Inventory and Monitoring of Glacial Lakes/Water Bodies in the Himalayan Region of Indian River Basins
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Inventory and Monitoring of Glacial Lakes/Water Bodies in the Himalayan Region of Indian River Basins Submitted to Submitted by Climate Change and IAD Directorate Water Resources Division Central Water Commission RS & GIS Applications Area Ministry of Water Resources National Remote Sensing Centre New Delhi Indian Space Research Organisation Balanagar, Hyderabad, India ‐ 500 625 June 2011 i Document Control Sheet 1 Security Classification Restricted This document is for use by Central Water 2 Distribution Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, Govt. of India. (b) Revision 3 Report / Document version (a) Issue no. 1 0 & Date 4 Report / Document Type Technical report NRSC‐RS&GISAA‐WRG‐CWC‐Lakes‐May2011‐ 5 Document Control Number TR255 Final Report of "Inventory and Monitoring of 6 Title Glacial Lakes / Water Bodies in the Himalayan Region of Indian River Basins" Pages Figures Tables References 7 Particulars of collation 9+99 11 8 5 8 Author(s) K. Abdul Hakeem and E. Siva Sankar S/E 'SF', Water Resources Division, WRG, RS & 9 Affiliation of authors GIS‐AA P. Satyanarayana, E. Siva Sankar and K. Abdul 10 Project Team Hakeem Compiled by Reviewed by Approved / Controlled by 11 Scrutiny mechanism K. Abdul Head, WRD / DD (RS & GIS‐ Hakeem GD (WRG) AA) Water Resources Division, Water Resources 12 Originating unit Group, RS & GIS Applications Area Climate Change and IAD Directorate Sponsor(s) / Name and 13 Central Water Commission, New Delhi Address Govt. of India 14 Date of Initiation 29‐Jun‐10 15 Date of Publication 16‐Jun‐11 16 Abstract (with Keywords) : This document presents the details on inventory of glacial lakes and water bodies in the Himalayan region of Indian river basins using satellite remote sensing technique, including the data used and methodology followed in this study. ii Contents List of tables .................................................................................................................. iv List of figures..................................................................................................................v Acknowledgements....................................................................................................... vi Executive Summary...................................................................................................... vii Acronyms ...................................................................................................................... ix Introduction ...................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background ..........................................................................................................1 1.2 Remote sensing technology.................................................................................2 1.3 Objectives.............................................................................................................2 Study Area & Materials..................................................................................................4 2.1 Study area ............................................................................................................4 2.1.1 The Hindu‐Kush Himalaya.............................................................................4 2.1.2 Indus river .....................................................................................................5 2.1.3 Ganga river....................................................................................................6 2.1.4 Brahmaputra river.........................................................................................6 2.2 Materials ..............................................................................................................7 2.2.1 Satellite data .................................................................................................8 2.2.2 Digital elevation model.................................................................................8 Methodology................................................................................................................13 3.1 Overview ............................................................................................................13 3.2 Basin boundary delineation...............................................................................13 3.2.1 Indus basin ..................................................................................................14 3.2.2 Ganga basin.................................................................................................16 3.2.3 Brahmaputra basin .....................................................................................17 3.3 Orthorectification of satellite data ....................................................................18 3.4 Inventory of glacial lakes & water bodies..........................................................18 3.5 Organisation of digital database........................................................................19 Results..........................................................................................................................23 4.1 Results................................................................................................................23 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................95 5.1 Conclusions ........................................................................................................95 References ...................................................................................................................98 iii List of tables Table 1 Salient features of AWiFS..................................................................................7 Table 2 List of satellite data used ..................................................................................8 Table 3 List of sub basins under Indus basin ...............................................................15 Table 4 List of sub basins under Ganga basin..............................................................16 Table 5 List of sub basins under Brahmaputra basin...................................................17 Table 6 Details of glacial lakes & water bodies............................................................24 Table 7 Basin wise details of glacial lakes & water bodies ..........................................95 Table 8 Distribution of glacial lakes & water bodies based on area............................96 Table 9 Elevation zone wise distribution of glacial lakes & water bodies...................96 Table 10 Relation between elevation and water spread area.....................................97 iv List of figures Figure 1 Index map of study area ..................................................................................9 Figure 2 Mosaic of satellite images covering the study area ......................................10 Figure 3 Landsat ETM images covering the study area ...............................................11 Figure 4 Painted relief image of study area.................................................................12 Figure 5 Flow chart showing methodology .................................................................14 Figure 6 Sub‐basins under Indus basin ........................................................................15 Figure 7 Sub‐basins under Ganga basin.......................................................................17 Figure 8 Sub‐basins under Brahmaputra basin............................................................18 Figure 9 Water bodies as seen in satellite image ........................................................20 Figure 10 Glacial lakes as seen in satellite image ........................................................21 Figure 11 Inventory of glacial lakes/water bodies in the Himalayan region ...............99 v Acknowledgements The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) acknowledges with great appreciation for the initiative taken by the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR), Government of India in entrusting the present study on “Inventory and Monitoring of Glacial Lakes / Water Bodies in the Himalayan Region of Indian River Basins”. Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Secretary, Department of Space (DOS) under whose inspiring leadership the remote sensing programme in the country is carried out. The project team is grateful to Dr. V.K. Dadhwal, Director, NRSC, Dr.V. Jayaraman, former Director, NRSC and Shri. G. Behera, Deputy Director (RS&GIS Applications Area) in NRSC for providing inspiring guidance, necessary support and constant encouragement during the course of the study. The project team would like to thank Shri. Ashok Kharya, Director, Climate Change and IAD Directorate, Central Water Commission and his officials for their excellent support and commitment towards the project activity which immensely facilitated the study to accomplish its intended objectives. We also thank Dr. J.R. Sharma, Group Director, WR&OG, for his guidance and support for successful completion of the study. We also sincerely place on record the co‐operation extended by all the colleagues of Water Resources Division, Cartography section and other divisions of NRSC for the support extended toward successful execution of the project. Project Team vi Executive Summary Glacial lakes are common in the high elevation of glacierised basin. They are formed when glacial ice or moraines