Ice Cliff Dynamics of Debris-Covered Trakarding Glacier in the Rolwaling Region, Nepal Himalaya

Ice cliffs can act as “hot spots” for melt on debris-covered glaciers and promote local glacier mass loss. Repeat high-resolution remote-sensing data are therefore required to monitor the role of ice cliff dynamics in Here we analyze aerial photogrammetry acquired during 2007, 2018, 2019 post-monsoon seasons delineate morphology, distribution, temporal changes across Trakarding Glacier eastern Nepal Himalaya. We generate an inventory from 2018 precise terrain data, with accounting 4.7 6.1% area, respectively. observe large surface lowering (>2.0 m a −1 ) where there is denser distribution cliffs. also track survival, formation, disappearance 2019, find that ∼15% total area replaced by new Furthermore, overall predominance northwest-facing cliffs, although do spatial heterogeneities aspect variance (ice face similar/various directions). Many formed stagnant middle sections glacier, coincident water drainage englacial conduit intake observations. This relationship between hydrological system suggests these supraglacial systems play significant formation.