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Glacial shrinkage and glacial lake expansion in the eastern Himalayas by anlisis of satellite images

Research Project

Project/Area Number 14580105
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field 自然地理学
Research InstitutionTokyo Metropolitan University

Principal Investigator

IWATA Shuji  Tokyo Metropolitan University, professor, 大学院・理学研究科, 教授 (60117695)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) NAKAYAMA Daich  Tokyo Metropolitan University, research assistant, 大学院・理学研究科, 助手 (90336511)
YAMADA Shuji  Osaka Kyoiku University, asociate professor, 教育学部, 助教授 (80295469)
Project Period (FY) 2002 – 2004
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2004)
Budget Amount *help
¥3,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000)
Fiscal Year 2004: ¥700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥200,000)
Fiscal Year 2002: ¥2,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,700,000)
KeywordsSatellite image anlisis / eastern Himalayas / Tienshan Mountains / Pamir-Alay / glacial shrinkage / glacial lake expansion / CORONA photographs / 衛生画像解析 / ブータン / 氷河湖危険度評価 / 氷河変動 / 永久凍土 / チャブダ氷河湖 / 氷河後退 / GIS技法
Research Abstract

1) Frontal variations of debris-free glaciers in the eastern Himalayas in the recent 50 years were measured by analyzing of satellite images. The results show that 87% glaciers are retreating, 13% are stationary, and no glacier is advancing. No explanation for this trend of glacier retreat is given, because magnitudes of frontal variations are considered to correspond with the size of each glacier as well as climatic influence.
2) GLOF (glacial lake outburst flood) events are common phenomena in the high mountain areas of the eastern Himalayas in the past 50 years, and have been accelerated in the recent years. Inventories of glacial lakes were compiled based on SPOT images of 1989 and 1990 to grasp dangerous lakes. Total 62 glacial lakes were listed with information such as code name, types of lakes, elevation, dimension, geographic coordinate, and location. Remarks noted that thirty-seven glacial lakes ware needed to be physically checked and/or monitored. Dangerous glacial lakes, which concentrate in Pho Chu (Lunana) and Mahgde Chu Basins, but lakes in Northern Basin (north of the main divide) were excluded for assessment. Potentially dangerous glacial lakes are mostly located in and by the ablation areas of the large debris-mantled glaciers. Investigation by satellite images indicate that most supraglacial lakes tend to connect each other and grow up to a large lake rapidly, and some moraine-dammed lakes were formed and rapidly expanded after the 1970s due to retreating and/or melting of glaciers. Many large and dangerous glacial lakes exist in headwater areas of Kuri Chu in Tibet. Kuri Chu flows down from Tibet to Bhutan, so that, if GLOF from these lakes occur, the areas of lower reaches of Kuri Chu in Bhutan may sustain heavy losses. Constant and regular monitoring of glaciers and glacial lakes are urgently required to prepare necessary mitigation activities. Monitoring of satellite imagery is most effective measures for the purpose.

Report

(4 results)
  • 2004 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 2003 Annual Research Report
  • 2002 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (27 results)

All 2005 2004 2003 2002 Other

All Journal Article (17 results) Publications (10 results)

  • [Journal Article] Debris-mantle formation of Wrputu Glacier. the Tienshan Mountains, China2005

    • Author(s)
      IWATA, S., KURODA, S., KADAR, K.
    • Journal Title

      Bulletin of Glaciological Research 22

      Pages: 99-107

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] 地質学者ガンサーのルナナ氷河湖のスケッチマップ:コロナ衛星写真との比較2005

    • Author(s)
      岩田修二
    • Journal Title

      平成16年度北海道大学低温科学研究所共同研究集会報告書 (印刷中)

    • Related Report
      2004 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] Recent glacier varitions in the western Terskey-Alatoo Range, Kyrgyz Republic using Corona and ASTER images2005

    • Author(s)
      Narama, C., Shimamura, Y., Nakayama, D.
    • Journal Title

      EARSL LIS-SIG Workshop Report (印刷中)

    • Related Report
      2004 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] Glacial geomorphology in the Lunana area in the Bhutan Himalaya : Monaine stages2004

    • Author(s)
      IWATA, S., KARMA, AGETA, Y.
    • Journal Title

      Himalayan Journal of Sciences 2

      Pages: 164-165

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Variation and lake expansion of Chubda Glacier, Bhutan Himalayas, during the last 352004

    • Author(s)
      KOMORI, J., GURUNG, DR., IWATA, S.
    • Journal Title

      Bulletin of Glaciological Research 21

      Pages: 49-55

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Glacial geomorphology in the Lunana area in the Bhutan Himalaya: Monaine stages, glacial lakes, and rock glaciers2004

    • Author(s)
      IWATA, S., KARMA, AGETA, Y., SAKAI, A., NARAMA, C., NAITO, N.
    • Journal Title

      Himalayan Journal of Sciences 2

      Pages: 164-165

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Variation and lake expansion of Chubda Glacier, Bhutan Himalayas, during the last 35 years2004

    • Author(s)
      KOMORI, J., GURUNG, D.R., IWATA, S., YABUKI, H.
    • Journal Title

      Bulletin of Glaciological Research 21

      Pages: 49-55

    • NAID

      10014220781

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Debris-mantle formation of Wrputu Glacier, the Tienshan Mountains, China2004

