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Comparative analysis of discharge and sediment flux from two contiguous glacierized basins of Central Himalaya, India

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Abstract

In the present study, suspended sediment load (SSL), sediment yield and erosion rates in Pindari Glacier basin (PGB) and Kafni Glacier basin (KGB) have been estimated using daily discharge and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) data for three ablation seasons (2017–2019). For this, one meteorological observatory and two gauging sites have been established at Dwali (confluence point), and water samples have been collected twice in a day for high flow period (July to September) and daily for lean period (May, June and October). An area-velocity method and stage-discharge relationship has been established to convert water level into discharge (m3 s−1). For estimating SSC (mg/l), collected water samples have been filtered, dried, analysed and confirmed with an automatic suspended solid indicator. Further, SSL, sediment yield and erosion rates have been computed using SSC data. The results reveal that mean annual discharge in PGB (35.06 m3 s−1) has been found approximately 1.7 times higher than KGB (20.47 m3 s−1). The average SSC and SSL in PGB have been observed about 396.07 mg/l and 1928.34 tonnes, and in KGB, it is about 359.67 mg/l and 1040.26 tonnes, respectively. The SSC and SSL have followed the pattern of discharge. A significant correlation of SSC and SSL has been found with discharge in both the glacierized basins (p < 0.01). Interestingly, average annual sediment yield in PGB (3196.53 t/km2/yr) and KGB (3087.23 t/km2/yr) have been found almost identical. Likewise, the erosion rates in PGB and KGB have been witnessed about 1.18 and 1.14 mm/yr, respectively. Sediment yield and erosion rates in PGB and KGB have been found in correspondence with other basins of Central Himalaya. These findings will be beneficial for engineers and water resource managers in the management of water resources and hydropower projects in high-altitude areas and in the planning and designing of water structures (dams, reservoirs etc.) in downstream areas.

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Data availability

All data included in this study are available upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Director, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), for all logistical support.

Funding

The first author thankfully acknowledged SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board)/DST for the financial support for this research project (File No. EEQ/2016/000292).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

    Pankaj Chauhan, Manish Mehta, Rouf Ahmad Shah & Kalachand Sain

  2. Department of Geography, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India

    Jyoti Sharma & Omvir Singh

  3. Government College, Bahu, Jhajjar, Haryana, India

    Pankaj Bhardwaj

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  1. Pankaj Chauhan
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  2. Jyoti Sharma
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Contributions

Pankaj Chauhan designed and conceived the research idea, conducted field experiment and analysed the initial data. Jyoti Sharma and Pankaj Bhardwaj did literature review, prepared figures and tables and wrote the initial draft. Manish Mehta and Rouf Ahmed Shah provided suggestions and edited the manuscript. Omvir Singh took the lead in writing and edited the final version of the manuscript. Kalachand Sain provided overall guidance and suggestions for improvement of manuscript. All authors reviewed the manuscript. The listed authors have made a significant contribution to warrant their being part of authorship and have approved the work.

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Correspondence to Omvir Singh.

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Chauhan, P., Sharma, J., Bhardwaj, P. et al. Comparative analysis of discharge and sediment flux from two contiguous glacierized basins of Central Himalaya, India. Environ Monit Assess 195, 729 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11233-6

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