A Comparative Study of Physico-Chemical Parameter in Glacial Melt Water, Ponkar Glacier, Nepal

Abstract

We conducted a detailed study in comparing physico-chemical parameters of glacier melt water between two years (2016 & 2019) in upstream sites with an elevation ranging from 4100 m to 3550 m above sea level of Ponkar glacier, Manang district, Nepal. We conducted onsite testing of physical parameter like pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity by using multiprobes and chemical parameters like anions, cations, total silica and heavy metals were analyzed following standard methods from APHA, AWWA, WEF (2012). The mean concentration of total silica was found to be higher in upstream sites than downstream. The elemental ratio Ca/Si was found to be higher in glacial melt water with low elemental values for K/Na, Na/Cl and K/Cl. The average concentration of parameters like electrical conductivity, turbidity, total hardness in glacier melt water was recorded to be higher in year 2019 than 2016. The mean concentration of anions and heavy metal was recorded to be higher in year 2016 than 2019. This study has provided a baseline information in comparing physico-chemical parameters in glacial melt water of Ponkar glacier and will be helpful in mitigating adverse impacts of climate change in Nepal’s glacier.