Glaciers recede with global warming and climate change
According to a United Nations Environment Programme and World Glacier Monitoring Service study, the average melting rate of mountain glaciers has doubled since the turn of the millennium, with record losses seen in 2006, at several sites.
JAMMU AND KASHMIR Chief minister Omar Abdullah, admitted on Thursday, October 15, that the environment of the state had suffered extensive damage and little had been done to preserve it.
“The damage has been done. We are experiencing the effects of climatic changes. Summers are getting hotter while the winters are becoming warmer, cropping patterns have changed and there is shortage of water. But we don’t want to admit that we are polluting the environment,” Omar said, concluding a function of the three day ‘International Work Shop on Climate Changes, Glacial Retreat and Livelihood' held at the University of Kashmir.
Kolahoi, the biggest glacier in North India, which feeds the region’s main river, is melting faster than the other Himalayas glaciers, threatening the water supply of thousands of people, according to a new report on Monday.
Experts say that the rising temperatures are rapidly shrinking the Himalayan glaciers, underscoring the effects of climate change that have caused temperatures in the mountainous region to rise by about 1.1 degrees Celsius in the past 100 years.
Kolahoi, which is spread over just a little above 11 sq km (4.25 sq mile), has shrunk by 2.63 sq km in the past three decades, the study said. The three year-long study was led by glaciologist Shakil Ramsoo, assistant professor in the department of geology at the University of Kashmir. The Kolahoi glacier is the main source of water for Kashmir’s biggest river, the Jhelum and its many streams and lakes.
According to a United Nations Environment Programme and World Glacier Monitoring Service study, the average melting rate of mountain glaciers has doubled since the turn of the millennium, with record losses seen in 2006, at several sites.
But, India’s Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said in August there was a need for more scientific studies to conclusively establish the link between climate change and shrinking glaciers. He said while “a couple of” Himalayan glaciers were receding, some others such as the Siachen glacier were advancing, while others like the Gangotri were receding at a decreasing rate compared with the last two decades.
Ramsoo said, “Other small Kashmir glaciers are also shrinking and the main reason is that the winter temperature in Kashmir is rising.” Experts say the melting of Kashmir glaciers could have serious fallout as most Kashmiris rely on glaciers for water.
“The global warming and climatic changes don’t respect boundaries whether political or geographical. These processes are affecting the agriculture and are visible in form of drought like situations which hit different parts of the state recently”, Omar Abdullah added.
He stressed that there was a need to balance the development requirements vis-a-vis preservation of the environment and multi-dimensional steps were the need of hour to ensure an end to the untimely climatic changes. The onus, he remarked , lay on the government to protect the environment and make people aware about the situation.
The minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Mian Altaf, said the need of the hour was to fully establish the department vis-a-vis infrastructure and manpower prior to taking steps to protect the environs. Besides, there should be coordination between different departments on this front, he said. “Protection of forests is must to save the environment and bring respite from untimely climatic changes. There is also a need to work on climatic changes”, he added.
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