Study reveals Gangotri Glacier System's discharge peak shifts to July due to climate change
A recent study has reconstructed the long-term discharge flow of the Gangotri Glacier System (GGS), a critical water source for the Bhagirathi river in the central Himalayas. The analysis indicates a shift in the maximum discharge peak from August to July post-1990, attributed to decreased winter precipitation and enhanced early summer melting. While the mean annual temperature increased, snowmelt declined due to reduced snow cover, whereas rainfall-runoff and base flow increased. The Hindu Kush Himalaya's snow and ice reserves are vital for major rivers, and climatic changes are altering the cryosphere and hydrological cycle, accelerating glacial retreat and shifting seasonal discharge patterns, with implications for regional water security.
Key Points
- The Gangotri Glacier System (GGS) shows a shift in its maximum discharge peak from August to July since 1990.
- This shift is linked to decreased winter precipitation and increased melting in early summer due to warming.
- The GGS is a crucial water source for the Bhagirathi river, part of the upper Ganga basin.
- Climatic changes in the Hindu Kush Himalaya are altering hydrological cycles and accelerating glacial retreat.
Exam Facts
- Gangotri Glacier System (GGS) is the source of the upper Ganga basin.
- Study published in the Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing.
- Used Spatial Processes in Hydrology (SPHY) model and Indian Monsoon Data Assimilation and Analysis (IMDAA) dataset (1980–2020).
- Maximum GGS discharge peaks at 129 cubic metre per second in July.
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