IHG (Institute of Himalayan Glaciology):-

Identified thrust areas of study

h) Past and Future Climate Model : Glacier geomorphologic studies together with mass balance and glacier hydrological studies will provide basis for modeling the past and future climate change on decadal scale. Quaternary sediments, in the form of moraines and glacier lakes, deposited by the recession of glacier over geological time, leaves behind sufficient geological information to decipher the climatic changes, if any, responsible for glacier recession. 
i) Data Bank on Each Glacier Basin : Glaciological research is mainly motivated by the need to manage ice and its melt waters as a resource of ever increasing value. Another important aspect is the evaluation of climate change in the past and future evolution. Plethora of research work on these aspects is available outside India, but attention to these problems in India is still at preliminary stages. It is necessary to invite the participation of other organizations in this programme to generate a large data bank on various scientific aspects of glaciers. This data bank will work towards the development of working models by various user agencies, such as Power Development Department, Irrigation Department, Dam & Reservoir Construction Agencies, etc. The information/data bank, thus, generated would shared with the user agencies, such as universities, research institutions, world data centers, state and central government agencies attending to power development and disaster management. 
Besides, working linkages will be established, in due course of time, with international organizations, such as UNESCO, International Association of Hydrological Sciences, Oxfordshire (UK), National Snow and Ice Data Centre, Boulder (USA), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu (Nepal), Union Commission of Cryospheric Sciences, International Commission on Snow and Ice Hydrology. 
The aforesaid thrust areas, thus, encompass entire gamut of studies relating to glacial system, that can be grouped as follows: 
a) Glaciological Parameters : The glaciological parameters that need to be the focused in the first phase are: 
               i) Preparation of large scale topographic and thematic maps 
               ii) Mass balance studies 
               iii) Temporal and Spatial variation in snow and ice cover 
               iv) Tongue fluctuation studies 
               v) Glacial dynamics 
               vi) Glacial and Glacio-fluvial Geomorphology 
b) Hydrological Parameters : The hydrological parameters include: 
                i) Discharge measurements 
                ii) Snow melt runoff modeling 
                iii) Sediment Transport studies 
c) Climatic Parameters : The climatic parameters will not only involve the monitoring of present day fluctuation in snow/ice field, but also the past changes recorded in geological deposits. 
               i) Albedo parameterisation 
               ii) Energy balance 
               iii) Short term climatic fluctuations 
               iv) Long term climatic fluctuations 
               v) Snow-monsoon relationship 
e) Training and Manpower Development : Keeping in view the vast extent of glaciated terrain in Himalaya, it is imperative that more and more young people get acquainted with different aspects of glaciology. It is therefore proposed that training and manpower development should form an integral part of IHG for future glaciological studies in this part of Himalaya.

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