KATHMANDU: The United States Geological Survey in its report — published in collaboration with 39 international scientists — says that glaciers throughout the Asia region — Russia, China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan — are retreating.
However, the report says the time period for the retreat is different among the glaciers. “In Bhutan, 66 glaciers have decreased by 8.1 per cent over the last 30 years. Rapid changes in the Himalaya has been seen in India where Chhota Shigri Glacier has retreated by 12 per cent over the last 13 years and Gangotri Glacier — that is considered to have originated in 1780 – witnessed 12 per cent shrinkage in the main stem in the last 16 years,” adds the report.
The melting of the glaciers in the Himalayas ran into controversy after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — a scientific body under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to look into the issues of climate change — apologised for the mistake in its fourth assessment report in 2007 that stated ‘the Himalayan glaciers will disappear by 2035 due to the impact of climate change’.
“This retreat impacts water supplies to millions of people, increases likelihood of outburst floods that threaten life and property in nearby areas, and contributes to sea-level rise,” states the USGS report.
As glaciers become smaller, water runoff decreases, which is especially important during the dry season when other water sources are limited. Climate change also increases temperature and earlier water runoff from glaciers, and this combined with spring and summer rains, can result in flood conditions.
“The overall glacier retreat and additional melt can increase the amount of water in the vicinity of a glacier, and the added pressure enhances likelihood of disastrous outburst flooding,” warns the report.
Tracing the history of glacier studies, the report has mentioned that glacier studies in each area started at different times depending on accessibility of the glaciers and scientific interest. According to USGS, the earliest description of glaciers in China has been traced back to 630 AD, while studies in the Caucasus area of Russia began in the mid 1800s and modern studies in Nepal started in the 1950s.
“Glaciers in the Himalayas are a major source of fresh water and they feed water to all of the rivers in northern India. Of particular interest is the Himalaya, where glacier behaviour impacts the quality of life of tens of millions of people,” said USGS scientist Jane Ferrigno.
The Himalayan Times
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