Glacier mass loss in the Alaknanda basin, Garhwal Himalaya on a decadal scale

The Himalayan glaciers significantly contribute to the largest river systems like the Indus, Ganga, and the Brahmaputra. The change in glacial area and mass can affect the mountain community and people living in the Indo-Gangetic plain. The present study adopted the geodetic method to estimate the elevation change and mass budget of 61 glaciers in the Alaknanda Basin, using the satellite data of Cartosat-1 (2011, 2014, 2017) and SRTM (2000). Besides, the DEM of 1962 (SOI Toposheet) and 2000 (SRTM) is used to estimate the mass budget of Satopanth (SPG) and Bhagirath Kharak glaciers (BKG). The field debris thickness of SPG (2015-2017) is compared with the elevation change (2000-2017). Further, we have compared the mass loss of the glaciers with their volume. The results suggest the sustained mass loss of 1.85 +/- 0.10 Gt out of 33.9 +/- 8.8 Gt for 61 glaciers in the basin from 2000-2017. The mass loss of SPG and BKG during 2000-2017 is 0.20 +/- 0.02 Gt and 0.24 +/- 0.03 Gt, whereas from 1962 to 2000, is 0.083 +/- 0.03 Gt and 0.091 +/- 0.04 Gt, respectively. The analysis facilitates a better understanding of glacier mass changes in the Alaknanda basin on a multi-decadal scale.

Automated summary

The Himalayan glaciers have a significant impact on major river systems such as the Indus and Ganges. This study used satellite data and other measurements to estimate the elevation change and mass budget of glaciers in the Alaknanda Basin. The results showed sustained mass loss in the region, highlighting the importance of understanding glacier changes on a multi-decadal scale.