Initial glaciological investigations on a large Himalayan glacier: Drang Drung (Zanskar, Ladakh, India)

Abstract

In-situ glaciological observations in the Himalaya-Karakoram (HK) region mostly come from small glaciers. Drang Drung (69.6 km2, Zanskar, Ladakh) is the largest glacier in the HK monitored for in-situ glacier-wide mass balances applying the traditional glaciological method. During 2021-2023, point ablation varies from -1.8 to -8.3 m w.e. a-1 in the ablation area, and from 0.15 to 1.70 m w.e. a-1 in the accumulation area. The mean glacier-wide mass balance is −0.74 ± 0.43 m w.e. a-1 over 2021‒2023, corresponding to a mean equilibrium line altitude of 5134 m a.s.l. and accumulation area ratio of 0.53. The mean annual vertical mass balance gradient of 0.62 m w.e. (100 m)-1 on Drang Drung Glacier resembles that observed on other Himalayan glaciers. These initial investigations on Drang Drung Glacier address the gap for glacier monitoring in the Zanskar Range and will be continued in the long term. © 2025 Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.