Recent images by ISRO raise concern over heap of glacial lakes and this concern has been expressed worldwide over the Himalayan glacial lakes’ expansion.
The most recent satellite images of the Himalayan glacial lake, released by Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO, reveals a significant increase over the last three to four decades. Based on data from ISRO, over 600 lakes which amount to 89% of all the glacier lakes in the Himalayas have doubled in size in the last 30 to 40 years.
Since 1984 to 2023 Long-term satellite images covering catchments of Indian Himalayan river basins shows major change in glacial lake. Sixty-six glacial lakes of the 2,431 lakes larger than 10 hectares that were detected between 2016 and 2017 have significantly grown since 1984. Sixty-six glacial lakes of the 2,431 lakes larger than 10 hectares that were detected between 2016 and 2017 have significantly grown since 1984. Categorically , 130 of these lakes are situated in India, with the basins of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers housing 65, 7, and 58 lakes, respectively.
The Ghepang Ghat glacier lake (Indus River Basin), located in Himachal Pradesh, India, at an elevation of 4,068 metres, has seen long-term changes. From 1989 to 2022, its area increased by 178%, from 36.49 to 101.30 hectares. An approximate of 1.96 hectares are added annually at this rate.
The expanding glacial also pose a major risks, such as Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). Which may have devasting effect on the folks residing downstream. Because glacial lakes starts releasing massive amount of meltwater due to the failure of natural dams, such as those made of moraine or, ice . that cause abrupt and severe flooding downstream.
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