153
6 Conclusion
Glaciers in Svalbard (Arctic) and Chandra basin (Himalaya) have been studied to
understand the impact of climate change in recent decades. All available data on
mass balance of glaciers monitored (published/unpublished), in the study area was
collected from various sources.
Data revealed that for the last one and half decade, the process of glacier retreat
has been significantly enhanced in both the regions. The results show that mean
annual mass waste of Svalbard glaciers has increased by 16–26% during twentieth
century due to high melting rate of glaciers in this region. Most of the glaciers studied in in Svalbard exhibit lower ice mass loss with few positive balance years before
the year 2000. However none of the studied glacier, here, has positive mean annual
balance after 2000 with overall mean annual balance decreasing significantly. In
Chandra basin of Himalaya the mean annual balance decreased substantially and
became more negative. In spite of having significant years (25%) of positive mass
balance, these glaciers have lost a huge mass of ice during 2000–2017. The mean
annual mass balance of Chandra basin glaciers was 0.21 m w.e. before 2000 which
decreased significantly to −0.56 m w.e. after 2000.
Data reflect that not only the Chandra basin, but most of the Himalayan glaciers
have been experiencing accelerated mass loss after year 2000. Atmospheric changes
are one of the main influencing factors for Himalayan glaciers whereas atmospheric
changes coupled with ocean circulations are significantly responsible for Arctic glaciers. Substantial increase in temperature (1.2 °C/decade) more so in winter warming (2–3 °C per decade) has been observed in latest one and half decade in Svalbard.
Chandra basin in Himalaya too experienced significant increase in mean annual
temperature and reduction in snow precipitation. The temperature trends are much
more pronounced for the winter seasons than for the summer seasons. This seasonality in climate change has been observed over most of the Himalayan and Arctic
region. Data revealed that the majority of the glaciers and ice caps of Arctic and
glaciers of Himalaya are in state of instability and their volume may significantly
reduce if the climate stabilizes at its present state.
References
Azam MF, Wagnon P, Ramanathan AL, Vincent C, Sharma P, Arnaud Y, Linda A, Pottakkal J,
Chevallier P, Singh VB, Berthier (2012) From balance to imbalance: a shift in the dynamic
behaviour of Chhota Shigri Glacier (western Himalaya, India). J Glaciol 313(58):315–324
Azam MF, Wagnon P, Vincent C, Ramanathan A, Linda A, Singh VB (2014) Reconstruction of
the annual mass balance of Chhota Shigri glacier, Western Himalaya, India, since 1969. Ann
Glaciol 55:69–80
Azam MF, Ramanathan AL, Wagnon P, Vincent C, Linda AB, Sharma P, Mandal A, Angchuk T,
Singh VB, Pottakkal JG (2016) Meteorological conditions, seasonal and annual mass balances
of Chhota Shigri Glacier, western Himalaya, India. Ann Glaciol 57(71):328–338
Glacier Response to Climate in Arctic and Himalaya During Last Seventeen Years…
6 Conclusion
Glaciers in Svalbard (Arctic) and Chandra basin (Himalaya) have been studied to
understand the impact of climate change in recent decades. All available data on
mass balance of glaciers monitored (published/unpublished), in the study area was
collected from various sources.
Data revealed that for the last one and half decade, the process of glacier retreat
has been significantly enhanced in both the regions. The results show that mean
annual mass waste of Svalbard glaciers has increased by 16–26% during twentieth
century due to high melting rate of glaciers in this region. Most of the glaciers studied in in Svalbard exhibit lower ice mass loss with few positive balance years before
the year 2000. However none of the studied glacier, here, has positive mean annual
balance after 2000 with overall mean annual balance decreasing significantly. In
Chandra basin of Himalaya the mean annual balance decreased substantially and
became more negative. In spite of having significant years (25%) of positive mass
balance, these glaciers have lost a huge mass of ice during 2000–2017. The mean
annual mass balance of Chandra basin glaciers was 0.21 m w.e. before 2000 which
decreased significantly to −0.56 m w.e. after 2000.
Data reflect that not only the Chandra basin, but most of the Himalayan glaciers
have been experiencing accelerated mass loss after year 2000. Atmospheric changes
are one of the main influencing factors for Himalayan glaciers whereas atmospheric
changes coupled with ocean circulations are significantly responsible for Arctic glaciers. Substantial increase in temperature (1.2 °C/decade) more so in winter warming (2–3 °C per decade) has been observed in latest one and half decade in Svalbard.
Chandra basin in Himalaya too experienced significant increase in mean annual
temperature and reduction in snow precipitation. The temperature trends are much
more pronounced for the winter seasons than for the summer seasons. This seasonality in climate change has been observed over most of the Himalayan and Arctic
region. Data revealed that the majority of the glaciers and ice caps of Arctic and
glaciers of Himalaya are in state of instability and their volume may significantly
reduce if the climate stabilizes at its present state.
References
Azam MF, Wagnon P, Ramanathan AL, Vincent C, Sharma P, Arnaud Y, Linda A, Pottakkal J,
Chevallier P, Singh VB, Berthier (2012) From balance to imbalance: a shift in the dynamic
behaviour of Chhota Shigri Glacier (western Himalaya, India). J Glaciol 313(58):315–324
Azam MF, Wagnon P, Vincent C, Ramanathan A, Linda A, Singh VB (2014) Reconstruction of
the annual mass balance of Chhota Shigri glacier, Western Himalaya, India, since 1969. Ann
Glaciol 55:69–80
Azam MF, Ramanathan AL, Wagnon P, Vincent C, Linda AB, Sharma P, Mandal A, Angchuk T,
Singh VB, Pottakkal JG (2016) Meteorological conditions, seasonal and annual mass balances
of Chhota Shigri Glacier, western Himalaya, India. Ann Glaciol 57(71):328–338
Glacier Response to Climate in Arctic and Himalaya During Last Seventeen Years…