Context: In a study by the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research which is based on the analysis of satellite images of 77 glaciers, observed that the glacier area decreased from 176.77 sq. km in 2000 to 171.46 sq. km in 2020, which is nearly 3% of the total glacier area.

• The pace of glacial recession varies among the glaciers ranging from 0.24% to 15%.
• The study highlights that the debris cover had a great impact on glacier melting, as the clean glaciers lost about 5% more than debris-covered glaciers.

Reasons for the fast paced glacial melting

• The study attributes this fast pace of glacial recession to the increasing vehicular movement in the region.

• The study also found that there was a significant increase in the black carbon concentration between 1980 to 2020. 

• The increase in the black carbon concentration is due to the proximity to the  National Highway as heavy vehicles are responsible for 60% of black carbon emissions.

• The region has been experiencing a massive military movement on both sides of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since 2020.

Impact of glacial melting

• Melting of glaciers results in an increase in the sea levels, which in turn increases coastal erosion and impacts the lives and livelihoods of the people residing in the areas.

• Further, it elevates storm surges as warming air and ocean temperatures result in more frequent and intense cyclones, hurricanes and typhoons

• It also causes the extinction of various species (terrestrial and aquatic) as their natural habitat is impacted.

• Further, the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas will have a significant impact on the water resources as there will be a change in the glacier basin hydrology and downstream water budget.

• Melting of glaciers will also cause flash floods and sedimentation and in turn impacts important hydropower plants.

• The Melting of glaciers also leads to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).

Road Ahead

• Since the fast pace deletion of the glaciers in the Himalayan region has a significant impact on the regional water resources, hydrological processes, ecosystem services and transboundary water sharing, there is an immediate need for the governments of these countries to collaborate and intervene to arrest the pace of glacial melting.