Researchers found that the average annual retreat of some glaciers under observation — five metres till the late 1950s — slowed down with the advent of 1990.
The fear that Himalayan glaciers might disappear in the next couple of decades might not be true. A first-of-its-kind study conducted by GB Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Almora (Uttarakhand), for the ministry of environment suggests that most of the 9,500 Himalayan glaciers are receding — the smaller ones at a faster clip — but not all.
Researchers found that the average annual retreat of some glaciers under observation — five metres till the late 1950s — slowed down with the advent of 1990. In fact, glaciers such as Siachen, Machoi, Drung Drung, Gangotri, Satopanth, Bhagirath Kharak and Zemu did not retreat during 2007-2009.
The scientists found no evidence to suggest that the general retreat was because of climate change, but also could not give any other reason. Senior environment ministry officials said all glaciers under observation received less snowfall during 1970-1990, resulting in a negative snow mass balance. They said the two glaciers under observation, Hamta in Himachal Pradesh and Chorabari in Uttarakhand, were also showing a negative snow mass balance.
“We did not find anything abnormal in our study. I agree glaciers are shrinking and there is a negative snow mass balance, but there is no evidence to suggest it is because of climate change,” VK Raina, who retired as deputy director general of Geological Survey of India, said, adding that there was annual decline in snowfall.
To gather more data on the glaciers, the ministry has sought the help of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro). It wants Isro to do satellite mapping of important glaciers for three years.
“We’ve also received a proposal from Teri [The Energy and Resources Institute] for a study on black carbon. It is a three-year project with a budget of Rs3 crore,” environment minister Jairam Ramesh said. “We are not challenging the intergovernmental panel on climate change. They know of our study. It is time to depoliticise the glacier issue and have a debate based on scientific facts.”
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