MONITORING GLACIERS AND GLACIAL LAKES OF CHENAB BASIN USING GEOSPATIAL TOOLS

Glacial lakes are usual phenomenon in the glacierized basin at high elevation. Glacial Lakes Outburst Floods are becoming a cause of concern for the local inhabitants of these retreating glaciers. Therefore, a detail study of the dynamics of river of moving ice and water is of much importance. The present study aims to investigate the dynamics of the glacier using geospatial tools and remote sensing and to make an inventory and monitoring of the glaciers, glacial  lakes and water bodies in Chenab river basins of Himalayan region using Resourcesat 2 LISS 4 images and the digital elevation model for the period of 2014 to 2017. Based on the current inventory, 126 glacial lakes and water bodies and 192 glaciers with water spread area more than 30 ha and 700 ha, respectively are monitored. Apart from this, only 2 glacial lakes and water bodies with water spread area in the range 14 to 18 ha were monitored. And 16 glaciers were monitored in the area of 500 ha and above. Most of the glacier lakes and glaciers move in the south east direction with 26 and 33 in numbers respectively. The substantial increase in the number of glacial lakes in the Himalayan region is the matter of concern and therefore need a proper monitoring.  Keywords: Glaciers; Glacier lakes; Chenab River; GIS; India.