The retreat of the Pindari Glacier in the Himalayan region has been confirmed by scientists through a combination of ground analysis and satellite data. This evidence not only highlights the impact of global warming but also poses a significant threat to the local environment.
Pindari Glacier is situated in the Bageshwar district of Uttarakhand, India. It is one of the three main glaciers of the Kumaun Himalayas It’s altitude is roughly 3,660 meters above sea level. It is fed by the snow-covered peaks of Nanda Devi, Nanda Kot and Api. The glacier has been under constant retreat since 1962 and has decreased in length by more than one kilometer over the years.
The threats to a glacier like Pindari are climate change and human activity. Rising global temperatures due to greenhouse gasses has had a direct impact on the glacier. Rising temperatures have caused the glacier to retreat rapidly, resulting in the danger to the local communities, which depend on its water.
Another threat is human activity. The increasing number of tourists to the glacier view point has caused a surge in pollution and unrestrained development. It also caused the destruction of vegetation and other flora, which are crucial for such a fragile environment. Further, the road and bridge construction in the region has caused sediment to enter the glacier, further contributing to its rapid retreat.
In the last decade or so, Pindari Glacier has become very popular with adventurers and trekkers. Even school children in faraway metro cities have started going there for their first adventure trek. Its accessibility, comparatively easy gradient, and stunning scenery make it an ideal destination for trekking. The glacier also provides a unique view of the Kumaon range of the Himalayas. Unfortunately, it has lost an estimated 11% of its surface area since 1962. This has greatly impacted the local environment, as the snowmelt from the glacier is the source of the Pindar, a major tributary of Alaknanda river, which is a crucial source of water for downstream local communities. Additionally, the glacier’s retreat has caused landslides, avalanches, and floods in the region.
Ground Analysis
Historically, the first recorded mention of Pindari glacier was by British geologist Thomas Thomson in 1841. He was the first to map the glacier and ascend to its base camp. Later, several members of the 1884 Himalayan expedition led by William Martin Conway, visited this glacier.
Subsequently, specially in the last decade, scientists have conducted extensive field studies to assess the changes in the Pindari Glacier. By measuring the glacier’s length, thickness, and volume over several years, they have observed a consistent pattern of retreat. These on-the-ground observations provide valuable insights into the glacier’s behavior and help in understanding the long-term effects of climate change.
Pindari glacier has been receding at an average rate of 3.5 meters per year since 2000. This rate is much faster than the global average and has caused the glacier to shrink to more than a quarter of its original size.
Satellite Data
In addition to ground analysis, satellite data has played a crucial role in confirming the retreat of the Pindari Glacier. Satellite imagery allows scientists to monitor the glacier’s changes over a larger scale and provides a comprehensive view of the region. By comparing images taken at different times, they can identify the shrinking of the glacier and its impact on the surrounding landscape.
In an extensive study, jointly by Kumaun University, Nainital; Uttarakhand Space Application Centre, Dehradun; and Indian Institute of Science Education And Research Kolkata, the scientists measured the retreat of the Pindari glacier from 1976 to 2014, using visual interpretation of remote sensing data. They used global positioning system (GPS) coordinates to determine the latest snout position in 2014, and marked the location of snout using a series of periodic Landsat images and manually digitized records. The scientists reported that the cumulative glacial retreat was 1569.01 metres over the four decades. Similar studies on various aspects of glacier eco-systems have been conducted by various other groups of scientists, concluding more or less the same result of high rate of glacier retreat.
Proof of Global Warming and Environmental Threat
The retreat of the Pindari Glacier serves as a compelling proof of global warming. The significant reduction in the glacier’s size is a direct consequence of rising temperatures and changing climate patterns. This alarming trend not only affects the local ecosystem but also has broader implications for water resources and weather patterns in the region.
Furthermore, the retreat of the Pindari Glacier highlights the urgent need to address non-sustainable practices and the extensive push for tourism in the area. Unregulated tourism and unsustainable activities contribute to the degradation of the environment, further exacerbating the impact of climate change. It is crucial to adopt sustainable practices and raise awareness about the importance of preserving these fragile ecosystems.
To check the rise of global temperature is beyond imagination at the moment. It is a bitter established truth. What we can do is to delay the process of this rise and to understand the sustainability as an essential lifestyle and policy matter. Regulate tourism, reduce pollution and plant trees can be the initial mitigation strategy, but given the contours of developing hill state, it is easier said than done.
