Back to news
29 Sep 2015 | News

Thana Glacier Mass Balance measurement and monitoring in Chamkhar Chu Basin, Bhutan

1 min Read

70% Complete

 

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), with the support of Government of Norway in collaboration with the Department of Hydro-Met Services (DHMS) of Bhutan, is implementing the ‘Monitoring and assessment of changes in glaciers, show and glacio-hydrology in the Hindu Kush Himalayas with a special focus on strengthening the capacity of DHMS of Royal Government of Bhutan,’ known as a Cryosphere Monitoring Programme in Bhutan (CMP-B). The goal of the CMP-B is to improve knowledge and understanding on the cryosphere by analysing changes in the glaciers, snow and glacio-hydrology in relation to the impacts of climate changes for water resources management in the region.

Thana Glacier is selected for long-term mass balance monitoring and research as a first benchmark glacier of Bhutan. The glacier is located in the Chamkhar Valley (28⁰-01’N, 90⁰-36’E). Approximately 5 km long, the glacier is of the valley type with an altitudinal range from 5250 m to 5700 m above sea level with a gentle slope facing southeast.

Six glaciologists from ICIMOD, Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) and DHMS in Bhutan carried out an annual research expedition on Thana Glacier, Chamkharchu Basin Bhutan from 7 to 24 September, 2015.  The expedition extended stake networks; collected data on stake measurements, photographs and other details; collected stake locations with differential GPS two cross sections taken at ablation area and lakes water level of surrounding lakes; set up reflector corners; set up benchmarks to acquire high resolution stereo images; carried out discharge measurements taken at lower outlet of glacier; and rechecked and evaluated all the Hydro-Met sites.

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

Related Contents

Continue exploring this topic

19 Jan 2018 Water
Pakistan Government Credits CBFEWS for Zero Loss of Human and Animal Lives in Sherqilla Floods

On 3 August 2017, in the pre-dawn hours of 4:30 am, the community-based flood early warning systems (CBFEWS) at ...

22 May 2019 Atmosphere Initiative
Knowledge brokering and policy engagement through the CCAC to address atmospheric pollution

The CCAC is the first global effort to treat pollutants as a collective challenge. Formed in 2012, it is a ...

25 May 2016 Himalica
Pilot Village Bee Farmers from Bhutan and Nepal Learn about Honeybee Management

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) conducted a hands-on beekeeping training for Apis cerana bee entrepreneurs from Bhutan ...

29 Jul 2016 News
Myanmar Officials Trained on Financial Procedures for REDD+ Initiative Partners

A two day workshop on ‘Financial Procedure and Disbursement Mechanism’ was organised by ICIMOD’s Regional REDD+ Initiative, under the Transboundary ...

8 Apr 2016 News
Teesta Basin Visit Reveals Spring Knowledge Gaps

HI-AWARE researchers from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), The Mountain Institute-India and local organisations recently visited Santook ...

12 Oct 2015 News
Community led Micro planning training in the HKH

  A three-day regional Training of Trainers (ToT) on Community-led Micro-planning organised by the Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation in ...

14 Sep 2015 News
Experts visit WUMP districts to better understand water availability and use

ICIMOD and HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation Nepal initiated a collaborative action research to develop local Water Use Master Plans (WUMP) for the Koshi ...

25 Sep 2017 Atmosphere Initiative
Signing of an agreement between ICIMOD and SIDA

As part of its mission to reduce poverty in the world through development cooperation, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency ...