Study of recessional pattern of glaciers of Dhauliganga valley, Uttrakhand, Indian Himalaya

The glacier study is important in the sense that it has a very direct relation with climate change. Any change in the climate can be read through glacier response. A number of Himalayan glaciers are reported to be shrinking. The retreat of Chipa glacier and Jhulang glacier in Dhauliganga valley was studied by interpreting time series optical satellite images obtained from Landsat, ASTER and IRS LISS III sensors. The change of terminus position was measured and retreat was monitored with respect to the terminus position in a topographical map (1:50,000) of 1962. The satellite data of 1989 and from 2000 to 2004 and 2012 were used for monitoring the retreat of the glacier and the result was compared with the field measured values.