NEW DELHI: Worried about the day when the Himalayan glaciers have
melted, the Yamuna is a marsh and your taps have run dry? It's unlikely
to happen soon. Scientists from JNU's School of Environmental Sciences
studying the Chhota Shigri Glacier in Lahaul-Spiti have found that it
has definitely lost mass over a decade, but is in no danger of
disappearing yet.
One of the very few Indian glaciers to be monitored for mass balance - difference of ice accumulated and lost to melting - since 2002, Chhota Shigri is a fair index for other Himalayan glaciers, and has recorded accelerated depletion in the 21century compared to 1987-89, scientists say.
Study leader, professor AL Ramanathan, says while there have been years of positive mass balance, "Over all there is negative mass balance in the past nine years. But it's far from the myth that glaciers are disappearing. We need long-term data on glaciers and weather conditions."
"We have compared the data collected by Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in 1987-89 with our data collected since 2002. It shows that the glacial thinning has been more rapid in this century," says Anurag Linda, a Department of Science and Technology (DST) young scientist and member of the survey team.
Another glaciologist, PG Jose, says, "Glacial retreat is happening. Our study this time reinforces negative mass balance on Chhota Shigri. But it could be due to many factors like natural process, black carbon, and climate change. I think some adaptation measures should be implemented by the government and not wait for more long-term reports on glacier melt." The JNU study has been accepted by International Journal of Glaciology and a report will be submitted to the department of science and technology (DST).
Glaciologists say longterm mass balance studies can give a clear picture of glacial retreat and the impact of climate change. For this purpose, the three-member team of scientists treks up the glacier every year and measures the change around bamboo stakes driven into the surface. Changes in a stake's exposed length indicate the rate of surface melt. The three scientists are accompanied by three or four researchers - Md Farooq Azam, Virendra Bahadur Singh, Naveen Kumar and Parminder Kumar - to measure the exposure of ice and carry out other studies like discharge measurements and the geochemistry of glacier melt.
"We will return this year as soon as Rohtang Pass opens in May. Most of us have experienced frostbite and neardeath moments as it is a rugged way up. But we are also very keen to document this glacier for a long time so that meaningful results can be obtained," says Linda.
"Even falling into crevasses twice during my last visit did not stop me from working on this project," says Virendra Bahadur Singh. Himalayan glaciers were the subject of a 2007 controversy named 'Glaciergate' when an unsubstantiated claim was made about their disappearance by 2035, in the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC).
One of the very few Indian glaciers to be monitored for mass balance - difference of ice accumulated and lost to melting - since 2002, Chhota Shigri is a fair index for other Himalayan glaciers, and has recorded accelerated depletion in the 21century compared to 1987-89, scientists say.
Study leader, professor AL Ramanathan, says while there have been years of positive mass balance, "Over all there is negative mass balance in the past nine years. But it's far from the myth that glaciers are disappearing. We need long-term data on glaciers and weather conditions."
"We have compared the data collected by Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in 1987-89 with our data collected since 2002. It shows that the glacial thinning has been more rapid in this century," says Anurag Linda, a Department of Science and Technology (DST) young scientist and member of the survey team.
Another glaciologist, PG Jose, says, "Glacial retreat is happening. Our study this time reinforces negative mass balance on Chhota Shigri. But it could be due to many factors like natural process, black carbon, and climate change. I think some adaptation measures should be implemented by the government and not wait for more long-term reports on glacier melt." The JNU study has been accepted by International Journal of Glaciology and a report will be submitted to the department of science and technology (DST).
Glaciologists say longterm mass balance studies can give a clear picture of glacial retreat and the impact of climate change. For this purpose, the three-member team of scientists treks up the glacier every year and measures the change around bamboo stakes driven into the surface. Changes in a stake's exposed length indicate the rate of surface melt. The three scientists are accompanied by three or four researchers - Md Farooq Azam, Virendra Bahadur Singh, Naveen Kumar and Parminder Kumar - to measure the exposure of ice and carry out other studies like discharge measurements and the geochemistry of glacier melt.
"We will return this year as soon as Rohtang Pass opens in May. Most of us have experienced frostbite and neardeath moments as it is a rugged way up. But we are also very keen to document this glacier for a long time so that meaningful results can be obtained," says Linda.
"Even falling into crevasses twice during my last visit did not stop me from working on this project," says Virendra Bahadur Singh. Himalayan glaciers were the subject of a 2007 controversy named 'Glaciergate' when an unsubstantiated claim was made about their disappearance by 2035, in the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC).
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