IHG (Institute of Himalayan Glaciology):-
Glaciological studies in India
Little was known about Himalaya
glaciers and their
dynamics, till recently. As a consequence, hardly any
scientific information on the quantity of water in Indian
rivers from melting of snow, rain, groundwater or glacier
melt in different seasons is available. The lack of such
information seriously handicaps the planning and management
of the reservoirs on these rivers for irrigation and power
generation.
However, in recent past, interest in glacier studies has
grown. Geological Survey of India, particularly its
Glaciology Division in Lucknow, started monitoring some
Himalaya glaciers since mid-1970s. Efforts have been
initiated in the laboratories like Snow and Avalanche Study
Establishment (SASE), Manali/Chandigarh and Physical
Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad. The DST launched the
Himalayan Glaciology Research Programme in a big way in
1986. Under the programme several university departments
including the Department of Geography and Department of
Geology, University of Jammu came forward to contribute in
the field of Himalayan Glaciology.
Even though glacial studies encompass essentially a field
survey, field observations and monitoring of various
components, the increasing laboratory inputs from physics,
chemistry, mathematics/statistics, geology and geography and
lately from computer applications, has completely
transformed the horizon of the subject. Glaciological
studies in India commenced in the beginning of the 19th
Century with preliminary study of snout positions of a few
glaciers. The major upscale in the study of ice and glacier
was during the International Geophysical Year (1957-58) and
the International Hydrological Decade ( 1965-74). With this
was the beginning of glacial inventory, mass balance study,
snow cover assessment and other associated studies. The
studies were taken up in glacierised basins of Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh (including present
day Uttaranchal) and Sikkim.
Recognizing the hydrological importance of Himalayan
glacierised areas, Department of Science & Technology,
Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India
through the Himalayan Glaciology Programme initiated in 1986
carried out expeditions to various small and big glaciers
situated at formidable high altitudes of Uttar Pradesh,
Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Sikkim, etc. The
expeditions provided significant scientific information in
understanding the glacial phenomenon. The Department of
Geography and Department of Geology, University of Jammu
also made a humble beginning under the Programme by way of
undertaking scientific studies of Naradu Glacier, District
Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh and Kol, Kolhai and Sheshnag
glaciers in Jammu & Kashmir State.
