Applications of geospatial technology for snow melt runoff studies in Himalayas

Geospatial technology plays an important role in monitoring dynamic phenomenon taking place on the surface of the earth. The techniques of Remote Sensing (RS), Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are of immense value due to their basic nature of repetitive coverage, wide spectral range, easy storage and retrieval, location specific and integration capabilities. This makes it more pertinent to apply for snow and glaciated regions due to almost inaccessible terrain and other adverse conditions for ground observations. Nearly 10% of the earth's surface is covered by polar ice caps and glaciers. Himalaya has the largest concentration of snow and ice outside of polar region and also referred as 'third polar ice'. The information about the extent and variability of snow and glacier cover in Himalayas is of significant importance in understanding the hydrologic system in the subcontinent. All major rivers, especially in central and western Himalayas, originate from snow and glacier bound areas and has a great bearing on water availability in Indian sub continent. Recent glacier inventory data of three major river basins Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra of the Himalayan region, within India or draining into India, have shown 71182 sq km glaciated area with 32392 numbers of glaciers. It is therefore necessary to understand and monitor the ablation pattern of snow at different altitudes for efficient management of water resources. The present paper deals with the applications of Geospatial technology for calculating snowmelt runoff in Baspa Basin, Kinnaur district by using Resourcesat-1 satellite data of Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) for the period of 2004 to 2007.