Himalayan Glacial Lakes Saw 10.81 Per cent Area Expansion From 2011 to 2024: Report

New Delhi: Glacial lakes and or water bodies across Himalayan region saw a 10.81 per cent increase in area from 2011 to 2024 due to climate change, signalling a heightened risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), according to a government report.

Central Water Commission's (CWC) report, which was accessed by PTI, states that with a 33.7 per cent expansion of surface area, lakes in India experienced an even more substantial rise.

" total inventory area of glacial lakes within India was 1,962 hectares during year 2011 which has increased to 2,623 hectares during year 2024 (September). re is a 33.7 per cent increase in area," report said.

It also identified 67 lakes in India that witnessed an over 40 per cent increase in surface area, placing m in high-risk category for potential GLOFs.

Lakh, Himachal Presh , Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Presh showed most table expansions, signalling a heightened risk of GLOFs and need for intensified monitoring and disaster preparedness.

Glacial lakes and or water bodies across Himalayan region saw an overall area increase of 10.81 per cent from 5,33,401 hectares in 2011 to 5,91,108 hectares in 2024 due to climate change, report said.

rapid expansion of se lakes is attributed to accelerated melting of glaciers due to rising temperatures in region, with potentially severe consequences for downstream communities, infrastructure and biodiversity, it said.

Physically, shrinking of mountain glaciers and expansion of glacial lakes are amongst most recognisable and dynamic impacts of climate warming in this environment, it said.

"refore, under such a changing environment, a close watch on relative change in water spre area of even smaller lakes has become very crucial in this region," report said.

sudden and often catastrophic floods occur when glacial lakes breach ir natural moraine dams, releasing large volumes of water downstream.

CWC stressed that increased water spre of se lakes demands rigorous monitoring and urgent risk manment strategies.

To overcome challenges in tracking se remote lakes, a senior official said, CWC has leverd vanced satellite techlogy, particularly Sentinel-1 Syntic Aperture Rar (SAR) and Sentinel-2 multispectral imry that enable precise and all-wear monitoring.

" high-resolution capabilities of se satellites allow CWC to detect changes in lake size with 10-metre accuracy, even in challenging conditions such as cloud cover. This monitoring techlogy is critical in providing timely updates on state of se high-risk lakes, reby enabling early interventions when necessary," official said.

CWC report also underscored transboundary risks posed by expanding glacial lakes in neighbouring countries, including Bhutan, Nepal and China.

Given interconnected nature of river basins across Himalayan watershed, collaboration with se countries is crucial to managing potential impacts of GLOFs, it underlined.

report called for joint monitoring efforts and data sharing to build a more comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation strategy.

It highlighted urgent need for international and regional cooperation in developing early warning systems, enhancing disaster manment plans, and promoting community awareness initiatives to safeguard vulnerable populations.

implications of area expansion of glacial lakes extend beyond flood risks and can impact water availability in region's major river systems, including Ganga, Brahmaputra and Indus.

Using data from 2011 and drawing comparisons with five and 10-year avers, CWC's report identified patterns of glacial lake expansion that allow authorities to pinpoint high-risk areas.

official cited above said with its commitment to reducing monitoring intervals and improving data precision, CWC aims to establish a robust system for early detection and response to evolving challenges posed by Himalayan glacial lakes. 

(Except for heline, this story has t been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)