RECEDING PART OF NATURAL CYCLE GLACIERS UNDERGO: REPORT

THE PIONEER , Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Correspondent : PNS | Dehradun

The expert group formed by the Prime Minister to assess the actual condition of Himalayan glaciers has submitted its report to the Prime Minister. The report was submitted by the expert group headed by IIT Mumbai Professor Anand Patwardhan. It states that though some glaciers in the Himalayan range are receding, this cannot be taken as a valid basis for predicting the complete meltdown of glaciers or the drying out of the Ganga river.

It is pertinent to mention here that the panel was set up following the report of the United Nations Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) regarding the threat of glaciers melting in the Himalayas.

The IPCC had stated that considering the rate of glaciers melting, the Himalayan glaciers would disappear by the year 2035 leading to a controversy regarding the probable fate of important glaciers in the Himalayan mountain ranges from where major rivers including the Ganga and Yamuna originate.

According to Chandi Prasad Bhatt, noted environmentalist and member of the expert group headed by Professor Patwardhan, the report to the PM consists of data on the present condition of Himalayan glaciers, a guide map for future and important recommendations for ensuring the preservation of glaciers in the Himalayas.

Scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing and Space Application Centre Hyderabad among other institutions were involved in the study undertaken by the expert group, making it the largest integrated and detailed study of its kind on glaciers in India so far, said Bhatt.

Bhatt, who is also a Padma Bhushan recipient and one of the motivators of the Chipko Movement, said that the report to the PM acknowledges the fact that many glaciers in the Himalayas are receding backwards while also stressing that in no way are these glaciers on the brink of disappearing due to meltdown.

Receding is part of a natural cycle which all glaciers undergo, he added. The report consists of data on the activities of hundreds of glacier groups in the Himalayan mountain range. Whereas some glaciers are melting and receding at a rate of about 1 to 2 metres per year, the Jaundar Bamak glacier where the Tons river originates is receding at a rate of more than 37 metres per year.

Bhatt further informed that the panel has also recommended the formation of a nodal institution for facilitating a setup and its use for constant monitoring of Himalayan glaciers and detailed research on glaciers.

The nodal institution would not only facilitate the detailed research but also make available the data collected through studies where needed. The report recommends establishing as many monitoring centres in the Himalayas as possible so as to ensure accurate results of research conducted on glaciers. It also recommends that in the future a facility should be made to provide all information about Himalayan glaciers from one centre to avoid confusion caused by conflicting information released by different institutions.

 
SOURCE : http://www.dailypioneer.com/253543/Receding-part-of-natural-cycle-glaciers-undergo-Report.html
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us