IJESNR Home
Effect of Climate Change on Himalayan Glaciers
Imtiyaz Jahangir Khan1* and Nahal Zahra2
1Assistant Professor (SG), Division of Environmental Sciences, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, India
2Research Scholar, Division of Environmental Sciences, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, India
Submission: July 24, 2024; Published: August 07, 2024
*Corresponding author: Imtiyaz Jahangir Khan, Assistant Professor (SG), Division of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar-190025, India, Email ID: ijk_786@rdiffmail.com
How to cite this article: IJ Khan, Nahal Z. Effect of Climate Change on Himalayan Glaciers. Int J Environ Sci Nat Res. 2024; 33(5): 556374. DOI: 10.19080/IJESNR.2024.33.556374
Keywords: Climate change; Himalayan region; Greenhouse gas emissions; Ecosystems; Biodiversity, Sustainable development
Introduction
The Himalayan region, which spans eight Asian countries, is home to some of the world’s largest and most magnificent glaciers, with an estimated 15,000 in total. Each summer, the meltwater created by these glaciers enriches the region’s rivers and streams, including some of Asia’s largest river systems such as the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra, which provide water to about 500 million people.
Climate change poses significant challenges to the Himalayan glaciers, which are crucial freshwater sources for millions of people in Asia.
Since the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions have boosted temperatures, particularly in the poles, and as a result, glaciers are rapidly melting, calving into the sea and retreating on land.
In recent years, climate change has caused glaciers to shrink and retreat, as well as an increase in the size and quantity of glacial lakes, hence increasing the frequency of GLOFs. These climate changes will eventually affect the lives and property of mountain people.
Impacts on Himalayan Glaciers
Hydrological changes
Climate change alters precipitation patterns, leading to shifts in the timing and amount of snowfall and rainfall in the Himalayas. Warmer temperatures cause earlier snowmelt, affecting river discharge and water availability downstream. Changes in glacier meltwater contributions impact seasonal water availability for agriculture, hydropower generation, and ecosystems.
Glacial retreat
Rising temperatures accelerate the retreat of Himalayan glaciers, with significant variations across regions. Glacial melt rates have increased in recent decades, contributing to sea-level rise and altering river flow dynamics. The loss of glacier mass reduces water storage capacity, affecting river flow patterns and sediment transport downstream.
Glacial retreat in Indiav
Previous investigation on a few glaciers in the Indian Himalaya shows that the majority of the glaciers have been retreating irregularly since the end of the glacial era. Of these, Vohra [1] found that the Siachen and Pindari Glaciers receded at rates of 31.5 and 23.5 meters year, respectively. The Gangotri Glacier (Figure 1) is receding 18 meters a year on an average. Based on their observations of the Milam Glacier in the Kumaon Himalaya, Shukla & Siddiqui [2] estimated that between 1901 and 1997, the ice receded at an average annual rate of 9.1 meters. It is observed that the Dokriani Bamak Glacier’s moving snout in the Garhwal Himalaya recorded a 586-meter retreat from 1962 to 1997.
Annually, the average retreat was 16.5 meters. Matny [3] discovered that Dokriani Bamak Glacier had receded by 20 meters in 1998 as opposed to 16.5 meters on average during the preceding 35 years.
The Gara, Gor Garang, Shaune Garang, Nagpo Tokpo, and Geological Survey of India [1] studied the glaciers in the Satluj River Basin and found an average retreat of 4.22-6.8m/year. In the Chenab River Basin, the glaciers Bara Shigri, Chhota Shigri, Miyar, Hamtah, Nagpo Tokpo, Triloknath, and Sonapani receded between 6.81 and 29.78m/year. The Bara Shigri Glacier and the Chhota Shigri Glacier experienced the greatest and lowest retreat, respectively.
Kulkarni and associates discovered that between 1963 and 1997, Janapa Glacier receded by 696 meters, Jaya Garang by 425 meters, Naradu Garang by 550 meters, Bilare Bange by 90 meters, Karu Garang by 800 meters, and Baspa Bamak by 380 meters (Figure 2). Furthermore, they noted that from 1962 to 2000, the Parbati Glacier in the Kullu District experienced a massive 6.8km (178m/year) glacial retreat. In the last 39 years, they found that, overall, 19% of the glaciated area and 23% of the glacier volume had receded.
Contrary to the 1962 topographic map produced by the Survey of India, which placed the snout of Shaune Garang Glacier at an altitude of 4360masl, the 1999 field survey determined the snout to be at an elevation of 4460masl. This indicates a 100-meter vertical shift and a 1500-meter horizontal shift over 37 years. These findings also imply that the Himalayan snow-glacier melt and runoff pattern have been impacted by global warming. One of the best illustrations of glacier retreat is seen in Gangotri Glacier, where the Gangotri Glacier’s nose has continuously moved upward by roughly 2 km between 1780 and 2001.
Downstream implications
The impacts of glacier retreat extend beyond the mountains, affecting communities dependent on glacial meltwater. Changes in river flow variability can lead to water scarcity or flooding, impacting agriculture, urban settlements and biodiversity. Hydroelectric power generation, reliant on consistent water flow, faces challenges due to fluctuating water availability.
Socioeconomic and environmental consequences
Communities relying on glacier-fed rivers face socioeconomic vulnerabilities due to uncertain water availability and changing river dynamics. Shifts in agricultural practices, loss of biodiversity and increased risk of natural disasters (e.g., glacial lake outburst floods) pose challenges to sustainable development in the region.
Adaptation and mitigation strategies
Efforts to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts are crucial for Himalayan communities. Adaptation strategies include improving water management practices, enhancing early warning systems for natural hazards, promoting climate-resilient agriculture, and investing in renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions [4,5].
Conclusion
During the last 30 years there has been a 5.5% shrinkage in volume of glaciers in China and similar results are also shown in Nepal, India and Bhutan. Valley Glaciers and small glaciers are retreating faster. The impacts of climate change on Himalayan glaciers are profound and wide-ranging, affecting water resources, ecosystems and human livelihoods. Urgent global action is needed to mitigate climate change and support adaptation efforts in vulnerable mountain regions. Understanding these impacts is essential for developing effective strategies to safeguard the Himalayan glaciers and the communities that depend on them.
References
- Vohra CP (1981) Note on recent glaciological expedition in Himachal Pradesh Geol. Survey of India Spec Publ 6: 26-29.
- Shukla SP, Siddiqui MA (1999) Recession of the snout front of Milam Glacier, Goriganga valley, District Pithoragah, Uttar Pradesh. Symp. on snow, ice and glaciers. A Himalayan Perspective. Geol Surv India (In: Abst. Vol.), pp. 27-29.
- Matny L (2000) Melting of Earth’s Ice Cover Reaches New High. Worldwatch News Brief, 06 March 2000.
- IPCC 1996b: Climate Change 1995. Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate Change: Scientific and Technical Analyses. Contribution of Working Group II to the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change.
- Kumar R, Rao P, Areendran G (2015) Himalayan Glaciers Retreat and Implications for Sectoral Climate Adaptation. In: Leal Filho W (Ed.), Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany.
