Abstract
The present study investigates solute dynamics of meltwater of Gangotri glacier system in terms of association of different chemical compounds with the geology of the area. In the meltwater, the presence of cations varied as c(Mg2+) > c(Ca2+) > c(Na+) > c(K+), while order of concentration of anions has been c(HCO3 −) > c(SO4 2−) > c(Cl−) > c(NO3 −) in years 2003 and 2004. The magnesium and calcium are found as the dominant cations along with bicarbonate and sulphate as dominant anions. The high ratios of c(Ca2+ + Mg2+)/total cations and c(Ca2+ + Mg2+)/c(Na+ + K+) indicate that the meltwater chemistry of the Gangotri glacier system catchment is mostly controlled by carbonate weathering. Attempts are made to develop rating curves for discharge and different cations. Sporadic rise in discharge without corresponding rise in concentration of most of cations is responsible for their loose correlation in a compound valley glacier like Gangotri glacier.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the Director, G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, for providing necessary facilities. Thanks also to Department of Sciences and Technology, Government of India, for the financial support of this study.
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Kumar, K., Miral, M.S., Joshi, S. et al. Solute dynamics of meltwater of Gangotri glacier, Garhwal Himalaya, India. Environ Geol 58, 1151–1159 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1592-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1592-6