi Yafeng et.al. 2008, Glaciers and related environments in China Name Lat (N) Long (E) Elevation Length Area Monitoring Institute Observations (m) (km) (km sq) Dates Glacier No.1 43.083 86.817 3800 420 0 2 1.68 1959-1967; CAREERI mass balance, climate, hydrology, velocity 1980-
Glacier Mass Balance Study Areas in HKH (India, China and Nepal) Fragmented, uncoordinated and generally very short term measurement series Glacier z-max [m a.s.l.] Area [km 2 ] Record years (#) Changmekhan (India) 5300 4.5 1981 1986 (6) Dunagiri (India) 5150 2.56 1986 1990 (5) Shaune Garang (India) 5360 4.94 1982 1990 (9) Gor Garang (India) 2 1977 1984 (8) Tipra Bank (India) 5730 7 1986 1988 (3) Neh Nar (India) 4925 1.7 1980 1984 (5) Kolahoi (India) 5000 11.9 1984 (1) Shishram (India) 4900 9.9 1984 (1) Dokriani Glacier (India) 7 1993 2000 (6) Chhota Shigri (India) 6263 15.7 2003 2006 (4) Langtang (Nepal) 7000 74.8 1987 1997 (11) Rika Samba (Nepal) 1 1999 (1) AX010 (Nepal) 5360 0.568 1996 1999 (4) Meikuang (China) 5520 1.1 1989 1998 (9) Chongce i.c. (China) 6374 16.4 1987 (1) Xiaodongkemadi (China) 5926 1,767 1989 1998 (10) Dyurgerov & Meier (2005) - INSTAAR 58; Wagnon et al. (2007) J.Glac. 53(183) Kaser, G; Innsbruck University, Climate & Cryosphere; 2009 June 08 Tromsø, Norway
No of Stations Under-representation representation of meteorological observation in the high Himalayas 600 521 500 400 300 200 100 0 231 98 64 35 2 0 1 <1 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 7-8 Elevation, km 952 met. stations
1 2 3 Glacier Study Areas, China Name Lat (N) Long elevations length area ELA monitoring institute Station name / observations (E) (m) (km) (km sq) (m) times Zhadang Nam Co Monitoring and Research Glacier 30.476 90.645 5515 6090 2.5 1.98 60242005- TPR Station for Multisphere Zepu Glacier Southeast Tibet Observation and Research Station for the Alpine 30.283 95.250 3420 6349 19.2 65.8 46832004- TPR Environment Muztagh 3 Muztagh Ata Station for Westerly Glaciers 38.233 75.050 7546 54002008- TPR Environment Observation and Research Hailuogou Gongga Alpine Ecosystem Observation Glacier and Research Station: 1990-1998; 29.550 101.950 2990 7556 13.1 25.7 4800 4 2008- IMHE ablation;velovity;hydrology;climate; Glacier No.1 1959-1967; mass balance;climate;hydrology;velocity 5 43.083 86.817 3800 4200 2 1.68 1980- CAREERI Koxkar ablation;velovity;hydrology;climate; 6 Glacier 41.817 80.167 3060 6342 25.1 83.56 2003- CAREERI Xiao mass balance;climate;hydrology;velocity Dongkemadi 1989-1993; 7 Glacier 33.067 92.067 5380 5926 1.8 1.76 2007- CAREERI baishui No1 1982; ablation;velovity;hydrology;climate; 8 Glacier 27.500 100.250 4300 5596 2.5 1.52 48002008- CAREERI Laohugou 1959-1962 mass balance;climate;hydrology;velocity 9 No12 Glacier 39.473 96.532 4260 5483 10.1 21.9 ;2008- CAREERI 10 Qiyi Glacier 39.235 97.758 4320 5158 3.8 2.87 49701974- CAREERI mass balance;climate;hydrology; Rongbuk hydrology;climate;velocity;ablation 11 Glacier 28.054 86.877 5520 8840 18 152 62502008- CAREERI Meikuang mass balance 12 Glacier 4800 5520 1989- CAREERI Zelongnong 13 Glacier 2950 7787 10.6 17.9 TPR Naimona'nyi 14 Glacier 30.400 81.300 5494 7447 7.7 8.8 5500 TPR Dasuopu 15 Glacier 28.350 85.767 8013 10.5 21.67 6000 TPR 16 Azha Glacier 29.149 96.810 2600 6704 16.7 13.75 1973; 2008 TPR
Glacier Study Areas, China Source: CAREERI (personal communication by Pradeep Mool) 2010
Glaciers in India monitored at present for Mass Balance S No. Name of glacier studied for mass balance Latitude Longitude Elevation (m asl) Projection Information Glacier Area (km 2 ) Glacier Length (km) Orientation Thickness (m) Class Since which date Until which date 1 **Kolahoi, Srinagar 34 10'57.53"N 75 20'1.27"E 3532-5971 5.63 NW 2008 Until date 2 **Chhota Shigri 32 12-32 17 N 77 30-77 32 E 4000-6200 Field measurement 8.75 9 N 15-130 (avg. 70) Compound valley 1987 1989 3 *Dokriani 30 49-30 52 N 78 47-78 51 E 3900-6200 Field measurement 7.0 5.5 NW 15-120 Compound valley 1991 2007 2000 Until date 4 Chorabari 30 45'30.56"N 79 3'4.24"E 3880-6000 Field measurement 5.6 7 SE - Compound valley 2003 Until date 5 *East Rathong, Sikkim 27 36 00 N 27 33 00 N 88 06 00"E 88 07 00"E 4654-7279 6.0 4.5*1.5 SE 2008 Until date 6 ***Suru Glacier, J&K 33 o 47 8.74 N to 33 o 51 5.33 N 76 o 15 28.37 E to 76 o 19 6.60 E 4610 5750 m asl Snout position and Altitude: 76 o 18 57.6 E, 33 o 50 52.8 N, 4610 m asl *=Study by WIHG; **= Study by TERI; ***=Study by Sharda University NE 2008 2009
