On a late Friday evening, ten Nepali climbers made history by ascending Mount Everest via the southern route, marking the first summit of the spring climbing season. Nepal’s Tourism Department confirmed that the climbers reached the peak at 8:15 pm local time, setting the stage for hundreds more climbers to follow in the coming weeks. This significant development is accompanied by China’s reopening of the Tibetan approach to Everest, further enhancing the appeal of the world’s tallest mountain.
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ISRO’s long-term satellite imagery shows significant changes in Himalayan glacial lakes since 1984. Of the 2,431 lakes over 10 hectares identified in 2016-17, 676 have expanded notably. These expanding lakes are predominantly moraine-dammed or erosion-formed, with a few ice-dammed lakes. The elevation analysis reveals that 314 lakes are located between 4,000 to 5,000 m, while 296 lakes are above 5,000 m elevation. ISRO highlights the importance of long-term change analyses for understanding glacial lake dynamics, assessing environmental impacts, and managing GLOF risks in glacial environments.
Analysis of satellite imagery covering the Himalayas reveals a significant increase in the size of 676 glacial lakes larger than 10 hectares since 1984. This expansion poses a growing risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which can cause devastating flooding downstream. Of the 676 expanding lakes, 130 are located within India, with the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra River basins accounting for the majority. Experts emphasize the need for effective risk management and international collaboration to address the potential hazards posed by these expanding lakes.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has reported that 89% of the 2,431 glacial lakes identified in the Himalayas between 2016 and 2017 have expanded significantly since 1984. This expansion is a worrying sign, as it can lead to cascading consequences in the lower regions due to warming temperatures and melting glaciers. Long-term satellite data reveals that many glacial lakes have more than doubled in size, with some even growing 1.5 times their original size. The study highlights the importance of understanding glacial lake dynamics for environmental impact assessment and risk management in glacial environments.
