Hydrological Management of Glacial and Non-glacial River Systems

Abstract

The present study investigates the specific features of the hydrologic behavior of glacial and non-glacial river systems. Glacial river systems are characterized as high energy landforms with less biotic activities, whereas the non-glacial river systems have gentle slopes and more intensive biotic activities. Glacial basins generate large flow variations on seasonal basis, but the mean daily discharge in different months is less variable. The role of frozen storage and difference in time of concentration is significant for maintaining the flow in compound glaciers . Non-glacial systems are more precipitation dependent and catchment characteristics play an important role in time of concentration. Headwaters of non glacial rivers have time lag of only few days and flow is not sustained after rains as reflected by the high discharge ratios . Flow duration curves with gentle slope of glacial basin indicate influence of glacier storage and release of water from different zones of the glacier which sustain the flow in the stream. The flow duration curves of non-glacial basin for different monsoon months describe the changing flow pattern. A large part of the year falls under dry weather and low flow conditions and the flow generated by the rain recedes very fast. The rate of increase and decrease of discharge with time (dry and wet season) depends upon type of source, storage characteristics of the aquifer and catchment area.