Research Projects

The Himalayas store fresh water in snowfields and glaciers, which contribute to drinking water, agriculture, and hydropower supply. However, glaciers are sensitive to small-scale climatic fluctuations, leading to heterogeneous behavior. This proposal explores glaci dynamics in the Rongdo catchment area of shyok-Nubra Valley in Ladakh, which hosts 88 glaciers. The study will use satellite data and advanced techniques to understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of glaciers and expansion patterns of potentially dangerous lakes. The research will also examine geo-environmental factors and climatic parameters controlling glacier heterogeneity using machine learning-based ensemble learning methods. More work is needed to create a detailed inventory of glacial lakes and evaluate the risk of critical lakes in the region. Mitigation strategies and control measures will be recommended to help policymakers develop plans for GLOF hazard management and risk reduction.