“Goddess” glacier melting in Kashmir

WASHINGTON - Latest data from a 2009 New Delhi-based Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) expedition shows that in the past four decades, the Kolahoi glacier in Kashmir, which is popularly known as “goddess of light”, has lost between 15 to 18 percent of its total volume.

The Kolahoi glacier in the western Himalaya is known as Gwash Brani-”goddess of light”-to the millions of people in India and Pakistan who depend on its yearly run-off for survival.

Surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the world’s tallest mountain range, the Kashmir region, disputed over by India and Pakistan, is home to thousands of glaciers.

According to a report in National Geographic News, the latest data from a 2009 TERI expedition shows that in the past four decades, Kolahoi has lost between 15 to 18 percent of its total volume.

The research also shows that the glacier is retreating by almost ten feet (three meters) a year.

Last year, TERI established the first program to measure Kashmir’s glaciers, selecting Kolahoi, in the Liddar Valley, as a focus area.

A local called Ganai was hired by TERI to help with the expeditions to Kolahoi, making him the first in his village to study climate change.

Though Ganai does not have enough scientific experience to trek to the accumulation zone, he and six other members of the team play a vital role collecting data on the lower portions of the glacier know as the ablation zone, or the area where the ice melts.

Ganai and colleagues first drill a series of holes into the ice of the ablation zone and then take pre-measured sticks and place them in the holes.

After each melting season, the team will measure the length of the pole exposed, take notes, and repeat the procedure.

This tells them how much the volume of the glacier has changed between melting seasons.

According to TERI glaciologist Shresth Tayal, the research done on Kolahoi will have a global impact.

“We do not have much reliable data on western Himalayan glaciers,” he said.

“If you want to know what the global impact of climate change is going to be and make accurate projections, you can not exclude the Himalaya from the Rockies and the Alps,” he added.

To measure the flow of meltwater through the Liddar Valley, TERI established a monitoring station in the West Liddar River, the main tributary of the Jhelum River, which is one of the largest rivers in Kashmir.

“Each day the station is collecting data on a looming disaster,” Tayal said. (ANI)