Himalayas (India)

Cryospheric hazards, including glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), permafrost degradation, and ice avalanches, pose significant threats to high-altitude regions such as the Western Himalayas. These hazards are driven by climate change, which accelerates glacier melt, destabilizes permafrost, and alters hydrological systems. Among these, GLOFs are particularly destructive, occurring when glacial lakes — often dammed by ice or moraine — suddenly release large volumes of water due to ice calving, extreme precipitation, or the failure of natural dams. The sudden release of water can trigger landslides, damage infrastructure, and threaten downstream communities. Permafrost degradation further exacerbates these risks by weakening mountain slopes, increasing the likelihood of rockfalls and debris flows. As global temperatures rise, the frequency and intensity of these cryospheric hazards are expected to increase, making continuous monitoring essential for disaster preparedness and climate adaptation.  

Located in the Ladakh region where three glaciers (Chalong, Sangso and Lamo) and one proglacial lake can be found, the Chalong Catchment is a critical site for studying these hazards. This region is highly vulnerable to GLOFs and permafrost-related instabilities, requiring systematic monitoring to assess risks and to develop mitigation strategies. However, extreme cold, rugged terrain, and limited accessibility pose significant challenges to data collection and real-time observations.  

At this CryoSCOPE site, the objective is to monitor glacial lake dynamics, permafrost conditions, and hydrological processes to enhance hazard assessments and support early warning systems. The main tasks include mapping high-risk zones, assessing permafrost stability, analysing glacier mass balance, and monitoring snow cover and discharge variations. To achieve these goals, a network of advanced sensor technologies will be deployed across the Chalong Catchment, including ten temperature data loggers, five snow cameras, one flux tower, one discharge station, and two automatic weather stations (AWS). These instruments will provide critical data on environmental changes, enhancing hazard predictions and disaster risk management.  

Temperature sensors will monitor temperature variations to assess permafrost conditions, while discharge stations will measure discharge fluxes and study water flow dynamics. Snow cameras will capture real-time images of snow cover, accumulation, and melting patterns, supporting the assessment of seasonal variations and impacts on hydrology. The flux tower will record energy exchanges between the land surface and the atmosphere, improving the understanding of microclimatic conditions in the study area. Automatic weather stations (AWS) will continuously measure key meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and precipitation to ensure comprehensive weather monitoring across the catchment. By addressing the challenges of monitoring this fragile environment, this research aims to improve the understanding of cryospheric hazards and to develop more effective adaptation and mitigation strategies for the Western Himalayas.