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: