12-14 September, 2011, Lucknow - Earth Science India

National Conference on Science of Climate Change and Earth’s Sustainability: Issues and Challenges ‘A Scientist-People Partnership’
12-14 September, 2011, Lucknow
approx. 0.285 km between 1962 and 1990. Then after glacier retreated to the tune of
0.230 km upto 1997. Subsequently, the southern limb experiences surge during 1997 to
2001 by 0.670 km and during 2001 to 2008 it again shows retreat.
Chong Kumdan Glacier
This glacier has three prominent limbs, the northern, central and southern. The
1975 topographical sheets demonstrate that all the three limbs are merging together to
form a single snout. The 1990 satellite data shows that the northern and the central
limbs still remain merged together while the southern limb shows a slight retreat. The
relative retreat of the northern, central and southern limbs between different years have
been monitored in the present investigation.
The Northern limb has demonstrated alternating advance and retreat in subsequent
years upto the year 2004. Between 1990 and 1992 this shows a retreat of approx. 50 m.
while between 1992 and 1996 this limb advances by approx. 300 m. Subsequently, this
again shows a retreat of 300 m. between 1996 and 1997. This surge and the retreat
phenomena is continuous until 2004, where after between 2004 and 2005 this northern
limb shows an abrupt advance of almost 1100 m. In subsequent years this frontal part of
the northern limb gradually retreats back until 2009. On the whole, the northern limb
shows an overall surge of approximately 2278 m. between 1997 and 2009.
The Central limb show pre-dominantly retreat phenomena upto 2001 and then
after there is a continuous surge in the frontal part of this limb. Between 2005 and 2006
this frontal part has advanced by almost 500 m. and then again between 2006 and 2007,
this has further surged by another 450 m. This limb starts to recede back between 2008
and 2009.
The Southern limb also has a history of relative oscillations during the period of
observation. This advances upto 1996 and then retreats back upto 1999. Between 1999
and 2000 this again advances by almost 370 m. where after the frontal part against
recedes back. Between 2003 and 2004 this again shows surge while between 2004-05
and 2005-06 this again retreats back. From 2007 onwards this limb shows a continuous
surge of approx. 400 m.
The coalescence of northern and central limb of Chong Kumdan glacier has given
rise to a very distinct medial moraine. The central limb pushes the northern limb upto
1997 where after the trend changes and the northern limb starts surging ahead and
pushing the central limb. This is clearly demonstrated by the shifting of the medial
moraine by approx. 2200 m. over a period between 1997 and 2009.
Kichik Kumdan Glacier
This glacier has a northern limb and southern limb. The 1975 topographical data
shows that both limbs merge together to form a single snout. The northern limb shows a
marked retreat of 0.53 m during 1990 to 1997. The frontal lobe of the glacier shows
interesting phenomena. The 1975 topographical sheet demonstrates that the frontal lobe
is pushing the Shyok River to the left bank. Between 1975 and 1990 this frontal part has
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