GS-3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Key phrases : Climate Change, Greenhouse Gases, The Hindu Kush Himalayan Assessment Report

Why in news:

Studies have revealed that a glacier changed its track 20,000 years ago and merged with another glacier in present day Pittoragarh (Uttarakhand). This study lends support to reports of the inherent instability of Himalayan region.

Glaciers in Himalayas

• There are about 15,000 glaciers in the Himalayas.
• Total area of Himalayas is about five lakh square kilometers (Area of India is nearly 32 lakh sq. km). About 33,000 sq. km area is covered by snow.
• The snow line (the lowest level of perpetual snow) varies in different parts of the Himalayas depending upon latitude, amount of precipitation and local topography.
• Glaciers of the Karakoram Range: Maximum development of glaciers occurs in the Karakoram range. Some of the largest glaciers outside the polar and subpolar regions are found in this range. The southern side of this range has many gigantic glaciers.
• The 75 km long Siachen Glacier in Nubra valley has the distinction of being the largest glacier outside the polar and the subpolar regions. The second largest is the 74 km long Fedchenko Glacier (Pamirs). Third largest is the Hispar Glacier. It is 62 km long and occupies a tributary of the Hunza River.
• Glaciers of the Pir Panjal Range: The glaciers of the Pir Panjal Range are less numerous and smaller in size as compared to those of the Karakoram Range.
• The longest Sonapani Glacier in the Chandra Valley of Lahaul and Spiti region is only 15 km long.
• Glaciers of the Kumaon-Garhwal Region: In the Kumaon-Garhwal region of the Himalayas, the largest is the 30 km long Gangotri Glacier which is the source of the holy Ganga.
• Garhwal Region: Lying in the Himalayas, it is bounded on the north by Tibet, on the east by Kumaon region, on the south by Uttar Pradesh state, and on the northwest by Himachal Pradesh state.
• It includes the districts of Chamoli, Dehradun, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal, and Uttarkashi.
• Glaciers of Central Nepal: Zemu and the Kanchenjunga glaciers are the major ones.
• Gangotri Glacier: Largest Glacier in Uttarakhand.Source of the Ganges. (River Bhagirathi). The Gangotri glacier originates at the northern slope of Chaukhamba range of peaks in Garhwal Himalayas. Gangotri is not a single valley glacier, but a combination of several other glaciers.

Carbon Deposits on Gangotri:

The Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology is an Autonomous Institute administered by the Department of Science and Technology. They have the Chirbasa station at a height of 3,600 m and Bhojbasa station at a height of 3,800 m. They research the number of carbon deposits on the important glaciers of the Himalayas. Gangotri being the source of the Ganges is one of the most important Glaciers in the country.
According to recent data from the research, the concentration of Black Carbon present on the Gangotri Glacier has doubled when compared to the results of the past few years. The primary reason for this is the agricultural burning and forest fires in the nearby regions.

Glaciers in India (Important for UPSC Prelims):

Siachen Glacier:

• Located over the Karakoram Range in the Nubra Valley, is the largest glacier outside the polar and sub- polar regions
• Lolofond and Teram Shehr are its main tributaries
• Disputed between India and Pakistan
• Highest battlefield of the world

Fedchenko:

• Second largest glacier after the Siachen
• It covers an area of 450 sq. km in the north western Pamir and has nearly 550m deep ice.

Hispar

• Third largest glacier of the Karakoram region, occupies a tributary of the Hunza River
• Combines with Biafo Glacier occupying about 65 sq. km area of Braldoh Valley

Biafo:

• Located between Hispar and Baltoro glaciers, occupies the Braldoh Valley
• 4th largest glacier of the Karakoram region
• Occupies the valley of the Gori Ganga River
• Formed by the union of nine glaciers

Pindari

• Located to the south of the Nanda Devi in northeast Uttarakhand
• Source of the Pindar River
• Located in the Upper reaches of the Kumaon Himalayas
• Provides a 90 km round trip trek.

Rongbuck:

• Tibetan side of the Mount Everest
• Largest glacier outside the Karakoram
• Famous Rongbuk Monastery is located at the northern end of the Rongbuk Valley
• Englishman George Mallory first explored while searching possible routes to the summit of the Mount Everest

Zemu:

• Flows in easterly direction at the head of the Zemu River
• About one kilometre wide and 180m thick
• Largest glacier of the Eastern Himalayas (26 km)
• Found at the base of the Kanchenjunga
• One of the possible sources of the Teesta River

Baltoro:

• A 65 km long glacier over the Karakoram range, west of the Siachen glacier. It gives rise to the shigar river, a tributary of the Indus river.
  The Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment Report:

• The report was made together by researchers, experts and policymakers, brought by Hindu Kush Himalayan Monitoring and Assessment Report (HIMAP) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

1. The Assessment has been titled “Mountain, Climate Change, Sustainability and People”.
2. According to the report, even the most ambitious goal set by the Paris Agreement to limit global warming would lead to a 2.1 spike in temperature in the Hindu Kush Region, leading to melting of 1/3rd of the region’s glaciers by 2100, potentially destabilizing Asia’s rivers.
3. If the Greenhouse Gas emissions continue at their current level, the region can lose up to 2/3rd of its ice. So, the amount of GHG emissions will determine the amount of glaciers melted in these mountainous ranges.
4. The melting of these glaciers will put a threat on 1.9 billion people.
5. Hind Kush, the world’s third pole is 3,500 km long spread over 8 countries in South Asia and home to 10 major river basins is under severe threat of climate change.
6. 8 Countries covered by Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH region): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.
7. 10 Major river basins in HKH region: Amu Darya, Brahmaputra, Ganges, Indus, Irrawaddy, Mekong, Salween, Tarim, Yangtze, Yellow rivers.
8. The HKH region forms the largest area of permanent ice cover outside of the North and South Poles, and so are often referred to as “Third Pole”.
9. The HKH region is home to 4 global biodiversity hotspots, several important bird areas, and hundreds of mountain peaks. It provides ecosystem services (water, food, energy, etc.) to nearly 2 billion people through its river basins.
10. Melting of glaciers can be a threat to water and food security and increase the risks of disasters.
11. Elevation Dependent Warming is a phenomenon of more increase in temperature in mountains than at lower altitudes.
12. Since the 1970s, about 15% of ice in the HKH region has disappeared as temperature has risen.
13. Water supply in the region is closely dependent on rainfall during monsoon and trickling meltwater from glaciers during dry season.
14. Lower flows of river water due to glacial melting will cut power from hydro dams that generate much of the region’s electricity.
15. Farmers in the foothills and downstream will face a serious impact.
     

What Is Climate Change?

• Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.
• People are experiencing climate change in diverse ways: Climate change can affect our health, ability to grow food, housing, safety and work. Some of us are already more vulnerable to climate impacts, such as people living in small island nations and other developing countries. Conditions like sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion have advanced to the point where whole communities have had to relocate, and protracted droughts are putting people at risk of famine. In the future, the number of “climate refugees” is expected to rise.

Way forward:

• Climate action requires significant financial investments by governments and businesses. But climate inaction is vastly more expensive. One critical step is for industrialized countries to fulfil their commitment to provide $100 billion a year to developing countries so they can adapt and move towards greener economies.

Source: The Hindu

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Himalayan glaciers:

1. Siachen Glacier in Nubra valley has the distinction of being the largest glacier outside the polar and the subpolar regions,
2. Gangotri being the source of the Alaknanda river is one of the most important Glaciers in the country.

which of the following statements is/are correct

a) 1 only,

b) 2only,

c) both 1 and 2

d) none of these

Ans. a) 1 only