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The hydrology of high altitude glacierized basin in Himalaya is complex to understand due to high variability in climate and lack of hydro-meteorological data. In this study, analysis of hydrological, glacier ablation and meteorological records have been made for Dunagiri Glacier (~4,200 m) during the melt season (July - September), for the years 1985 and 1987-1989. In the daily cycle of mean diurnal discharge in summer months during 1985-1989, maximum discharge occurred at midnight, and minimum discharge occurred in the morning. Mean daytime and nighttime discharge volume was contributing approximately equal amounts. Such type of analysis will be the basis for designing/developing Run-off-the river type hydroelectric power projects which are heavily dependent on snow and glacier melt in Himalaya. Time series analysis of available hydro-meteorological records have been used to understand governing hydrological processes within the basin and to develop regression model for future development in runoff forecasting using climate data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Himalayas, most of the glaciers are covered by thick debris, especially in the ablation zone. Supraglacial debris cover might play an important role for sediment budget of the glaciated area or for the ablation of ice masses mantled in debris. During summer season, proglacial meltwater carries considerable amount of suspended sediment. The deglaciated area provides a ready source of sediment during Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM). The heavy sediment load from the glaciers affects the hydropower generation, irrigation and drinking water supply. Therefore, to understand the sediment delivery from glaciated basins, characteristics and variation of the suspended sediment concentrations in the proglacial meltwater stream, Dokriani Glacier, have been monitored during the ablation season (May-September). Suspended sediment samples were collected near the snout of Dokriani Glacier, Garhwal Himalaya, in 2010 and 2011. Results show that mean monthly suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) were 1499, 2303, 3845 and 1649 mg/l for the months June, July, August, and September, respectively, indicating highest concentration in August followed by July. Over the period of recording, daily mean suspended concentration in the melt stream varied from 13-9798.2 mg/l, which is very high, caused due to a flash flood event during the monitoring period. The mean daily suspended sediment concentration was computed to be 2196 mg/l. The suspended sediment concentration begins to increase with discharge from May and reduces in September. Present study provides TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission) derived and field based hydro-meteorological insight about severe rainstorms during the years 2010 and 2011 in the study area, which transported large amounts of sediment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]