20 July 2022.
Introduction:
Recently, Researchers unravelled why some areas of glaciers in the Karakoram Range are going against the worldwide trend of glacial melt due to climate change.
Highlights
- Even in Himalayas, glaciers are losing mass.
- Researchers linked this phenomenon to “resurgence of western disturbances (WDs)”.
- The phenomenon of Karakoram not losing glacier mass, is known as Karakoram Anomaly”.
What is the issue?
- In India, Himalayan glaciers are very significant, specifically for people living downstream. They depend on perennial rivers for daily water needs.
- However, due to global warming and climate change, the water bodies are rapidly disappearing.
- On the other hand, glaciers in central Karakoram have remained the same.
- In fact, they have risen slightly in past few decades.
- This phenomenon is restricted to a relatively small area. Apart from Karakoram range, similar or comparable phenomenon can be witnessed from Kunlun ranges.
About the New Study
- Recently, a study was published in American meteorological Society’s Journal of Climate, explaining about the unusual pattern in Karakoram range.
- Researchers are claiming that, revival of western disturbances is the main factor of triggering and sustaining Karakoram Anomaly since the 21st century started.
- For the first time, this research brought forth the significance that increased Western disturbances precipitation during accumulation period modulates the regional climatic anomalies.
The Karakoram Range
- The Karakoram Range is located in Kashmir, spreading across the borders of Pakistan, China, and India.
- In northwest, it spreads to Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
- Most part of the Karakoram Mountain range lies in Gilgit-Baltistan, the region controlled by Pakistan. K2 is the highest peak of Karakoram range, which is also the world’s second highest peak.