A recent study published in the Journal of Indian Society of Remote Sensing in March 2024 reveals alarming signs of glacial retreat in Himachal Pradesh’s Dhauladhar mountain range, with significant implications for water resources in the Kangra Valley. The research, conducted by scientists from the Central University of Jammu, Himachal Pradesh University, and Galgotias University, highlights that glaciers in the region are melting at an accelerated rate, leading to a potential water crisis in the valley.
The study found that the glaciers, which once covered 50.8 square kilometers, have shrunk to 42.84 square kilometers between 2010 and 2020. Additionally, the number of glacial lakes in the Dhauladhars has increased from 36 in 2000 to 43 by 2020, a consequence of rapid glacial melting and fragmentation. Over the past two decades, there has been a 15.71 ± 8.76% loss in glacier area.
The scientists point to rising winter temperatures as the primary cause of this glacier shrinkage, with the accumulation season becoming warmer. This change in temperature patterns, combined with land use and land cover changes, has accelerated the reduction in glacier size.
The study also underscores the growing number of small-sized glaciers and a decline in medium-sized glaciers. Although no significant changes have been observed in large glaciers, the increase in glacial lakes poses a new risk, with the potential for lake outbursts in the future. The research calls for strategic planning to manage these risks and to safeguard the water resources in the downstream areas, which depend heavily on glacier meltwater from the Dhauladhar range.
The Dhauladhar mountain range, which spans Kangra and Chamba districts, is home to peaks ranging from 1,000 meters to over 6,000 meters above sea level, and its glaciers serve as the source of the Ravi River. The shrinking glaciers threaten the long-term water security of the region, with the growing glacial lake volume further complicating the situation.
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