Sameer K. Tiwari

A quantitative analysis of the ramganga drainage basin and structural control on drainage pattern in the fault zones, Uttarakhand

The present study incorporates quantitative analysis of drainage of the Ramganga basin, Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand. The drainage parameters (linear, areal and relief) of the Ramganga basin from Dudhatolidhar peak its point of origin to Kalagarh from where the river Ramganga enter into the plain, are covered. The impact of the morphological characters on the terrain is reflected by the drainage basin of the area. The calculated values of all the morphometric parameter of 38 Vth order intrabasins for different lithotectonic units were computed under four sectors viz., NE of NAT, between NAT and SAT, between SAT and MBT and downstream of MBT. In the lower reaches of Ramganga basin the various morphometric parameters shows existence of proportionality between stream length and catchment area while such proportionality is non-existence in the crystalline zone. Structural control on the drainage patterns of the Ramganga river and its tributaries are observed in the form of straight course, wide valleys with thick fluvial deposits and relatively gentle stream gradient along the transverse faults to incised valleys; less fluvial deposits in the banks and steeper stream gradient with knick points in the hanging wall of thrusts.

Hydroclimatic significance of stable isotopes in precipitation from glaciers of Garhwal Himalaya, Upper Ganga Basin (UGB), India

Centre for Glaciology, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33 GMS Road, Dehradun 248001, India Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, India Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33 GMS Road, Dehradun 248001, India School of Environment and Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun 248001, India Correspondence Akshaya Verma, Centre for Glaciology, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, 33 GMS Road, Dehradun 248001, India. Email: akshayaverma5@gmail.com

Correction to: Spatio-temporal variability of near-surface air temperature in the Dokriani glacier catchment (DGC), central Himalaya

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. Figures 4 and 5 captions were interchanged. The correct captions are given below.

Deposition of atmospheric pollutant and their chemical characterization in snow pit profile at Dokriani Glacier, Central Himalaya

The uncertainty in assessing the numerous atmospheric pollutants transported via wind from arid and semi-arid regions is affecting the glacial ecosystem. In our study area due to the complexity of the system, a prominent seasonal difference noticed among major ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42−, and NO3−). There is a need for understanding the ions cycling as a whole and the directionality of the feedback loops in the system. Therefore, we provide an appraisal of our current hypothesis for seasonal difference in major ion concentration from snow samples for two corresponding years (2013 and 2015) at Dokriani Glacier. A systematic study of chemical compositions in the shallow snow pit from Dokriani Glacier was undertaken for the pre-monsoon season to understand the cycling of major ions from atmosphere to solute acquisition process. The intimating connections of ions cycling in snow and its temporal behavior was observed and analyzed through various statistical tests. Among major ions, the SO42− has the highest concentration among anions on an average considered as 14.21% in 2013 and 29.46% in 2015. On the other side Ca2+ is the dominant cation contributing 28.22% in 2013 and 15.3% in 2015 on average. The average ratio of Na+/Cl− was higher in 2013 whereas lower in 2015. The backward trajectory analysis suggests the possible sources of the ions transported from Central Asia through the Western Disturbance (WD) as a prominent source of winter precipitation mainly in the Central Himalaya. Ionic concentration of Ca2+ in cations was highly dominated while in anion SO42− played the major role. Factor analysis and correlation matrix suggested that, the precipitation chemistry is mostly influenced by anthropogenic, crustal, and sea salt sources over the studied region. The elemental cycling through ocean, atmosphere and biosphere opens up new ways to understand the geochemical processes operating at the glacierized catchments of the Himalaya. Moreover, increasing the field-based studies in the coming decades would also have the certain advantage in overcoming the conceptual and computational geochemical modelling difficulties.