The climate change of the twentieth century had a pronounced effect on glacier environments of the Himalaya. The formation of supraglacial lakes and moraine dammed glacial lakes and glacial lake outburst flood is a major concern in countries such as Bhutan, China (Tibet), India, Nepal and Pakistan. This article depicts a semi-automated identification of glacial lakes in the Sikkim Himalaya, from the normalised difference water index-based methodology of Resourcesat-1 LISS III satellite data. The inventory shows the existence of 320 glacial lakes out of which 85 are new ones in the study area compared to 2003 inventory. Remote sensing proves to be the best tool in detecting and monitoring the hazardous nature of glacial lakes in the Indian Himalaya. To establish the hazard potential of glacial lakes, a systematic inventory of these lakes from high-resolution satellite data and in situ field survey is recommended.

The climate change of the 20th century has had a pronounced effect on glacier environments of the Himalayas. The formation of moraine dammed glacial lakes and outburst floods from such lakes are a major concern in countries such as Bhutan, Tibet (China), India, Nepal and Pakistan. The hazardous lakes, however, are situated in remote areas and are very difficult to monitor through ground surveys due to the rugged terrain and extreme climatic conditions. This paper depicts the growth of a glacial lake in Reru Valley, Zanskar Himalaya based on the observations made from temporal satellite data. The change detection studies show the glacier retreating at an average rate of 12 m per year, causing lateral growth of the lake. Peak discharge from the lake is estimated using empirical formulas and varies from 1.7 m³ s⁻¹ to 196 m³ s⁻¹.

Deglaciation has led to the transformation of glaciers into rock glaciers in various mountainous regions worldwide. However, the science of permafrost and rock glaciers remains under‐researched in the Himalayan region. This study presents a detailed inventory, dynamics, and permafrost distribution map for the Jhelum basin in the Kashmir Himalaya. The Permafrost Zonation Map (PZM) is created using a Logistic Regression Model based on topographic and climatic variables. High‐resolution satellite images are used to identify rock glaciers as visual indicators. Active and relic rock glaciers are classified based on surface topography and geomorphology. Results reveal 207 rock glaciers in the Jhelum basin, covering ∼50 km², with over 100 falling into the active category. The PZM aligns well with the global permafrost zonation index map. Slope, aspect, and elevation of rock glaciers are computed using the ASTER Digital Elevation Model. The average elevations range from 3,700 m to 4,550 m, and the average surface slope ranges from 12° to 26°, with maximum slopes from 25° to 65°. Most rock glaciers are oriented toward the south or southeast. Field investigations confirm that these rock glaciers occur in highly elevated regions with steep slopes. This study provides valuable information on the high areal abundance of permafrost in the Himalayan region and suggests increased risks of thawing permafrost due to climate warming in the future. The findings contribute to the understanding of permafrost and rock glaciers, filling knowledge gaps in the Himalayan context.