Glacial geomorphology of the Kolahoi glacier valley in the northwestern Himalaya

This study presents the first comprehensive glacial geomorphological map of the Kolahoi Glacier valley, northwestern Himalaya, India. Employing high-resolution glacial geomorphological mapping at a 1:1000 scale, we combined satellite data from Sentinel-2 and Google Earth with the ALOS PALSAR digital elevation model, complemented by extensive fieldwork. The mapped glacial geomorphological landforms include mountain sclupting features, bedrock features, ice-marginal, ice-stagnation and subglacial. The discernible presence of these well-preserved glacial geomorphic features suggests that the Kolahoi Glacier advanced approximately 20 km during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) relative to its current snout position. The glacio-geomorphological data from this study are of paramount importance and are a valuable resource for chronological investigations, providing insights into the past advances and extent of the Kolahoi Glacier during the LGM. Furthermore, these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between monsoons and westerlies, the primary moisture sources for the Himalaya.