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Two Decadal Changes in the Major Ions Chemistry of Melt Water Draining from Dokriani Glacier, central Himalaya, India

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Present study aims to understand the hydrochemical changes in proglacial meltwater stream emerging from the termini of Dokriani Glacier, central Himalaya, India. The major ion concentration of melt water between the years 1994–2015 has been reassessed to infer the glacial/subglacial weathering induced ionic release from Dokriani glacier system. The results from meltwater data collected during post-monsoon period (October 2015) shows that Ca2+ is more dominant cation followed by Mg2+, K+, Na+ and SO42− is most dominant anion followed by HCO3− and Cl−. Scatter plot between Ca2+ + Mg2+ vs total cations shows the overall dominance of carbonate weathering whereas Na++K+ vs total anions shows high positive relation suggesting domination of both carbonate and silicate weathering. By comparison, the ionic concentration for the year 2015 suggests a significant increase since 1994; however, the discharge weighted concentrations could provide more detailed estimates. An increasing trend in major cations viz. calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) while the bicarbonate (HCO3−), sulphate (SO42−) and nitrogen (NO3−) has been observed as major anion. Further, the source of Cl−, NH4+, and NO3− in the meltwater stream is mainly derived from the atmospheric precipitation, anthropogenic, and weathering process. The process of carbonate weathering and dissolution of rock is ascertained as the one which regulates the melt water chemistry.

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Acknowledgment

Authors thank Director, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehra Dun for providing facilities to conduct this study. Authors would also like to thank National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee for providing all basic necessities. We are also grateful to Tanuj shukla for correction of manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Hydrology Division, National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, 247 667, India

    Shipika Sundriyal & Rajesh Singh

  2. University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Bidholi, Dehradun, 248 001, India

    Shipika Sundriyal & Uday Bhan

  3. Centre for GeoTechnology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, 627 012, India

    S. Selvakumar

  4. Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, 248 001, India

    D. P. Dobhal

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  1. Shipika Sundriyal
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  2. Uday Bhan
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  5. D. P. Dobhal
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Correspondence to Uday Bhan.

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Sundriyal, S., Bhan, U., Selvakumar, S. et al. Two Decadal Changes in the Major Ions Chemistry of Melt Water Draining from Dokriani Glacier, central Himalaya, India. J Geol Soc India 97, 308–314 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-021-1682-6

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