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Time of India
13-06-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Ladakh glacier losing ice rapidly: ‘Milestone study' led by IIT scientist
Dehradun: Drang Drung Glacier in Ladakh has been losing ice or receding at an average rate of 1m per year between 2021 and 2023, according to scientists who carried out the first detailed glaciological study of the glacier. Spanning around 70 sq km, Drang Drung is the largest glacier in the Zanskar range. The study, hailed as a milestone in Himalayan climate science, was led by Mohd Farooq Azam of IIT Indore. Initial findings from the two-year investigation were recently published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Glaciology by Cambridge University Press. Despite its relatively clean surface, the glacier is steadily retreating, leading to the formation of a growing proglacial lake at its terminus. "This proglacial lake looks safe as of now, but its volume is increasing due to glacier recession, so we are keenly observing it," said Azam, who is also affiliated with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The glacier is a crucial water source for the Doda and Zanskar rivers, sustaining nearly 5,000 people in downstream communities. Azam stressed the urgent need for long-term monitoring, expanded field infrastructure, and satellite-based support to better understand the impacts of climate-driven glacier melt on water resources in this ecologically fragile, cold-arid region. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Speaking about their research, Azam said, "Monitoring a large glacier like Drang Drung is logistically demanding due to its vast, rugged terrain and harsh weather. Reaching the accumulation zones, often above 5,000m, is extremely difficult." The study helps address a critical gap in Himalayan cryosphere research and represents a key step toward improving disaster preparedness and sustainable water management in Ladakh and beyond. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Alarm ringing in Himalayas: Environment minister Bhupender Yadav
Bhupender Yadav (File photo) DEHRADUN: Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav flagged the growing ecological vulnerability of the Himalayas, which is marked by accelerated glacier melt, while addressing ' Sagarmatha Sambaad ' — a global dialogue on climate change and its impact on mountainous regions — in Kathmandu on Friday. 'The science is clear. The Himalayas are sounding the alarm,' Yadav said, warning that climate change is hastening glacier retreat and endangering water security for downstream populations. 'Need regional synergy to protect fragile ecosystems' Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav added that the Himalayan communities are under threat despite contributing little to the climate crisis, and called for regional cooperation to share knowledge and protect these fragile ecosystems. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Quito: Un segundo ingreso para ecuatorianos: prueba Amazon CFD (Inicia hoy). Empezar ahora Registrarse Undo The Union minister's call for action comes on the heels of a study published in 'Journal of Glaciology' by Cambridge University Press which revealed a troubling trend at Himachal Pradesh's Gepang Gath glacier: rapid glacial retreat coupled with the dramatic expansion of its proglacial lake — a water body that forms at the front or side of a glacier and is typically dammed by moraine, glacial ice, or debris. Over the past six decades, this lake has grown nearly sixfold, from 0.2 sq km in 1962 to 1.2 sq km in 2023. Led by scientists from National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research under ministry of earth sciences, the study links this expansion directly to the glacier's retreat, further accelerated by calving (the breaking off of ice chunks from the glacier's terminus). Between 2014 and 2023, Gepang Gath retreated 480m, resulting in substantial surface area loss and volume loss (21.7 million cubic metres of ice). The glacier's mass balance has shown a consistently negative trend, indicating it is losing more mass than it gains. The study highlights a dangerous feedback loop: as the lake grows, its relatively warm water accelerates melting at the glacier's edge, triggering further calving. To prevent disasters, the study calls for urgent measures, including the establishment of early warning systems for the proglacial lake and enhanced monitoring of glacier-lake dynamics. (With agency inputs)
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Himalayas sounding alarm of climate change: Bhupendra Yadav
Dehradun: Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav flagged the growing ecological vulnerability of the Himalayas , which is marked by accelerated glacier melt, while addressing ' Sagarmatha Sambaad ' -- a global dialogue on climate change and its impact on mountainous regions -- in Kathmandu on Friday. "The science is clear. The Himalayas are sounding the alarm ," Yadav said, warning that climate change is hastening glacier retreat and endangering water security for downstream populations. He added that Himalayan communities are under threat despite contributing little to the climate crisis, and called for regional cooperation to share scientific knowledge and protect these fragile ecosystems. The Union minister's call for action comes on the heels of a study published in 'Journal of Glaciology' by Cambridge University Press which revealed a troubling trend at Himachal Pradesh's Gepang Gath glacier: rapid glacial retreat coupled with the dramatic expansion of its proglacial lake -- a water body that forms at the front or side of a glacier and is typically dammed by moraine, glacial ice, or debris. Over the past six decades, this lake has grown nearly sixfold, from 0.2 km² in 1962 to 1.2 km² in 2023. Led by