Rate of retreat of Gangotri glacier has slowed down to 11 metres since 2008 from the maximum of 35 metres recorded in 1974.
This is according to experts at the Almora-based GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD) who conducted a study of the glacier located in Uttarkashi from 2008 till 2016.
While the slowing down of the rate of recession is good news, since it means that the glacier is not melting at a rate fast enough, scientists said that the worrying part is that the base of the 30-km long glacier is thinning.
As a result, it has become more fragile.
Gangotri is a gigantic glacier extending over a total area of 144 sq km. Because of its huge size, it takes longer to show any change with regard to climatic patterns.
But there are instances of indirect impact which have been caused due to the prevalence of small glaciers situated above Gangotri.
When temperatures rise, these glaciers melt fast due to their small size and the water generated from them flows down and seeps into the crevasses of the Gangotri glacier, causing them to melt from the bottom.
As the small glaciers are situated on the right side of the Gangotri glacier, it is the right side of the base that is most impacted.
Due to thinning of its shape, Gangotri glacier has become vulnerable to fragmentation which would ultimately lead to breakage and loss of water, happening and creating fissures.
Gangotri Glacier- Gangotri Glacier is located in Uttarkashi District, Uttarakhand, India.
- This is in a region bordering China.
- This glacier, one of the primary sources of the Ganges, is one of the largest in the Himalayas.
- It has an estimated volume of over 27 cubic kilometres.
