Characterization of meteorological parameters over Dokriani Glacier catchment, Central Himalaya: implications for regional perspectives

• Published in: Meteorology and atmospheric physics Vol. 134; no. 5
• Main Authors: Yadav, Jairam S., Tiwari, Sameer K., Rai, Santosh K., Shah, Rouf A., Yadav, R. B. S., Kumar, Rajiv
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01.10.2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Air temperature; Albedo; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Sciences; Automatic weather stations; Catchment area; Catchments; Climate change; Datasets; Degree-days; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Flash flooding; Flash floods; Glacial drift; Glacier melting; Glacier velocities; Glaciers; Humidity; Hydrologic processes; Hydrology; Hydrometeorology; Hypsometry; Lapse rate; Mass budget; Math. Appl. in Environmental Science; Meteorological observations; Meteorological parameters; Meteorology; Monsoon climates; Monsoon winds; Monsoons; Original Paper; Parameters; Precipitation; Radiation; Rainfall; Regional climates; Relative humidity; Seasonal variations; Seasons; Summer; Summer monsoon; Surface temperature; Surface velocity; Terrestrial Pollution; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Weather forecasting; Wind; Wind speed; Winter
• ISSN: 0177-7971; 1436-5065
• DOI: 10.1007/s00703-022-00923-4

The Himalayan meteorology is important for understanding cryospheric-hydrological processes and climate change forecasts. The meteorological observations in the Indian Himalayan region (IHR), notably in glacierized catchments, are scarce. Therefore, the present study aims to demonstrate a comprehensive investigation of meteorological parameters (e.g., temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed and direction, radiation fluxes, albedo, and pressures) over the Dokriani Glacier catchment (DGC) using time-series data (2011–2016) obtained from a network of three automatic weather stations (AWSs). The study also provides new insights into characteristics of meteorological variables at inter- and intra-seasonal scales (winter: December–February, Pre-monsoon: March–May, Monsoon: June–September, and Post-monsoon: October–November). The results show that the albedo and outflux radiation decreases rapidly with the onset of monsoon season, while there is an increase of relative humidity (RH) and positive degree-days (PDDs). The positive temperature (> 2℃) at higher elevations (> 5500 m) raise serious concerns about the summer accumulation characteristics of the Dokriani glacier. The DGC has an average near-surface temperature lapse rate (NSTLR) of 6.0°C km −1 , higher in the pre-monsoon and lower during the monsoon. The wind speed and albedo are more sensitive during winter and pre-monsoon seasons. The air temperature, rainfall, and relative humidity exhibit significant seasonal fluctuation, whereas other meteorological variables have a nearly comparable seasonal pattern. The Indian summer monsoon (ISM) significantly influences all climatic factors. This may be utilized to examine the Dokriani glacier's mass budget and melt rate with other dependent factors, such as glacier hypsometry, orientation, surface velocity, and the extent of debris-cover. Furthermore, the dataset of this study may be correlated with hydro-meteorological observations in various regions of the Himalaya and deciphered using a regional climate dataset; for example, the Kedarnath tragedy-2013 and the most recent flash flood that occurred in Raunthi valley, Tapovan on February 07, 2021.