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Himalayan Glaciers Retreat 25 KM, Experts Warn of Kedarnath-Like Disaster
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News18•20-09-2026, 23:34
Himalayan Glaciers Retreat 25 KM, Experts Warn of Kedarnath-Like Disaster
- •A new scientific review reveals rapid retreat of glaciers in the Indian Central Himalayas, raising concerns among scientists and environmental experts.
- •The study, by UPES and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, found 23 major glaciers collectively receded by 25.6 kilometers.
- •Khatling Glacier is among the fastest retreating, with an average rate of 88 meters per year between 1965 and 2014.
- •Glacier retreat is not solely due to rising temperatures; supraglacial debris also plays a significant role, sometimes slowing melt.
- •Milam Glacier retreated approximately 480 meters from 2004-2014, with 47 glacial lakes forming in front of it.
Key Questions Answered
The study examined 23 major glaciers in the Indian Central Himalayas, which collectively recorded a cumulative recession of 25,621.01 meters, or approximately 25.6 kilometers.
The Khatling Glacier in Tehri Garhwal is among the fastest retreating glaciers, recording an average retreat rate of a staggering 88 meters per year between 1965 and 2014.
The accumulation of rock and soil debris on a glacier's surface can act like insulation, slowing down surface ice melt and causing debris-covered glaciers to retreat relatively slower at their fronts compared to clean-ice glaciers.
