Glaciers at Pangong in Ladakh retreated 6.7% since 1990- says recent research
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Glaciers at Pangong in Ladakh retreated 6.7% since 1990- says recent research
TOPIC: Environment
Context- A recent study has found that 87 glaciers have retreated 6.7 percent at the Pangong region of Ladakh since 1990. This is primarily attributed to atmospheric warming and an increase in the anthropogenic footprint in the glacial and periglacial environments.
Concept-
Pangong Lake:
- Pangong lake is an endorheic lake (a lake whose water does not flow into the sea) in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4350 metres.
- It is 134 kms long and extends from India to China.
- Approximately 60 percent of the length of the lake lies in China.
About Glacier:
- It is a large, perennial accumulation of crystalline ice, snow, rock, sediment, and water that originates on land and moves down slope under the influence of its own weight and gravity. They are sensitive indicators of changing climate.
- Out of total water on Earth, 1% is in glaciers while 97.2% is in the oceans and inland seas.
- Condition of glacier formation:
- Mean annual temperatures are close to the freezing point.
- Winter precipitation produces significant accumulations of snow.
- Temperatures throughout the rest of the year do not result in the complete loss of the previous winter’s snow accumulation.