The increasing impact of climate change has now started seriously affecting the glaciers, the source of river Ganga. Shocking figures have emerged in a 51-year long study (1973-2024) conducted by the Wadia Himalayan Institute of Geology. According to the study, not only the length of the glaciers of Bhagirathi Basin is decreasing, but their thickness is also continuously decreasing. This situation is a sign of serious danger to the water flow and ecological balance of the Ganga in future.
In this study published in the international research journal Results in Earth Sciences, scientists for the first time analyzed the changes in the thickness of the major glaciers of the Bhagirathi Valley. In the research, a comparative study of data between the years 1973 and 2024 was done. It was found that between 1973 and 2000, the rate of decrease in ice thickness in the Gomukh area, the end of Gangotri Glacier, was about 0.10 meters per year, which was relatively slow. This rate has increased rapidly since 2000. This indicates that the impact of climate change is greater now than ever before,
Geology scientist’s statement
Dr. Rakesh Bhambri, senior scientist at Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, said, “This study is very important for understanding the mass imbalance of glaciers in the Himalayan region.” He said that the decreasing thickness of glaciers is directly related to the increase in average temperature and change in rainfall pattern. Both these factors are increasing the rate of glacier melting, which is not only affecting the water supply of major rivers like the Ganga, but is also threatening the ecosystem and biodiversity of the region.
UK scientists also cooperated
Scientists from Punjab Central University, Bathinda and University of Leeds (UK) also collaborated in the study. Experts say that 238 small and big glaciers of Bhagirathi basin play an important role in keeping the Ganga eternal. In such a situation, decreasing the mass of these glaciers means a serious challenge to water resources in the future. Dr. Bhambri said that the findings of this study are a warning for policy-makers and environmental scientists. There is a need to further strengthen the regular monitoring system in the Himalayan region and work quickly on climate adaptation strategies, so that the Ganga can remain a life-giving stream in the coming years.
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