Control of Terrain Parameters on Glacier Shrinkage Pattern in Pin Parbati Valley, Himachal Himalaya, India

The PCA (Principal Component Analysis) technique is used in evaluating the relationship between terrain parameters and old and new glacier surface area. The results indicate that the profile curvature shows a clear relationship with new glacier surface area development, whereas it does not show any relationship with the old glaciers surface area. It indicates that the new glaciers are being controlled by the terrain characteristics whereas the terrain characteristics have less control on the older glaciers surface. The correlation matrix between terrain characteristics of old and new glacier surface area also conforms to the results of principal component analysis. The present study also shows a clear trend in glacier shrinkage between 1963 and 2001 in the Pin Parbati valley in Himachal Himalayas, India. Temporal change in glacier area indicates overall loss of 27% for the period 1963-2001. The shrinkage of glacier varies with glacier size. The smaller glaciers show maximum shrinkage in comparison to the larger glaciers.