Quantifying the Controls on, Influences, and Glaciological Impacts of Glacier Disconnections and Fragmentations on Ice Masses in the Himalaya

Based in the Langtang valley, this expedition built on fieldwork conducted in November 2024 focussed around the Lirung, Yala, and Langshisha glaciers, all of which have undergone disconnection and fragmentation. The second phase of detailed dGPS and drone surveys were conducted on Lirung, but high winds prevented the same work from being carried out on Yala and Langshisha. In addition, snow depth and density datasets were collected from the accumulation zone of the Yala glacier and three to five days’ worth of ice cliff melt data were collected through the installation of bamboo stakes on the Yala and Lirung glaciers. Unfortunately, due to a lack of equipment, real-time monitoring of glacial wastage using time-lapse cameras and radiation sensors could not be completed. Nevertheless, Silwal expects to be able to carry out glacier-wide SEMB modelling based on the data collected in 2024 and 2025 to assess the impacts of glacier disconnection and fragmentation on glacier mass balance and ice-flow dynamics.