Glacier Area, Mass Balance and Surface Ice Velocity Estimations in the Rulung Massif, Ladakh: Exploring High Altitude Glacier Changes

This study quantifies area changes (1998-2023), mass balance (2000-2018) and surface ice velocity (1997/98-2022/23) of the glaciers (number =52; area=19.2 ±0.8 km
²
) in the Rulung Massif, Ladakh, India using remote sensing data along with limited field validation. Results reveal a clear area loss (4.9%) in the region. Small glaciers have shown higher area loss (14.1%) as compared to large glaciers (6.9%) with some small glaciers reaching at the verge of extinction (area loss upto 79%). Regional mass balance was estimated to be −0.17 ±0.1 m w.e/y with higher loss for large glaciers (−0.18 ±0.1 m w.e./y) than small glaciers (−0.15 ±0.1 m w.e./y). Hence, both small as well as large glaciers are found to be losing mass, however, the mechanism is different. While small glaciers are shrinking in area, large glaciers are thinning vertically. Due to reduction in glacier mass, average velocity has also reduced by 11%. The glacier depletion in the Rulung Massif, which has a very high mean glacier altitude of 6072 m asl, highlights that the warming is prevalent even over the high altitudes. If the present pace of warming and consequent glacier depletion continues, it will negatively and severely affect the water supply in the Ladakh region.