News: Scientists have extracted deep ice cores from the Kon-Chukurbashi ice cap in the Pamir Mountains to study why glaciers in this region have resisted melting and even slightly grown.
About Pamir Mountains
- Location: The Pamir Mountains are primarily located in Tajikistan, with parts extending into Afghanistan, China, and Kyrgyzstan.
- They are situated at a junction with other significant mountain ranges, including the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Hindu Kush, and Himalayas.
- The Pamir Mountains are part of the greater Pamir-Alai system, which stretches from west to east for 560 miles (900 km), and from north to south for 250 miles (400 km).
- Physiographic Structure: Major ranges include the Trans-Alai, Akademii Nauk, Sarykol, Muzkol, and Alichur ranges.
- Major Peaks and Glaciers: The highest peak is Ismail Samani Peak (7,495 m), followed by Lenin (Ibn Sina) Peak.
- Extensive glaciation occurs due to heavy snowfall, with the Fedchenko Glacier being the largest, dominating the central Pamirs and feeding several major river systems.
- Eastern and Western Pamirs: The eastern Pamirs have high plateaus, rounded mountains, and broad valleys with relatively low relief.
- The western Pamirs are sharply dissected, with steep ridges, deep gorges, fast-flowing rivers, and narrow zones suitable for human settlement along alluvial fans.
- Pamir–Karakoram anomaly: It refers to the unusual behaviour of glaciers in the Pamir, Karakoram, and Western Kunlun ranges, where glaciers remained stable or slightly grew while most glaciers worldwide were shrinking.
- Reason behind the anomaly: Increased winter snowfall due to Western Disturbances added more ice to glaciers, while cooler summer temperatures reduced melting.
- The Kon-Chukurbashi ice cap in the Pamir Mountains is the only mountainous region on the earth where glaciers have not only resisted melting, but even slightly grown.
- Drainage System: Most meltwater drains into the Panj and Vakhsh rivers, forming the Amu Darya, vital for downstream irrigation.
- Geological Structure: Geologically, the Pamirs are divided into northern, central, and southern zones. They contain Precambrian metamorphic rocks, Paleozoic marine deposits, and younger sedimentary formations, shaped by intense folding, faulting, overthrusts, and frequent seismic activity.
- Climate Characteristics: The climate is cold, arid, and continental, with severe winters and mild to warm summers.
- Temperature extremes are common, snowfall is heavy at higher elevations, and Afghan winds cause summer dust storms and convectional rainfall in western valleys.
- People and Economy: Eastern Pamirs are inhabited mainly by pastoral Kyrgyz, while western valleys are home to Ismaili Mountain Tajiks.
- Livelihoods include yak herding, agriculture, orchards, and trade.
- Roads and historic Silk Route corridors connect the Pamirs to Central Asia and China.
- Flora: Vegetation ranges from alpine bogs and steppe grasses in the east to juniper, willow, and fruit trees in western valleys.
- Fauna: Wildlife includes Marco Polo sheep, ibex, brown bears, wolves, snow leopards, and high-altitude birds like lammergeiers.
