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Nature reflects our nature
terminus position was first surveyed in 1974 ( Nakawo et al ., 1976 ) and thereafter intermittently in 1994 ( Fujita et al ., 1997 ), 1998 and 1999 ( Fujita et al ., 2001 ). Fujii et . al . ( 1976 ) studied the mass balance of the glaciers in Hidden Valley , Mukut Himal . Nakawo et . al . ( 1976a ) studied on water discharge of Rikha Samba Khola in Hidden Valley , Mukut Himal . The water level of Rikha Samba Khola in Hidden Valley , Mukut Himal was measured from July 16 to September 7 , 1974 The discharge was estimated on the basis of a stage-discharge curve , giving a gradual decrease during the observational period . Nakawo et . al . ( 1976b ) studied the flow of glaciers in Hidden Valley from the end of July to the end of August 1974 . The Rikha Samba glacier , the largest one in the valley , moved 1-2 m / month and an unnamed glacier near Tukche Peak , the only debris-covered type glacier , showed movements of 0-0.5 m / month . But no movement was observed on a glacier-like ice mass close to the Rikha Samba glacier . Nakawo ( 1976 ) studied the bubble pattern of a glacier near Tukuche Peak in the Hidden Valley .
Fujita et . al . ( 1997 ) studied the changes in glaciers in Hidden Valley , MukutHimal from 1974 to 1994 , and the investigations were carried out in 1994 to make a comparison with observations made in 1974 . Rikha Samba glacier has retreated by about 200 m . The areal average of the amount of surface lowering and the volume loss of the glacier was estimated to be 12.6 m ice equivalent and 13 % of the total mass , respectively . The annual mass balance of – 0.55 m-1 water equivalent was obtained as an average for 20 years , which is one of the largest negative values amongst small glaciers of the world . The location map of the Hidden Valley with Rikha Samba Glacier is shown in Fig . 7 . Photographs were taken at different years and a topographical survey of the glacier showed the clear retreating condition of the glacier . Fujita et al ., ( 2001 ) studied the glaciological observation on Rikha Samba glacier in Hidden Valley in which glacier fluctuation ; surface flow velocity , and mass balance were observed in 1998 and 1999 . The analysis of surface flow velocity suggests the large contribution of basal sliding . Gurung et al . ( 2016 ) studied the glacier mass balance of Rikha Samba Glacier . The glacier showed a negative annual point mass balance along with the longitudinal profile of its lower part from September 10 , 2011 , to October 3 , 2012 .
5 . Current activities of Kathmandu University on Cryospheric studies in Nepal
Since August 2011 , the Himalayan Cryosphere , Climate and Disaster Research Center ( HiCCDRC ) in Kathmandu University , Dhulikhel , has started to monitor snow and few glaciers of Nepal with the financial support from the Royal Norwegian Government through the ICIMOD . The “ Monitoring and assessment of changes in Glaciers , Snow and Glacio-hydrology in the Hindu Kush - Himalayas with a special focus on strengthening the capacity of Nepalese organizations ” project ( in short ; Cryosphere Monitoring Project , CMP ) started to monitor clean type Yala Glacier and debris-covered Lirung Glacier in Langtang Valley , Rasuwa district , central Nepal ; and another clean type Rikha Samba Glacier in Hidden Valley , Mustang district , west Nepal since September 2011 . The project also supported to start 2 years M . S . by Research in Glaciology course at Kathmandu University since September 2011 . Every year four Nepali students were enrolled supported by the CMP and few other regional students were supported by the Contribution to High Asia Runoff from Ice and Snow ( CHARIS ) supported by the USA through the University of Colorado , Boulder , CO , USA . arship . CHARIS Project had also supported glaciological and hydrological studies of Ponkar Glacier in the Manang district since 2016 . All CMP and CHARIS project funded students were involved in snow surveys , glacier mass balance measurement in the field , installation , maintenance , and data collection of Automatic Weather Stations ( AWS ) and different hydrological stations . A total of 35 young students have already graduated from this program ; out of which 29 are from Nepal , 3 from Pakistan , 2 from Afghanistan , and 1 from India . In addition to these , five students ; 4 from India and one from Afghanistan joined the program for one semester . Maskey et al . ( 2020 ) studied Glacial Lake Outburst Flood ( GLOF ) modeling of Lower Barun and Thulagi Glacial Lakes of Nepal .
Rijan Bhakta Kayastha , D . Sc ., Associate Professor Head of the Department ( HoD )
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering , Kathmandu University
Coordinator : Himalayan Cryosphere , Climate and Disaster Research Center ( HiCCDRC )
30 Year Book of Environmental Science