Remote sensing based hazard assessment of glacial lakes: a case study in Zanskar basin, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Abstract

The climate change of the 20th century has had a pronounced effect on glacier environments of the Himalayas. The formation of moraine dammed glacial lakes and outburst floods from such lakes are a major concern in countries such as Bhutan, Tibet (China), India, Nepal and Pakistan. The hazardous lakes, however, are situated in remote areas and are very difficult to monitor through ground surveys due to the rugged terrain and extreme climatic conditions. This paper depicts the growth of a glacial lake in Reru Valley, Zanskar Himalaya based on the observations made from temporal satellite data. The change detection studies show the glacier retreating at an average rate of 12 m per year, causing lateral growth of the lake. Peak discharge from the lake is estimated using empirical formulas and varies from 1.7 m³ s⁻¹ to 196 m³ s⁻¹.