CYCLES OF ADVANCE AND RETREAT OF THE CHHOTA SHIGRI GLACIER, LAHAUL DISTRICT, HP

In the present paper an attempt has been made to study different cycles of advance and retreat of the Chhota Shigri Glacier, located in Lahaul district of Himachal Pradesh, on the basis of various loops of lateral and terminal moraines in the Inactive Zone. From the shape and size of five morainic loops it would appear that the first three stages of glacial activity in the region were quite prominent and stable as compared to the last two. The energy of transportation and deposition of material was maximum during stage I of the glacier advance, as indicated by the presence of the rest of the morainic loops within the lateral and terminal moraines, and on the ground moraines of the loop of stage I of the glacier advance. After the development of these loops no major glacial activity has occurred.