    • Author(s)
      IWATA, S., KURODA, S., KADAR.K.
    • Journal Title

      Bulletin of Glaciological Research 22

      Pages: 99-107

    • Related Report
      2004 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] Glacial geomorphology in the Lunana area in the Bhutan Himalaya : Monaine stages, glacial lakes, and rock glaciers2004

    • Author(s)
      IWATA, S., KARMA, AGETA, Y., SAKAI, A., NARAMA, C., NAITO, N.
    • Journal Title

      Himalayan Journal of Sciences 2

      Pages: 164-165

    • Related Report
      2004 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] チャムカール川,クリ川上流部における過去45年の氷河湖変動2004

    • Author(s)
      小森次郎, 岩田修二
    • Journal Title

      平成15年度北海道大学低温科学研究所共同研究集会報告書

      Pages: 62-76

    • Related Report
      2004 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] 天山山脈,ウルムチ河源頭6号氷河の20年間の変化の研究2004

    • Author(s)
      岩田修二
    • Journal Title

      地学雑誌 113

      Pages: 430-433

    • NAID

      130000794539

    • Related Report
      2004 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] Report of Chubda Tsho in the head waters of Chamkar Chhu, Bumthang, 20022003

    • Author(s)
      IWATA, S., Deo Raj GURUNG
    • Journal Title

      Report of Japanese - Bhutan Joint Research 2002

      Pages: 54-66

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Glacier distribution in the Himalayas and glacier shrinkage from 1963 to 19932003

    • Author(s)
      KARMA, AGETA, Y, NAITO, N., IWATA, S.
    • Journal Title

      Bulletin of Glaciological Research 20

      Pages: 29-40

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Report of Chubda Tsho in the head waters of Chamkar Chhu, Bumthang, 20022003

    • Author(s)
      IWATA, S., Deo Raj GURUNG, KOMORI, J.
    • Journal Title

      Report of Japanese-Bhutan Joint Research 2002 on the assessment of Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Bhutan, (YAMADA, T. and NAITO, N.:) (Hokkaido University)

      Pages: 54-66

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Glacier distribution in the Himalayas and glacier shrinkage from 1963 to 1993 in the Bhutan Himaiayas2003

    • Author(s)
      KARMA, AGETA, Y., NAITO, N., IWATA, S., YABUKI, H.
    • Journal Title

      Bulletin of Glaciological Research 20

      Pages: 29-40

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Three Holocene and late Pleistocene glacial stages inferred from moraines2002

    • Author(s)
      IWATA, S., NARAMA, C., KARMA
    • Journal Title

      Quaternary International 97/98

      Pages: 69-78

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] Three Holocene and late Pleistocene glacial stages inferred from moraines in the Lingshi and Thanza village areas, Bhutan2002

    • Author(s)
      IWATA, S., NARAMA, C., KARMA
    • Journal Title

      Quaternary International 97/98

      Pages: 69-78

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2004 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] IWATA, S., NAITO, N., NARAMA, C., KARMA: "Rock glaciers and the lower limit of mountain permafrost in the Bhutan Himalayas"Zeit.Geomorph.N.F.Suppl.-Bd. 130. 129-143 (2003)

    • Related Report
      2003 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 岩田修二: "氷河湖の決壊洪水危険度評価の評価手法の指針の検討"平成14年度北海道大学低温科学研究所共同研究集会報告書-氷河湖に関する研究集会-. 66-69 (2003)

    • Related Report
      2003 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] IWATA, S., Deo Raj GURUNG, KOMORI, J.: "Report of Chubda Tsho in the head waters of Chamkar Chhu, Bumthang"Report of Japanese - Bhutan Joint Research 2002 on the assessment of Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Bhutan. 54-66 (2003)

    • Related Report
      2003 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] KOMORI, J., GURUNG, D.R., IWATA, S., YABUKI, H.: "Variation and lake expansion of Chubda Glacier, Bhutan Himalayas, during the last 35 years"Bulletin of Glaciological Research. 21. 49-55 (2003)

    • Related Report
      2003 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 小森次郎, デオラジ=グルン, 岩田修二: "チャムカール川源流Chubda氷河および氷河湖の特徴とGLOF発生の危険性評価"平成14年度北海道大学低温科学研究所共同研究集会報告書-氷河湖に関する研究集会-. 66-69 (2003)

    • Related Report
      2003 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 小森次郎, 岩田修二: "過去35年間のブータン中西部における氷河湖の面積変化"平成15年度北海道大学低温科学研究所共同研究集会報告書-氷河湖に関する研究集会-. (印刷中). (2004)

    • Related Report
      2003 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] IWATA, S.: "Glacial lakes and their outburst flood assessment in the Bhutan Himalaya"Global Environmental Research. 6巻1号. 3-17 (2002)

    • Related Report
      2002 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] IWATA, S.: "Three Holocene and late Pleistocene glacial stages inferred from moraines in the Lingshi and Thanza village areas, Bhutan"Quaternary International. 97/98. 69-78 (2002)

    • Related Report
      2002 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 岩田修二: "ヒマラヤの環境変動と多発する自然災害"科学. 72巻12号. 1233-1236 (2002)

    • Related Report
      2002 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] KARMA: "Glacier distribution in the Himalayas and glacier shrinkage from 1963 to 1993 in the Bhutan Himalayas"Bulletin of Glaciological Research. 20巻. 29-40 (2003)

    • Related Report
      2002 Annual Research Report

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Published: 2002-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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