Fluctuations of Glaciers from 1970 to 1978 in the Khumbu Himal, East Nepal

Glaciological Expedition of Nepal, Contribution No. 72.

Abstract

As a part of the Glaciological Expedition of Nepal (GEN), the fluctuations of the glacier termini of 15 glaciers were measured in the Dudh Kosi region, east Nepal, from 1970 to 1978. According to the fluctuation rate, the glaciers are classified into four groups; retreating (8 glaciers), stationary (3 glaciers), advancing (3 glaciers) and irregular (1 glacier). Many glaciers have been retreating in recent years. The retreating glaciers have gentle inclinations of less than 20°, no crevasses developed near the termini and the gentle terminal ice cliffs, while the advancing glaciers have steep inclinations of more than 20° and well-developed crevasses exist near the termini and steep cliff-like termini. The distributions of the present moraine also indicate that there is a receding trend with intermittent small scale advances during recent decades. The recent trend toward glacier retreat in this region can be thought as a link in the long-term receding trend since the 16th century.