Estimation of snow/glacier melt contribution in the upper part of the Beas River basin, Himachal Pradesh, using conventional and SNOWMOD modeling approach

Abstract

In the present study, an attempt has been made to estimate the snow/glacier melt contribution in the head water region of the Beas Basin using a conventional hydrograph approach and a modeling (SNOWMOD) technique. The discharge and other meteorological data from 1996 to 2008 of the Manali site were used for the study. The results of SNOWMOD modeling reveal that snow/glacier melt contribution to the Beas River in the head water region varied between 52 (minimum) and 56% (maximum) with an annual average of 54% during the study period. The results obtained using the conventional approach showed the contribution of snow/glacier melt varied between 48 (minimum) and 52% (maximum) with an annual average of 50%. Results obtained using both techniques corroborate each other. This study reveals that the Beas River is mainly sustained by the snow/glacier melt contribution in the head water region.