- Home
- Current Affairs
- Current News
- ISRO: Over 27% Expansion of Glacial Lakes in Himalayas
ISRO: Over 27% Expansion of Glacial Lakes in Himalayas
- 23 Apr 2024
On 22nd April,2024, ISRO reported over 27% expansion of Himalayan glacial lakes since 1984, with 130 lakes in India, highlighting the impact of climate change on freshwater sources and GLOF risks.
Key Points
- Indian Glacial Lakes: Out of 676 expanding lakes, 130 are in India, primarily situated in the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra River basins, highlighting regional implications.
- Elevation Analysis: Analysis reveals that most expanding lakes are located at elevations between 4,000 to 5,000 meters, emphasizing the vulnerability of high-altitude regions.
- Formation Categories: Glacial lakes categorized into moraine-dammed, ice-dammed, erosion, and others, showcasing the varied mechanisms of formation and expansion.
- Case Study: ISRO highlights the significant expansion of the Ghepang Ghat glacial lake in Himachal Pradesh, indicating a 178% increase in size since 1989.
- Climate Change Impact: Himalayas, termed the Third Pole, face heightened sensitivity to climate change, impacting glacier retreat rates and freshwater sources.
- GLOF Risks: Expansion of glacial lakes raises concerns about Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), posing risks to downstream communities and infrastructure.
State In News
State In News
State In News
- Andhra Pradesh
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Bihar
- Chhattisgarh
- Delhi
- Goa
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Jammu And Kashmir
- Jharkhand
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Ladakh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Nagaland
- Odisha
- Punjab
- Rajasthan
- Tamil Nadu
- Telangana
- Tripura
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
- West Bengal