Glacier monitoring in Nepal Himalayas S No. Glacier Name Latitude (N) Longitude (E) Elevations (masl) Area (km sq) monitoring times Institute Station name/ Observation 1 Rika Samba, Hidden Valley, Dhaulagiri 28 50 N 83 30 E 5250 5985 4.8 1999 GEN / DHM mass balance 2 AX010, Dudh Kosi region of Shorong Himal 27 42 01"N 86 33'59.99"E 4950 5360 0.57 1996 1999 GEN / DHM mass balance 3 Mera 27 43'23.17"N 86 52'52.13"E 5387 6472 4.6 2007- DHM, Nepal mass balance; / IRD, France climate; hydrology; 4 Yala, Langtang 28 15 N 85 37 "E 5574 5746 2.57 2009- CDHM/TU and ITP mass balance; climate; Rika Samba AX010 Yala Mera
Cryosphere Monitoring Project Project Title: Monitoring and assessment of changes in Glaciers, Snow, and Glacio-hydrology in the Hindu Kush - Himalayas with a special focus on strengthening the capacity of Nepalese organizations
Cryosphere Monitoring Project Funded by: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Norway through the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu Project Fund: 35 million Norwegian Kroner ( 5million USD) Project Duration: Five Years (Nov 2010 Nov 2015) Collaborators: Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Govt. of Nepal (DHM/GoN), Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, Govt. of Nepal (WECS/ GoN) Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu (TU) Kathmandu University, Kathmandu (KU)
Cryosphere Monitoring Project Project Goal : Contribute significantly to improved knowledge and understanding on cryosphere by analysing changes in glaciers, snow and glacio-hydrology in relation to impacts of climate change for water resources management in the HKH region.
Cryosphere Monitoring Project Components 1 Field based glacier mass balance measurements 2 Water resources assessment in glaciated catchments and subbasin scale 3 Remote Sensing based snow and glaciers monitoring Outcomes Cryospheric data for water resources Glacio-hydrological data for water availability scenario analysis Fully operational remote sensing based snow and glaciers mapping 4 Cryosphere knowledge hub ICIMOD as a Regional Cryosphere Knowledge Hub 5 Capacity building Capacity development of Nepalese institutions in above components
Rika Samba Yala Glaciers selected for monitoring 1 2 Rika Samba, Hidden Valley Glacier Name Yala, Langtang Valley 28 50 N Latitude (N) 28 14 N 83 30 E Longitude (E) 85 36 E 5250-5985 Elevations (masl) 4.8 Area (km sq) 5574-5746 2.57 1999 Monitoring times 2009- GEN / DHM Institute CDHM/TU and ITP/CAS Photo Source: Y. Fujii (1974) and K. Fujita (1994, 1998, 2010). Photo Source: S. Kohshima (1982) and K. Fujita (1996, 2008, 2009)
Hydro -Meteorological Observations Field Measurements Remote sensing Modelling Capacity Development Cryosphere Monitoring Project Global HKH region Basin Sub-basin Glacier Glacier Mass Balance Monitoring Regional Cryosphere Knowledge Hub
Cryosphere Monitoring Project Regional Focus Regional Cryosphere Knowledge Hub for storage, analysis, sharing and disseminating knowledge for relevant operational services and research in the HKH region and internationally Regional snow and glacier mapping using remote sensing data Global, Regional and National linkages: WGMS/Zurich, NSIDC/Colorado, TPE/China, CAREERI/China, CoG/India, GCISC/Pakistan, HiCCDRC/Nepal
Cryosphere Monitoring Project In Summary Sustained and continuous monitoring of two selected glaciers in Nepal Glacio-hydrological modelling for two sub-basins / catchments of selected glaciers in Nepal MSc graduates in glaciology by research Snow and glacier cover monitoring of the HKH region using remote sensing data HKH Cryosphere Knowledge Hub
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