Ladakh glacier melting may form three lakes, says study
Ladakh glacier melting may form three lakes, says study
Subject : Environment
Section: Climate Change
Context:
- A new study by scientists of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology has found that three glacial lakes are likely to form around Parkachik Glacier in Ladakh due to rapid ice melt.
Details:
- The glacial melt is worrying as it not only increases chances of glacial lake outbursts but can also lead to paucity of water, glaciers being the region’s primary source of water.
- There are two main reasons for the rapid melting of the glacier. The first is global warming and increasing temperatures in the region, and the second is that it is at a lower altitude than other glaciers in the Zanskar region.
- The study is based on satellite imagery between 1971-2021 and supplemented by extensive field surveys between 2015-2021.
- Remote sensing data shows that the glacier retreated at an average rate of around two metres per annum between 1971 and 1999, whereas between 1999 and 2021, the retreat was at an average rate of around 12 metres per annum.
Parkachik glacier:
- The Parkachik glacier is one of the largest glaciers in the Suru River valley, covering an area of 53 square km and is 14 km long.
- The Suru River valley is a part of the southern Zanskar Ranges in the western Himalayas.
- According to the models we have used, three proglacial lakes are likely to form near the glacier.
This poses two problems.
- First, there is a possibility of glacial lake outbursts. The most catastrophic glacial lake outburst that India has faced in recent years resulted in the 2013 Kedarnath flash floods.
- The second issue with the glacial retreat is the loss of a valuable water resource since Ladakh primarily depends on glacial melt for water.
Other important lakes in Ladakh region:
| Lakes | Description |
| Pangong Tso | Pangong Tso or Pangong Lake is an endorheic lake spanning eastern Ladakh and West Tibet situated at an elevation of 4,225 m. It is 134 km long and divided into five sublakes, called Pangong Tso, Tso Nyak, Rum Tso and Nyak Tso. Pangong Tso is the world’s highest salt lake. |
| Tso Moriri | Tso Moriri or Lake Moriri or “Mountain Lake”, is a lake in the Changthang Plateau of Ladakh in India. The lake and surrounding area are protected as the Tso Moriri Wetland Conservation Reserve. The lake is at an altitude of 4,522 m (14,836 ft). It is the largest of the high altitude lakes entirely within India and entirely within Ladakh in this Trans-Himalayan biogeographic region. The lake has no outlet at present and the water is brackish though not very perceptible to taste. The lake has become an endorheic lake. The lake is oligotrophic in nature, and its waters are alkaline. |
| Tso Kar | The Tso Kar or Tsho kar is a fluctuating salt lake known for its size and depth situated in the Rupshu Plateau and valley in the southern part of Ladakh in India. It is also recognised as India’s 42nd Ramsar site. |
| Kyagar Tso | Kyagar Tso or Kyagar Lake is a small brackish lake surrounded by mountains situated in the Ladakh region of the northern Indian Union Territory of Ladakh in India. From afar, it can be spotted by its turquoise colour. It lies in the Rupshu Valley in Ladakh at the height of over saltwater lakes at 4,663m above sea level. |
| Ryul Tso | The isolated Ryul Tso is a brackish lake which is mostly visited with its twin lake, Chilling Tso, a sweet water lake. The lake lies on the border region of Ladakh valley. |