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Comprehensive Assessment of Debris-Covered Glacier of Kinnaur District,Himachal Pradesh

Ipshita P. Pradhan

Debris-covered glaciers play a significant role in glacierized regions, exerting considerable influence on water resources and geomorphic processes. The precise mapping and identification of debris-covered glaciers play a pivotal role in comprehending their dynamics and evaluating their impact on water resources. The interconnection between glaciers, debris-covered glaciers, and rock glaciers is evident within a continuum, whereby the transformation of debris-covered glaciers into rock glaciers occurs gradually as a result of ice melt and the downslope movement of debris. In the fields of glacial research, a considerable amount of attention has been directed towards the mapping and characterization of debris-covered glaciers. These glaciers, which are covered by a layer of rock and sediment, present unique challenges and complexities that necessitate a thorough understanding. However, it is worth noting that despite an extensive amount of research in this field, no previous studies have explored the utilisation of rock glaciers as an input parameter for the mapping. Our Cryosphere team conducted a comprehensive mapping of debris covered glaciers in the North-western Himalayas. This study employed a variety of machine learning algorithms to analyse the data, incorporating rock glaciers as a proxy. Additionally, multispectral data and topographical data were utilised in the analysis. Their analysis is carried out for Kinnaur district of Indian Himalayas and shows around 9-10% (600-700 sq. km) area of the district is covered by debris-covered

glaciers. This study aims to enhance the understanding of debris-covered glaciers in the Kinnaur district. The findings of this study contribute significantly to the current state of knowledge on debris-covered glaciers in the region, thereby advancing our understanding in this field. This significant work of reporting of remarkable landforms is under preparation as a reputed journal article

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