Observations of Snow-Meteorological Parameters in Gangotri Glacier Region

In this communication analysis of the snow-meteorological parameters recorded in the Gangotri glacier region has been presented. Maximum temperature, minimum temperature, snowfall, snow cover thickness, incoming shortwave radiation flux, reflected shortwave radiation flux and albedo have been recorded at 'Bhojbasa' observation station. Meteorological data of 13 years from 2000 to 2012 have been presented for annual and seasonal variations in temperature, snowfall and snow cover thickness. Winter, premonsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon data have been considered for analysis. Annual mean maximum and minimum temperature are 11.1 ± 0.7°C and -2.3 ± 0.4°C respectively. Mean values of these parameters obtained for winter season are 3.0 ± 1.0°C and -10.4 ± 1.3°C respectively. Mean annual snowfall amount is 257.5 ± 81.6 cm and maximum snow cover thickness varies from 42 to 205 cm for different years. Incoming shortwave radiation flux and reflected shortwave radiation flux have been recorded using pyranometer sensor mounted on automatic weather station, and data for 2012 and 2013 are presented. Incoming shortwave radiation flux and total atmospheric transmissivity have been estimated. Mean annual atmospheric transmissivity is 0.37 at the observation location. Mean seasonal albedo for winter season is observed to be quite high compared to other seasons. Maximum and minimum temperature reveal an increase of 0.9°C and 0.05°C respectively, during the decade. Annual snowfall amount reveals a decrease of 37 cm in the decade. The observed temperature and snowfall patterns during the past 13 years, at the present study location, indicate that trends in Central Himalaya may be in accordance with the observed trends in the Western Himalaya.