Snow Cover Area Changes in the Changme Khangpu Basin during 2002-2019, North Sikkim Himalaya, India

Abstract

The Himalayan region is characterized by snow-covered mountains and glacierized basins which directly or indirectly regulates many large to small rivers downstream. To simulate and forecast stream-flow in these glacierized basins, an accurate snow cover area (SCA) estimation is of utmost importance. The present study assesses the snow cover dynamics (monthly, annual and seasonal) in the Changme Khangpu Basin (CKB) for almost two decades, from 2002 to 2019. The spatial and temporal variations in the SCA have been estimated using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) 8-day maximum composite snow cover products from Terra (MOD10A2). Further, the SCA change has been compared with a remotely sensed meteorological parameter like temperature. The result shows a decreasing trend in annual mean SCA of the basin in the last two decades and an increase in seasonal mean SCA in the ablation period (May, June, July, August and September), whereas a decrease in seasonal mean SCA in accumulation period has been observed. The seasonal change in SCA will help in estimating the availability of water in the region for the people residing downward in the valley.