Estimation of Mass Balance of Baspa Basin, Western Himalayas Using Remote Sensing Data

Glacial and snow meltwater holds immense importance as the primary origin of the Himalayan rivers, exerting a vital influence on hydrological processes and socio-economic endeavours within the mountainous communities. Mass balance is an essential parameter for evaluating glacier health and status. The Accumulation Area Ratio (AAR) method is employed in the current study to assess Baspa basin’s specific mass balance for the Hydrological years 2013–2022. The estimated average ELA (equilibrium line altitude) and AAR of the basin has been estimated to be approximately 5265 ± 101 m.a.s.l. and 0.458 ± 0.13/year respectively. The study findings indicate that during the period of HY2021–2022, there was a significant reduction in ice mass, as evidenced by an accumulation area ratio of 0.23. The estimated cumulative specific mass balance of the basin is in the range of −4.306 ± 0.23 m.w.e to −0.86 ± 0.31 m.w.e using empirical equations. During the period from 2013 to 2022, the majority of the glaciers witnessed a decline in their mass, emphasizing the need to anticipate and adjust to the ongoing environmental changes affecting the world’s water resources.