TITLE:
The Complex Phenomenon of Glaciers of Nubra Valley, Karakorum (Ladakh), India
AUTHORS:
R. K. Ganjoo, M. N. Koul, I. M. Bahuguna, Ajai
KEYWORDS:
Nubra Valley, Indus Basin, Karakorum Himalaya, Ladakh, Siachen Glacier
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Science,
Vol.6 No.10,
June
18,
2014
ABSTRACT: The
Nubra valley nestled in the Karakorum Mountains of Ladakh houses about 600
glaciers of various dimensions out of which 114 glaciers were monitored in the
first phase of study. The study of 114 glaciers suggests that small-sized glaciers outnumber the large-sized glaciers.
Almost 52.6% of the studied glaciers are of the size less than 5 km and
31.5% of the total glaciers are between the size of 5 and 10 km. The 84
glaciers out of the 114 glaciers have been monitored on shortterm basis between
the time period 1989 and 2001 whereas 30 glaciers have been monitored on
long-term basis between 1969 and 2001. The monitoring of the glaciers is based
on the study of Survey of India topographical sheets of 1969 and satellite
imageries of time series between 1989 and 2001. The monitoring of thirty
glaciers shows that 17 glaciers have lost their area between 1969 and 2001. The loss in area is from 2150 km2 in 1969 to 2026 km2 in 2001. The study of eighty- four
glaciers on short-term basis between 1989 and 2001 suggests that 26 glaciers
have retreated, 25 glaciers have advanced and 33 glaciers show no change during
the time period. The changes in the glaciers of Nubra valley are varied and
complex.