Glaciologists cautioned that a further increase in carbon levels could have long-term effects on Himalayan ecology, though they did not concur on whether the melting was alarming.
Is global warming melting all glaciers equally? Geologists and glaciologists are divided. A section of experts believes glaciers respond differently to the phenomenon.
Glaciologists came up with an array of opinions at a workshop on ‘State of Himalayan Glaciers and Snow Packs’ held in the capital earlier this week, but concurred that in-depth studies were needed before a conclusion was reached.
Josefino Comiso of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the US, confirmed different glaciers — even those in same mountain ranges — behaved differently.
He said manual research done on glaciers had less errors than satellite imagery. But that could be rectified by upgrading technology, he said.
Barring those on the intergovernmental panel on climate change, led by RK Pachauri, experts rejected fears that fast melting glaciers were giving rise to an alarming situation. But they cautioned that a further increase in carbon levels could have long-term effects on Himalayan ecology.
Comiso said interesting trends had been noticed in global weather conditions over the decades. While there was a rapid rise in temperature from 1910 to 1942, there was moderate cooling between 1942 and 1975. It was again followed by a phase of rapid rise in temperature between 1975 and 2007. Interestingly, 2008 witnessed cooling, but 2005 was the warmest year in the recent past.
Euro-Asia is more vulnerable to warming than any other part of the world, Comiso said, quoting a recent report submitted after studying the trends since 1981.
Veteran glaciologist VK Raina, who has debunked the theory that Himalayan glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, said the big question was whether glaciers react fast to immediate climatic changes. “There is no doubt Himalayan glaciers are melting, but that does not mean the situation is alarming,” he said.
According to a paper presented by him on the state of the Gangotri glacier, it would take 1,500 years for the glacier to melt at the present rate. Raina buttressed his point through a slide show.
RK Ganjoo of Jammu University, who is working on Siachen and adjoining glaciers, agreed with Raina.
The data available on Siachen from 1958 to 2008 shows that the glacier has melted very slowly. “Only a 500-metre retreat has been witnessed in this 80-km-long glacier in the past 500 years,” he said.
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