Increasing Temperature and Low Winter Precipitation are Causing Retreat of Glaciers in Zanskar Valley, Ladakh

Source: PIB

What is the News?

According to a study by Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Pensilungpa Glacier (PG) located in Ladakh”s Zanskar Valley is retreating.

About the Study:

• Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun, is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology. The WIHG has been studying the glaciers since 2015.
• Method: The study is based on the field observations of glacier mass balance collected via stake networking over the glacier surface from 2016-2019.
  • Stake networking is a method where a stake made of bamboo is installed (insert) on the glacier surface using the steam drill for mass balance measurement.

Key Findings of the Study:

• Pensilungpa Glacier (PG) located in Zanskar, Ladakh is retreating. The study has attributed the retreat to an increase in the temperature and decrease in precipitation during winters. 
• The study also points to the significant influence of debris cover on the mass balance and retreat of the glacier’s endpoint, especially in summer.
• It is also possible that the precipitation of summer periods at higher altitudes will change from snow to rain, and that may influence the summer and winter patterns.
• The study suggests that due to continuous rise in the air temperature in line with the global trend, the melting would increase.