- In Himalayas glacial lakes are filling up all due to glaciers retreat and this issue has not received any attention yet.
- Himalayan glaciers retreat would cause severe damage in the area and human settlement will be more vulnerable to its threat.
- Himalayan mountains and glaciers retreat driven by Climate change are prone to Earthquakes.
- The outcomes of glaciers retreat are reduced glacier areas and more landslides in the regions.
For more information, you might also want to read: Third Pole Is Melting – Himalaya-HinduKush-Karakoram Glacier.
A news source has reported that there is no monitoring system for Himalayan glaciers retreat and this issue has many disastrous consequences associated with the process. Himalayan ranges have the largest number of glaciers but unfortunately, the ice is melting due to increased temperature caused by global warming.
Experts have given their statements by saying that a comprehensive understanding is missing related to the situation in the Himalayan ranges. What possible hazards it would bring is unknown.
The process of glaciers retreat is dangerous itself because the outcomes are often catastrophic. Rockfall and landslides become common due to thinning out the glaciers. This process has the capability to block rivers and rivers-linked channels, streams, etc said by scientists. It is assumed that Himalayan glaciers retreat would cause severe damage in the area and human settlement will be more vulnerable to its threats.
You might also be interested in: Glacier Melting and Glacial Retreat – Causes, Effects, Solutions.
Due to the complex geography of the Himalayan Mountains, the monitoring system cannot be launched without proper observation. The regions of Hindu Kuch and the Himalayas have more than 50,000 glaciers out of which 30% are under observation.
Himalayan glaciers retreat driven by Climate change is prone to Earthquakes. The earthquakes destabilize the glacier slopes. Climate change is causing uncontrollable glacier retreats. The changing weather conditions in the Himalayas may bring frequent floods. The sudden glacier collapse at Tibet Mountain in 2016 took 9 human lives and caused livestock loss followed by another similar incident after few months. In 2012 avalanches at the Siachen glacier took 140 human lives.
The outcomes of glaciers retreat are reduced glacier areas and more landslides in the regions. From 1999 to 2018, there are more incidents of landslides and glaciers retreat events have also increased in numbers. Surveys based on satellite images evaluated by scientists have shown that 127 landslide events happened during the period 2009-2018.
Experts have indicated that huge masses of rocks are glued with glaciers. The glacier retreat is carrying a potential danger of catastrophic events. The glacier lakes are getting filled up with water from the Himalayan glacier retreats. This can result in GLOF events. For further info, read: Glacial Lake Outburst Floods in Pakistan- Causes and Effects.
It is concluded in the news that the countries that surround the Himalayan mountain ranges could take efficient steps in dealing with this issue.
Also check out: 15 Environmental Problems Our World is Facing Right now
I hope you all liked this post! Please comment below if you have any suggestions, comments, or feedback! We at #envpk love hearing from our readers! Thanks!
