Water, Cryosphere, and Climate Change in the Himalayas

This edited book summarizes numerous research studies on remote sensing and GIS of natural resource management for the Himalaya region done by Indian Institutions and Universities over the last decade. It gives an overview of hydrometeorological studies on Himalayan water resources and addresses concerns in the development of water resources in this region, which is dealing with an increased pressure in population, industrialization and economic development.
While the source of some of the major rivers of India are found in the Himalayas, the glaciers and water bodies in the region are continuously shrinking leading to a depletion of water and deterioration of water quality. This is affecting a population of up to 2.5 billion people. The ecosystems have been under threat due to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, expansion of agriculture and settlement, overexploitation of natural resources, habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, mining, construction of roads and large dams, and unplanned tourism. Spaceborne remote sensing with its ability to provide synoptic and repetitive coverage has emerged as a powerful tool for assessment and monitoring of the Himalayan resources and phenomena.

This work serves as a resource to students, researchers, scientists, professionals, and policy makers both in India and on a global level.

Describes hydrometeorological research of the Himalaya region by Indian institutions Discusses numerous study results on management of natural resources Uses a synoptic view of remote sensing tools and data to evaluate environmental threats in the Himalayas

Inhalt

1. Application of Geospatial Techniques for Monitoring the Cryospheric Elements of Glacier System in Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).- 2. Snowmelt Runoff Forecasting in Himalayan Basins using Remote Sensing Inputs.- 3. Understanding Climate Change and its Impacts with Special Reference to India.- 4. Snow, Glacier and Glacier Lake Mapping and Monitoring Using Remote Sensing Data.- 5. Remote Sensing Based Assessment of Glacier Resources in Parts of Ladakh Mountain Range, A Trans-Himalayan Region.- 6. Geodetic Mass Balance Estimation for Bada Shigri Glacier and Samudra Tapu Glacier in Chandra basin.- 7. Analysis of Snow Dynamics in Beas River Basin, Western Himalaya Using Combined Terra-Aqua MODIS Improved Snow Product and In-Situ Data during 21st Century.- 8. Inventory of Moraine Dammed Lakes in Satluj, Ravi, Chenab, and Beas Basins using IRS- LISS III Satellite Data in the Western Himalayan Region of Himachal Pradesh, India.-9. Late Quaternary Glacial Geomorphology of Kashmir Valley, NW Himalayas: A Case Study of the Sind Basin.-10. Snow Cover and Land Surface Temperature Assessment of Mana Basin Using MODIS Satellite Data.- 11. Seasonal ground water fluctuation monitoring using GRACE satellite technology over Punjab and Haryana during 2005 2015.- 12. Importance of regulating transboundary aquifers in the world with special reference to Indian subcontinent: A review.- 13. Chemical Weathering in Jhelum River and its Tributaries, Kashmir Basin, Western Himalaya.- 14. Groundwater Storage Assessment Using Effective Downscaling Grace Data in Water-Stressed Regions of India.- 15. Water quality of Himalayan Rivers in Uttarakhand.- 16. Study of Solute Sources and hydrochemical Analysis of Meltwater Draining from the Gangotri Glacier, Garhwal Himalaya, India.- 17. Geochemical Characterization and Evolution of Groundwater in Parts of Kashmir Valley, Western Himalaya.-18. Delineation of Groundwater Potential Recharge Zone Using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques A Case Study of Rampur Tehsil, Shimla District, Himachal Pradesh India.- 19. Geospatial Approach for Water Quality Index Mapping for Drinking Purpose in Guna District, Madhya Pradesh, India, Madhya Pradesh, India.- 20. Application of Environmental Isotopes and Hydrogeochemistry in Groundwater Management A Case Study of Bringi Watershed, Kashmir Himalayas, India.