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period (2000–2017). Chandra basin glaciers have experienced four positive annual
balance years out of sixteen years that is almost 25% of the observation period and
show high consistency in the positive mass balances than Svalbard glaciers. This
study reflect contrast results from recent studies by Shekhar et al. (2017) which
show higher consistency of positive mass balance years in Arctic than Himalaya
before 2000. However the mean annual mass balance of Chandra basin and Svalbard
Arctic glaciers is −0.67 ± 0.14 m w.e. and −0.36 ± 0.02 m w.e. respectively during
last one and half decades showing effectively much higher ice loss in Chandra basin,
Himalaya than Svalbard, Arctic glaciers.
This reflects that in spite of having high positive mass balance years in Chandra
Basin, glaciers of Chandra Basin are losing more ice mass than glaciers of Svalbard,
Arctic. The cumulative mass balance of both the regions after 2000 is depicted in
Fig. 6, which reflects high mass loss of ice in Himalaya than Arctic. The high mass
loss in Himalaya may have been caused by combination of local and regional climatic scenarios that decide the regional glacial regime.
5 Change in Temperature and Precipitation in Svalbard,
Arctic and Chandra Basin, Himalaya
The detailed study of climate impact in Arctic region published in November 2004
and compiled by 300 scientists over three years show that Arctic temperatures oscillate at five decadal interval and have increased significantly since 1980 (Førland
et al. 2000; Polyakov et al. 2003). However Overland and Wang (2005) found no
Fig. 6 Cumulative mass balance of Svalbard, Arctic and Chandra basin, Himalaya glaciers during
2002–2016
Glacier Response to Climate in Arctic and Himalaya During Last Seventeen Years…
period (2000–2017). Chandra basin glaciers have experienced four positive annual
balance years out of sixteen years that is almost 25% of the observation period and
show high consistency in the positive mass balances than Svalbard glaciers. This
study reflect contrast results from recent studies by Shekhar et al. (2017) which
show higher consistency of positive mass balance years in Arctic than Himalaya
before 2000. However the mean annual mass balance of Chandra basin and Svalbard
Arctic glaciers is −0.67 ± 0.14 m w.e. and −0.36 ± 0.02 m w.e. respectively during
last one and half decades showing effectively much higher ice loss in Chandra basin,
Himalaya than Svalbard, Arctic glaciers.
This reflects that in spite of having high positive mass balance years in Chandra
Basin, glaciers of Chandra Basin are losing more ice mass than glaciers of Svalbard,
Arctic. The cumulative mass balance of both the regions after 2000 is depicted in
Fig. 6, which reflects high mass loss of ice in Himalaya than Arctic. The high mass
loss in Himalaya may have been caused by combination of local and regional climatic scenarios that decide the regional glacial regime.
5 Change in Temperature and Precipitation in Svalbard,
Arctic and Chandra Basin, Himalaya
The detailed study of climate impact in Arctic region published in November 2004
and compiled by 300 scientists over three years show that Arctic temperatures oscillate at five decadal interval and have increased significantly since 1980 (Førland
et al. 2000; Polyakov et al. 2003). However Overland and Wang (2005) found no
Fig. 6 Cumulative mass balance of Svalbard, Arctic and Chandra basin, Himalaya glaciers during
2002–2016
Glacier Response to Climate in Arctic and Himalaya During Last Seventeen Years…