Yala Glacier

20 Jan 2025

Yala Glacier

Yala glacier, one of Nepal’s most extensively studied glaciers, is expected to vanish by the 2040s.

  • According to WMO and UNESCO, there are more than 275,000 glaciers worldwide.
    • It covers approximately 700,000 sq km and with ice sheets, storing about 70% of the global fresh water.

About Yala glacier

  • Yala Glacier is situated in the Langtang Valley, central Nepal.
  • Significance and Monitoring

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  • Global Glacier Casualty List
    • Launch: The project was launched in 2024.
    • Main Collaborators : Rice University, University of Iceland, Iceland Glaciological Society, and UNESCO.
    • Purpose: To track the status of glaciers worldwide and raise awareness about their decline.

    • It is a key representative of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region in the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) database.
    • Critical Status : It’s the only glacier in the Himalayas on the Global Glacier Casualty List.
    • It plays a vital role in studying the cryosphere.  

About Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)

  • It is a mountain range in central Asia.
  • Known as:  Third pole 
  • This region comprises the third-largest storage of frozen water. 

What is Glacier Retreat?

  • Glacier retreat refers to the shrinking of glaciers in size and mass due to melting, evaporation, and other environmental factors.
  • Yala glacierRetreat of Yala Glacier
    • The glacier has lost  36% of its total area during the period between 1974 and 2021
  • Impact of Warming
    • The Hindu Kush Himalayan cryosphere is warming twice as fast as the global average, leading to the accelerated melting and retreat of glaciers in the region.
  • Other Critically Endangered Glaciers
    • Pico Humboldt Glacier: Disappeared in Venezuela in 2024.
    • Sarenne Glacier: Disappeared in France in 2023.
    • Dagu Glacier: In China, expected to disappear by 2030.
    • Chinese Glacier Shrinkage: Chinese glaciers have shrunk by 12,442.4 sq km, losing 20.6% of their total area.

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Impacts of Melting Glaciers and Cryosphere

  • Disruption of Ecosystems and Livelihoods
    • Glaciers and ice sheets store 70% of the world’s freshwater, essential for ecosystems and human survival.
    • 240 million people in the Hindu Kush Himalayas depend on glaciers for water and livelihoods.
  • Increased Risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
    • Rapid melting creates unstable glacial lakes.
    • These lakes can breach, causing devastating floods in downstream areas.
  • Climate Feedback Loop
    • Melting glaciers reduce the Earth’s albedo (reflectivity).
    • Less reflectivity increases heat absorption, accelerating global warming.

Cryosphere

  • The cryosphere refers to the frozen areas of the Earth, which include:
    • Snow
    • Ice (glaciers, ice caps, and sea ice)
    • Frozen ground (permafrost).
  • It plays a critical role in maintaining the planet’s climate and water cycle.
  • Importance to the Cryosphere
    • The glacier is essential for studying the cryosphere, which serves as a vital water resource for approximately 240 million people living in the Himalayan region.

Initiatives to Protect the Cryosphere

  • Global Efforts
    • UN Initiatives
      • 2025 is declared as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.
      • March 21 to be observed annually as World Day for Glaciers.
      • Other Global Efforts
        • Himalayan Adaptation Network by IUCN.
        • Living Himalayas Initiative by WWF.
  • India’s Efforts
    • National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem: Focuses on preserving the Himalayan region.
    • Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS): Monitors glacier-related events and issues GLOF alerts.
    • Polar Missions:
      • IndARC (2014): India’s observatory in the Arctic for glacier and climate monitoring.

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