Nagaland, Feb 19: Researchers from Nagaland University, Lumami, and Cotton University, Guwahati, have found that glaciers in Arunachal Pradesh have shrunk a lot over the last 30 years. This is worrying because the Himalayas, called the ‘Third Pole,’ hold the most glaciers outside the polar areas and provide fresh water to over 1.3 billion people downstream.
The study was led by Dr. Latonglila Jamir from Nagaland University and Dr. Nabajit Hazarika from Cotton University, with help from research scholars Vimha Ritse and Amenuo Susan Kulnu. It was published in the Journal of Earth System Science. According to the statement, they used remote sensing and geographical information systems to look at glacier changes from 1988 to 2020. Most glaciers in the area sit between 4,500 and 4,800 meters above sea level.
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The results show a big drop in glacier size. In 1988, there were 756 glaciers covering 585.23 square kilometers. By 2020, only 646 glaciers remained, covering 275.38 square kilometers. That’s an average loss of 16.94 square kilometres per year. Smaller glaciers, less than 5 square kilometres, are shrinking faster.
Dr. Jamir said in the statement, “The consequences of glacier retreat go beyond the region. Communities relying on glacial meltwater for farming and drinking might face shortages later. At first, melting glaciers could cause flooding and unsteady rivers, but over time, less glacier mass means less water. Growing glacial lakes could also lead to sudden, dangerous floods.”
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The statement said studies on the Eastern Himalayas are limited, but this research helps show how glaciers there are changing and what it means for water in the future. The researchers called for ongoing monitoring and better plans to manage water resources as climate change affects the Himalayas.