Ladakh glacier retreat due to warming low winter precipitation

Ladakh glacier retreat due to warming low winter precipitation

Subject: Geography

Context:  The Pensilungpa Glacier located in Ladakh’s Zanskar Valley is retreating due to increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation during winters, a recent study has found.

• Since 2015, the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) at Dehradun, an autonomous body under the Department of Science and Technology, has been working on various aspects on glaciology – glacier health (mass balance) monitoring, dynamics, discharge, past climatic conditions, speculation for future climate change and its impact on glaciers in this region.

About The study:

• The observations for four years (2015–2019) showed that the glacier is now retreating at an average rate of 6.7 plus/minus 3 metre per annum. 
• There is significant influence of debris cover on the mass balance and retreat of the glacier’s endpoint.
• Due to continuous rise in the air temperature in line with the global trend, the melting would increase, and it is possible that the precipitation of summer periods at higher altitudes will change from snow to rain, and that may influence the summer and winter pattern.

Impact of Melting Glaciers

• Glacial Melting will cause global sea levels to rise, threatening already endangered species like the Snow Leopard and Tiger and dramatically change the roof of the world.
• Melting Glaciers will increase river flows through the years 2050 to 2060, pushing up the risk of high altitude lakes bursting their banks and engulfing communities.
• From the 2060s, river flows will go into decline. Lower flows will cut the power from Hydro dams that generate much of the Region’s electricity.