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Mass balance of Nehnar glacier from 2000 to 2020, using temperature indexed-IAAR approach

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Abstract

Glacier mass balance is inextricably linked to annual meteorological conditions and is a key indicator for assessing the ice reserves of a glacier. As a result, a number of studies have estimated glacier mass balance using different methods. Here, we have used the improved accumulation area-ratio (IAAR) method to study the mass balance of the Nehnar glacier from 2000 to 2020. This study also aims to study the spatiotemporal behavior and other dynamics of the glacier. Results have shown that the glacier has continuously lost its ice reserves throughout the studied period though at a lower rate since 2010. Its annual specific mass balance has changed from − 50.10 ± 3 cm w.e in 2000 to − 59.46 ± 3 cm w.e. in 2020. The equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of the glacier rose by 90 m and has shifted from 4260 masl in 2000 to 4350 masl in 2020. The glacier has shrunk from an area of 1.64 km2 in 2000 to 1.38 km2 in 2020 losing nearly 16% of its area. The study highlights the need for continued monitoring of glacier mass balance to better understand and predict the effects of climate change. These findings have important implications for the future of glacier retreat and water reserves of the Jhelum basin.

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The datasets in the study can be made available upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We are highly thankful to the different departments of Govt. of India and different agencies that have provided us with the relevant data and other support without which it would not have been possible to complete the study.

Funding

The UGC, India, provided financial assistance to the lead author under ID 3179/(NET-NOV 2017).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography and Disaster Management, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, 190006, India

    Waseem Ahmmad Bhat, Irshad Ahmad Bhat, Pervez Ahmed & Shahbaz Rashid

  2. Higher Education Department, Jammu and Kashmir Govt., Srinagar, India

    Mifta Ul Shafiq

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  1. Waseem Ahmmad Bhat
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  2. Irshad Ahmad Bhat
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Contributions

The research was conceived and supervised by Pervez Ahmed, Irshad Ahmad Bhat, and Mifta Ul Shafiq. Waseem Ahmmad Bhat carried out the analysis and wrote the first draft. Pervez Ahmed and Mifta ul Shafiq edited the draft. Shahbaz Rashid and Irshad Ahmad Bhat designed the artwork. All authors commented on the previous versions of the manuscript and approved the final manuscript

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Correspondence to Waseem Ahmmad Bhat.

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Bhat, .A., Bhat, I.A., Ahmed, P. et al. Mass balance of Nehnar glacier from 2000 to 2020, using temperature indexed-IAAR approach. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 103463–103479 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29714-z

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