Rajak et al. (2026) Glacier lake changes in Indian Central Himalaya from 1992-2023

Identification

• Journal: Mendeley Data
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-08
• Authors: Mitra Rajak, Sheikh Nawaz Ali, Pratima Pandey
• DOI: 10.17632/28m5bbysd4.1

Research Groups

• Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany

Short Summary

This study presents a multi-temporal inventory of glacial lakes in the Indian Central Himalaya from 1992 to 2023, revealing a significant and consistent increase in both the number and total area of these lakes, primarily driven by climate-induced glacier retreat.

Objective

• To develop a multi-temporal glacial lake inventory for the Indian Central Himalaya (ICH) using satellite imagery and assess the changes in the number and total area of these lakes over three decades (1992–2023).

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Indian Central Himalaya (ICH)
• Temporal Scale: 1992–2023, with specific inventories for 1992–1994, 2001, 2013, 2020–2021, and 2023.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: GIS platform for processing satellite images and assessing changes.
• Data sources: Landsat satellite imagery (Landsat-5 TM, Landsat-7 ETM+, and Landsat-8 OLI/TIRS sensors) with 30 m and 15 m spatial resolution, acquired mainly during post-monsoon and pre-winter months (September–November) from USGS Earth Explorer.

Main Results

• The number of glacial lakes in the Indian Central Himalaya increased by approximately 74% from the early 1990s to 2023.
• The total area of glacial lakes expanded by approximately 85% over the same period.
• Specific lake inventories show:
  • 1992–1994: 187 lakes, 4.05 km²
  • 2001: 231 lakes, 4.90 km²
  • 2013: 296 lakes, 5.94 km²
  • 2020–2021: 318 lakes, 6.63 km²
  • 2023: 325 lakes, 7.48 km²
• The rate of increase in both lake number and area became more pronounced after 2001, coinciding with periods of enhanced regional warming and accelerated glacier retreat.
• The observed trends imply a rising potential for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) due to the formation of new lakes and the expansion of existing ones.

Contributions

• Provides a comprehensive, multi-temporal glacial lake inventory for the Indian Central Himalaya spanning over three decades.
• Quantifies the progressive intensification of glacial lake development, directly linking it to climate-driven glacier retreat.
• Highlights the increasing importance of continuous monitoring and hazard assessment of glacial lakes in the Himalayan region for GLOF risk mitigation.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Rajak2026Glacier,
  author = {Rajak, Mitra and Ali, Sheikh Nawaz and Pandey, Pratima},
  title = {Glacier lake changes in Indian Central Himalaya from 1992-2023},
  journal = {Mendeley Data},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.17632/28m5bbysd4.1},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.17632/28m5bbysd4.1}
}