Glaciology, the science of glaciers has fascinated mankind not only for its sheer beauty but also for the science and importance involved in it. Monitoring of the glaciers for their secular movements started in the nineteenth century. The ‘Commission International des Glacier’ 1906-1907envisaged a programme of monitoring glaciers throughout the world. Under this programme Officers of the GSI monitored several glaciers. The importance of glacier studies got fillip during the International Geophysical Year (1956). With the implementation of International Hydrological Decade (1965-75) by UNESCO. Water resource management got impetus and the assessment and exploration of the water resource locked-up in the form of snow and ice, started.
Glaciology Division was established in 1974 and had initiated modern methods in the glaciological studies which included study of glacier regimen, mass balance, hydrometry etc. glacial and periglacial geomorphology, snow cover studies and inventory of glaciers in the individual basins.
Detailed glaciological studies were initiated at Gara glacier (Tirung Khad basin), Kinnaur district in H.P. in the year 1974 and subsequently Neh Nar, Rulung, J&K, Gor Garang, H.P. Tipra Bank, Dunagiri, Shaune Garang, H.P., Harmukh, J&K., Triloknath, H.P. were studied. Presently glaciological studies at Hamtah glacier, H.P. are in progress.
A preliminary estimate of the Indian Himalayan glaciers was published in World Glacier Inventory Status 1988 whereas the detailed catalogue of the glaciers was recorded in “Inventory of the Himalaya Glacier as GSI Spl. Pub. No.34 (1999).
Secular movement of the glaciers gives an insight into the past climate and the prevailing climate of a region. The officers of the GSI are studying the Himalayan glaciers since eighteen century over the length and breadth of the Himalaya extending from Siachin in northwest to Changme Khangpu in the east. At present, baseline data is being generated for individual basins for future reference and systematic programme of monitoring the glacier front has been implemented. During 2006 glaciers of Bhaga basin have been monitored.
Winter snow cover over the Himalaya is a major contributor to the discharge of rivers originating in Himalaya. The much-needed water in plain during the summer is augmented by snowmelt. Winter snow cover assessment studies in Sind basin J&K, Beas and Baspa basin in H.P. and Dhauliganga basin U.P. were undertaken by the division during the period 1979-94. The snowmelt contribution from the glacierised basin was assessed.
The snow chemistry of a few glaciers and of selected basins was also studied to assess the environs of the snow-cover and their effects on the adjoining areas.
Besides the glacier regimen studies, some auxiliary studies were also carried out over the selected glaciers. These studies included artificial augmentation of glacier ice melt and snow on Gara Glaciers H.P. and Changme Khangpu glacier, Sikkim, dating of moraines by lichenometry, dating glaciers by radioisotopes and assessing ionic concentration in the glacier melts.
The hazards of higher reaches in the Himalaya in from of avalanches were assessed in Sind valley, J&K, Kedarnath area and Dhauliganga valley in U.P. The hazardous area in the lower reaches of the Himalaya delineated while mapping the glacio-geomorphic features. Possible risk to engineering structures in Khardung La, Hung dam and in Batkot area J&K, Kedarnath township, Uttarakhand and power project in Dhauliganga valley, Uttarakhand were also assessed by the division.
Data dissemination in the form of organisation of Seminar/Workshop was undertaken besides the publications. Human Resource were generated through conductance of Four Basic Course in Glaciology at Neh Nar and Machoi glaciers under the aegis of GSI, Training Institute during nineties and five courses in Glaciology, sponsored by Deptt. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, New Delhi between the period 1992-2000.
Glaciology Division is interacting with other agencies in the field of glaciology and is nominated member in National Committees on various aspects of glaciology.