PYQ Relevance:
Question: How does the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain. (UPSC 2021)
Reason: It addresses the broader impact of melting ice on weather patterns and human activities, a theme relevant to the permafrost thaw in the Himalayas. |
Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains usually focus on the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers (2021) and the melting of Himalayan glaciers in 2020.
Permafrost, frozen for millennia, is now thawing due to global warming, releasing stored carbon, including methane, a potent greenhouse gas, leading to severe climatic and ecological consequences. It’s melting poses a growing environmental threat in the Kashmir Himalayas, endangering 193 km of roads, 2,415 households, 903 alpine lakes, and eight hydropower projects.
Today’s editorial discusses melting permafrost and its impacts, which is relevant for GS Paper 3 in the UPSC Mains exam.
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Let’s learn!
Why in the News?
A study by researchers from the University of Kashmir and IIT-Bombay, published in Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, found that permafrost covers 64.8% of J&K and Ladakh in different forms.
What is Permafrost?
Permafrost is ground—comprising soil, rock, or sediment—that remains continuously frozen for at least two years. It is found in high-altitude and polar regions, stores carbon, and supports unique ecosystems. However, rising global temperatures are causing it to thaw, leading to infrastructure damage, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental disruptions. |
What are the major environmental and infrastructural challenges associated with permafrost melting in the Kashmir Himalayas?
- Increased Risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs): Thawing permafrost destabilizes moraines, increasing the likelihood of sudden lake outbursts. Example: The South Lhonak Lake outburst in Sikkim (October 2023) and the Chamoli disaster in Uttarakhand (February 2021).
- Damage to Roads and Infrastructure: Melting permafrost weakens the ground, causing landslides and road subsidence, disrupting connectivity. Example: Strategic roads in Ladakh, crucial for military operations, are at risk due to thaw-induced ground instability.
- Threat to Hydropower Projects: Permafrost degradation affects water availability and increases sediment flow, damaging dams and power plants. Example: 8 hydropower projects in J&K and Ladakh are vulnerable to thaw-induced landslides and reduced water flow.
- Loss of Permafrost-Dependent Ecosystems: Thawing disrupts alpine ecosystems, affecting vegetation, wildlife, and water cycles. Example: Decline of cold-adapted species and changing river flow patterns impacting local biodiversity.
- Release of Greenhouse Gases: Thawing permafrost releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, accelerating climate change. Example: Increased methane emissions in permafrost-rich Ladakh contribute to global warming.
Where is permafrost most extensively found in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh?
- Ladakh Plateau & Karakoram Range: Cold-arid climate with high-altitude plateaus and glaciated mountains supports extensive permafrost. Example: Nubra Valley and Changthang Plateau have widespread permafrost due to sub-zero temperatures year-round.
- Drass & Zanskar Region: Known as the “Gateway to Ladakh,” Drass is one of the coldest inhabited places in India. Example: Drass (often recording temperatures below -30°C) and Zanskar Valley exhibit permafrost in high-altitude zones.
- Upper Indus River Basin: The cold, high-altitude valleys along the Indus River, particularly in the Leh region, have significant permafrost. Example: Permafrost is found in areas along the Indus near Leh, impacting groundwater storage and hydrology.
- Siachen Glacier & Surrounding Areas: One of the highest and coldest battlefields in the world, sustaining year-round permafrost. Example: Permafrost is critical in maintaining the stability of the Siachen Glacier and surrounding military outposts.
- Higher Reaches of Kargil: Some parts of Kargil, particularly in remote high-altitude areas, experience permafrost conditions. Example: Permafrost is found in higher elevations of Kargil, but lower valleys may lack continuous permafrost.
Which regions lack permafrost coverage?
- Kashmir Valley (Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla): Relatively lower altitude with temperate climate prevents permafrost formation. Example: Srinagar, despite cold winters, does not have permafrost due to warmer summer temperatures.
- Jammu Region (Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua): Lower altitude and subtropical climate make permafrost formation impossible. Example: Jammu city has hot summers and mild winters, ruling out any permafrost presence.
- Pir Panjal Range: Lower altitude than the Greater Himalayas, experiencing seasonal snow rather than permanent permafrost. Example: Gulmarg and Poonch receive heavy snowfall but do not sustain permafrost.
- Chenab and Jhelum River Valleys: Warmer valley temperatures prevent permafrost formation, though higher peaks may have seasonal ice. Example: Areas like Pahalgam and Kupwara experience snow cover but lack permafrost due to fluctuating temperatures.
- Lower Altitudes of Kargil and Leh: While upper reaches have permafrost, lower valleys experience enough summer warmth to prevent it. Example: Kargil town itself does not have permafrost, but surrounding mountains do.
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What are the causes of the thawing of permafrost?
- Rising Global Temperatures (Climate Change): Increased greenhouse gas emissions lead to higher atmospheric temperatures, accelerating permafrost thaw. Example: In Ladakh, rising temperatures have led to permafrost degradation in the Changthang Plateau, impacting traditional grazing lands.
- Infrastructure Development & Human Activities: Roads, buildings, and military installations generate heat, disrupting the thermal balance of permafrost. Example: The construction of roads like the Zojila Tunnel and military bases in Siachen has contributed to localized permafrost thaw.
- Reduced Snow Cover & Glacial Retreat: Snow acts as an insulating layer, preventing permafrost from direct exposure to warming air. Reduced snowfall accelerates melting. Example: The retreat of glaciers in Zanskar Valley has exposed underlying permafrost to warmer temperatures, leading to faster thawing.
- Increased Rainfall & Changing Precipitation Patterns: More rainfall instead of snowfall leads to surface warming, infiltrating the soil and speeding up permafrost thaw. Example: Parts of Drass have seen changing precipitation patterns, where more rain in summer accelerates permafrost degradation.
- Forest Fires & Loss of Vegetation Cover: Vegetation helps insulate the ground; its loss due to deforestation or fires exposes permafrost to direct heat. Example: In Ladakh, overgrazing by livestock in Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary has led to soil erosion, increasing permafrost vulnerability.
What are the steps taken by the government?
- Monitoring and Research Initiatives: The Indian government, in collaboration with research institutions like the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), is conducting studies on permafrost dynamics in Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir. Example: DGRE has set up monitoring stations in Drass, Kargil, and Siachen to study permafrost stability and assess risks to infrastructure.
- Climate Resilient Infrastructure Development: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is adopting new engineering techniques, such as thermosyphons and insulated road layers, to prevent permafrost degradation in road and tunnel construction. Example: In the construction of the Zojila Tunnel, special insulation techniques are being used to minimize heat impact on permafrost.
- Afforestation and Sustainable Land Management: Programs under CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority) and National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) aim to restore vegetation cover, which helps maintain permafrost stability. Example: Reforestation efforts in Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and Ladakh’s high-altitude areas help in reducing soil erosion and insulating the permafrost layer.
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Way forward:
- Integrating Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Planning: Adopt permafrost-friendly construction techniques, such as thermosyphons and passive cooling methods, in strategic roads, hydropower projects, and military installations to minimize thawing-related damage.
- Strengthening Monitoring and Adaptive Strategies: Expand permafrost monitoring networks, enhance research on thaw impacts, and implement community-based adaptation measures, such as sustainable grazing and afforestation, to mitigate long-term environmental risks.
