{"id":81334,"date":"2026-08-12T18:10:03","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T12:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=81334"},"modified":"2026-08-12T18:10:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T12:40:28","slug":"ladakh-glaciers-slowdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/12-08-2026\/ladakh-glaciers-slowdown","title":{"rendered":"Ladakh\u2019s Glaciers Are Slowing Down"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>According to a new study, between 1992 and 2023, 12 glaciers in the Zanskar region of Ladakh slowed at an average rate of <strong>2.4 m\/year per decade,<\/strong> along with increased glacier thinning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are Glaciers?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They are <strong>large and thick masses of ice<\/strong> that are formed on land due to the accumulation of snow over centuries.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They hold <strong>70 per cent of the Earth\u2019s freshwater<\/strong>, currently encompassing around <strong>10 percent<\/strong> of the planet\u2019s land area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Glacial processes of erosion, transportation, and deposition, creating distinct erosional and <strong>depositional glacial landforms.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"64605d\" data-has-transparency=\"true\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-98-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"glaciers\" class=\"has-transparency wp-image-81336\" style=\"--dominant-color: #64605d; width:481px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-98-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-98-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-98-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-98-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-98.png 1278w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Findings of the Study<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Glacier slowdown:<\/strong> The research found that in the past three decades the surface velocity of glaciers has gone down.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Accelerating thinning: <\/strong>The glacier surface thinned at a faster rate, from <strong>0.22 m\/year<\/strong> in 2000\u201305 to <strong>0.57 m\/year<\/strong> in 2015\u201320.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reason: <\/strong>Since warmer temperatures cause more loss and thinning of ice, when glaciers thin their driving stress decreases and this reduces the force, driving ice down slope.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reduced ice transport: <\/strong>Slower glaciers transfer less ice from the high elevation accumulation zones to lower elevation where melting occurs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regional variation: <\/strong>Not all the glaciers reacted to warming in the same way. Factors influencing glacier flow speed include glacier geometry, debris cover, and conditions at the glacier terminus (snout).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance of Zanskar Glaciers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Zanskar region contains some of the <strong>largest and most widespread glaciers <\/strong>in the Himalaya. <strong>Example:<\/strong> Machoi Glacier, Parkachik Glacier etc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They are <strong>natural reservoirs of fresh water<\/strong> that release it as meltwater throughout the warmer months.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This seasonal supply feeds the rivers, ecosystems, farms and local residents in the otherwise parched Ladakh area.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dfdfdf\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"647\" height=\"504\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-97.png\" alt=\"zanskar glaciers\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-81335\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dfdfdf; aspect-ratio:1.283738955200744;width:453px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-97.png 647w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-97-300x234.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 647px) 100vw, 647px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Implications for the Indus Basin<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Glaciers contribute to <strong>Indus River flows<\/strong> during the<strong> dry summer <\/strong>months, when rainfall is limited.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Initially, accelerated glacier melting can increase river discharge, a phenomenon known as <strong>peak water<\/strong>. However, once glaciers lose a substantial share of their stored ice:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Meltwater contribution is expected to decline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Long-term water availability may become more uncertain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Risks may emerge for agriculture, hydropower, ecosystems and downstream water security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Global Initiatives to Conserve glaciers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Paris Agreement 2015<\/strong>: Aims to limit global warming to well below 2\u00b0C, preferably to 1.5\u00b0C, above pre-industrial levels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High Mountain Summit (WMO):<\/strong> Recognizes mountains and glaciers as climate sentinels and promotes early warning systems and enhanced data sharing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI):<\/strong> Established in<strong> 2009 <\/strong>as a result of the <strong>COP-15<\/strong>, it is a network of senior policy experts and researchers that works with governments and organizations.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It creates and implements initiatives designed to preserve the Earth\u2019s cryosphere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE)<\/strong> is a government initiative aimed at addressing climate change and its impacts on the Himalayan region.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It focuses on developing sustainable strategies, and addressing issues like glacial melt, natural hazards, and biodiversity loss.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Arctic Council: <\/strong>It is a forum for Arctic countries to collaborate on environmental protection, sustainable development, and climate change mitigation in the Arctic region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global Ice Monitoring Initiatives:<\/strong> Like the World Meteorological Organization&#8217;s <strong>Global Cryosphere Watch (GCW)<\/strong> and the European Space Agency&#8217;s <strong>CryoSat mission <\/strong>use satellite-based remote sensing to monitor changes in glaciers and ice sheets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Establish a <strong>coordinated Himalayan glacier-monitoring network<\/strong> using satellite remote sensing, drones and ground-based observations to track glacier mass balance, thickness, velocity and meltwater discharge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expand automated weather stations<\/strong> at higher elevations to generate reliable data on temperature, snowfall, precipitation and radiation, which are essential for accurate glacier modelling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protect wetlands, springs and high-altitude ecosystems <\/strong>that can act as natural water buffers, while preventing unsustainable development in fragile mountain areas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/ladakh-giant-rivers-of-ice-slowing-down-mountains-warm-melt-water\/article71331636.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> According to a new study, between 1992 and 2023, 12 glaciers in the Zanskar region of Ladakh slowed at an average rate of 2.4 m\/year per decade, along with increased glacier thinning. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> What are Glaciers? <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> They are large and thick masses of ice that are formed on land due to the accumulation of snow over centuries.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> They hold 70 per cent of the Earth\u2019s freshwater, currently encompassing around 10 percent of the planet\u2019s land area. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/12-08-2026\/india-arctic-engagement \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81334"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81339,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81334\/revisions\/81339"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}