scientists from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research under the ministry of earth sciences, the study links this expansion directly to the glacier's retreat, further accelerated by calving (the breaking off of ice chunks from the glacier's terminus). Between 2014 and 2023, Gepang Gath retreated 480m, resulting in substantial surface area loss and volume loss (21.7 million cubic metres of ice). The glacier's mass balance—a critical measure of its health, reflecting the net gain or loss of ice—has shown a consistently negative trend, indicating it is losing more mass than it gains. The study highlights a dangerous feedback loop: as the lake grows, its relatively warmer water accelerates melting at the glacier's edge, triggering further calving. This retreat creates more room for the lake to expand, reinforcing the cycle and turning a once-stable glacier into a rapidly vanishing ice mass. The consequences extend well beyond Gepang Gath. Chandra River, fed by meltwater from this glacier and over 210 others in the basin, supports agriculture and hydropower downstream. Continued ice loss could strain water availability, while the expanding proglacial lake raises the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs)—sudden, destructive floods caused by the abrupt release of water from glacier-fed lakes. GLOFs was, again, something Yadv spoke about at length in Kathmandu. To prevent such disasters, the study calls for urgent measures, including the establishment of early warning systems for the proglacial lake and enhanced monitoring of glacier-lake dynamics. These recommendations align with Yadav's five-point global action plan to tackle shared ecological challenges in mountainous regions. One key measure he outlined was building climate resilience through investments in adaptation strategies, early warning systems for hazards like GLOFs, and the development of climate-resilient infrastructure in high-altitude areas. Gepang Gath is not an isolated case. Across the Himalayas, many lake-terminating glaciers are undergoing similar transformations. The study warns that unchecked glacier retreat and expanding proglacial lakes could severely impact water security in South Asia, where millions rely on glacier-fed rivers for drinking water, agriculture, and energy. (With agency inputs) Dehradun: Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav flagged the growing ecological vulnerability of the Himalayas, which is marked by accelerated glacier melt, while addressing 'Sagarmatha Sambaad' -- a global dialogue on climate change and its impact on mountainous regions -- in Kathmandu on Friday. "The science is clear. The Himalayas are sounding the alarm," Yadav said, warning that climate change is hastening glacier retreat and endangering water security for downstream populations. He added that Himalayan communities are under threat despite contributing little to the climate crisis, and called for regional cooperation to share scientific knowledge and protect these fragile ecosystems. The Union minister's call for action comes on the heels of a study published in 'Journal of Glaciology' by Cambridge University Press which revealed a troubling trend at Himachal Pradesh's Gepang Gath glacier: rapid glacial retreat coupled with the dramatic expansion of its proglacial lake -- a water body that forms at the front or side of a glacier and is typically dammed by moraine, glacial ice, or debris. Over the past six decades, this lake has grown nearly sixfold, from 0.2 km² in 1962 to 1.2 km² in 2023. Led by scientists from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research under the ministry of earth sciences, the study links this expansion directly to the glacier's retreat, further accelerated by calving (the breaking off of ice chunks from the glacier's terminus). Between 2014 and 2023, Gepang Gath retreated 480m, resulting in substantial surface area loss and volume loss (21.7 million cubic metres of ice). The glacier's mass balance—a critical measure of its health, reflecting the net gain or loss of ice—has shown a consistently negative trend, indicating it is losing more mass than it gains. The study highlights a dangerous feedback loop: as the lake grows, its relatively warmer water accelerates melting at the glacier's edge, triggering further calving. This retreat creates more room for the lake to expand, reinforcing the cycle and turning a once-stable glacier into a rapidly vanishing ice mass. The consequences extend well beyond Gepang Gath. Chandra River, fed by meltwater from this glacier and over 210 others in the basin, supports agriculture and hydropower downstream. Continued ice loss could strain water availability, while the expanding proglacial lake raises the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs)—sudden, destructive floods caused by the abrupt release of water from glacier-fed lakes. GLOFs was, again, something Yadv spoke about at length in Kathmandu. To prevent such disasters, the study calls for urgent measures, including the establishment of early warning systems for the proglacial lake and enhanced monitoring of glacier-lake dynamics. These recommendations align with Yadav's five-point global action plan to tackle shared ecological challenges in mountainous regions. One key measure he outlined was building climate resilience through investments in adaptation strategies, early warning systems for hazards like GLOFs, and the development of climate-resilient infrastructure in high-altitude areas. Gepang Gath is not an isolated case. Across the Himalayas, many lake-terminating glaciers are undergoing similar transformations. The study warns that unchecked glacier retreat and expanding proglacial lakes could severely impact water security in South Asia, where millions rely on glacier-fed rivers for drinking water, agriculture, and energy. (With agency inputs)
