Cryosphere monitoring expedition to the Chhota Shigri Glacier Catchment, Himachal Pradesh, India

About the expedition

ICIMOD’s Cryosphere Intervention is leading a field expedition to the Chhota Shigri Glacier Catchment in Himachal Pradesh, India, to strengthen practical capacity for integrated cryosphere monitoring across the Hindu Kush Himalaya. The expedition will focus on field methods for observing glaciers, seasonal snow, permafrost, and mountain hydrology in one of the region’s most comprehensively instrumented glacier catchments.

The site offers a rare opportunity for participants to learn in a catchment where long-term glacier, snow, weather, hydrological, and permafrost observations are already under way. Located about a day’s drive from Manali, with the base camp around 1 km from the roadhead, Chhota Shigri combines scientific relevance with field accessibility. The expedition will be conducted in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore, whose research team will demonstrate field monitoring techniques, including high-altitude meteorological station setup, glacier snout monitoring, and other glaciological methods.

What the expedition will cover

1. Hands-on glacier mass balance measurement techniques
2. Snow monitoring methods, including snow depth and density measurements
3. Permafrost monitoring using ground surface temperature sensors and field protocols
4. Hydrological monitoring, including discharge measurement and data collection from automatic weather stations, snow gauges, and permafrost sensors
5. Planning and installation of permafrost ground surface temperature sensors in Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh

Funding and acknowledgements

The expedition is organised by ICIMOD’s Cryosphere Intervention under the Climate and Environment Risks Strategic Group, with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
ICIMOD acknowledges IIT Indore, India for its collaboration and technical contribution of the field activity.

Background

Glaciers, seasonal snow, and permafrost shape water availability and influence hazard risks across the Hindu Kush Himalaya. Yet ground-based observations remain limited across the region. Of more than 63,700 glaciers in the HKH, only 38 have been monitored through field observations to date, while permafrost and high-altitude snow are still sparsely observed. This expedition responds to the need for stronger field capacity and more integrated monitoring across the cryosphere.
The Chhota Shigri Glacier Catchment provides an important learning site because it brings multiple cryosphere and hydrological observations together in one location. Monitoring in the catchment has included glaciers, snow, permafrost, weather, and discharge since 2002, supported by automatic weather stations, snow gauges, air temperature sensors, discharge monitoring, and ground surface temperature sensors. By working in this setting, participants will gain practical experience with the tools and protocols needed to strengthen long-term cryosphere monitoring in the HKH.