Blame it on climate change. Jammu and Kashmir’s cherished glaciers are fast retreating, setting alarm bells ringing among experts about a possible environmental hazard.
Blame it on climate change. Jammu and Kashmir’s cherished glaciers are fast retreating, setting alarm bells ringing among experts about a possible environmental hazard.
Topping the list is the Kolahai glacier, which has retreated by 18% since 1976. “From 13.87 square km it is now 11.24 sq km. Plus the annual rate of retreat is 0.08 sq km, which is quite high,” said Dr Shakeel Ramshoo, convener of the working group, Climate Change Research, Kashmir University. What is more alarming is the retreat of the glacialised area of Suru. It used to be 72 sq km in area 40 years back and has shrunk by 16.43%. Dozens of small glaciers of Suru have already disappeared.
Alarmed experts from the US, UK, Australia, Nepal and different parts of India have converged here for a three-day international workshop on climate change, to identify the problem areas and recommend remedial measures. Organised jointly by the University of Kashmir, Government of J&K, and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the workshop will see a host of experts present their papers on the subject.
“The average increase in temperature in Kashmir is higher than the global average. Over the last century, the global average increase in temperature is 0.72°C, while for Kashmir it is 1°C. Particularly our winter temperature is showing greater increase,” Dr Ramshoo said. University of Kashmir vice-chancellor Prof Riyaz Punjabi said there were indicators suggesting climate change as Kashmir has lost a season called Sont Kaal (small season before spring).
“Those in the age group of 15-25 can’t identify with this season. The change in temperate apart, a variety of vegetables in Kashmir are an indicator of climate change. There is also a need to address the issue of glacial retreat. Glaciers are a source of water for the water bodies in J&K,” he said.
Pradeep Mool of International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Nepal said studies show that most glaciers in the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau have been shrinking at accelerated rates in recent decades and most Valley glaciers too are retreating.
“Vertical shift of upto 100m has been recorded in the last 50 years with glacier terminus retreat rates of 50m per year for certain glaciers. This is evidence that glacier trucks and glaciers below 5,000m will disappear by end of this century,” Mool said.
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