PERMAFROST COLLAPSE -INDIA’S ARTIC EXPEDITION: GEOGRAPHY

PERMAFROST COLLAPSE -INDIA’S ARTIC  EXPEDITION: GEOGRAPHY

NEWS : Glaciologist digs deep into permafrost to gauge future disasters

 

 WHAT’S IN THR NEWS ?

Glaciologist S.N. Remya from Kerala, currently part of India’s Arctic Expedition at the Himadri research station in Norway, is studying permafrost collapse—a significant concern due to climate change. Her research focuses on the potential disaster risks from melting permafrost in the Himalayas and aims to provide early warnings to vulnerable communities.

Permafrost:

  • Ground that stays frozen (0°C or lower) for at least two years, mainly found in Arctic regions (Greenland, Alaska, Canada, Russia, Eastern Europe).

Composition:

  • Permafrost consists of soil, rocks, and sand held together by ice. It remains frozen all year but is not always snow-covered.

Impact of Global Warming:

  • Rising temperatures are causing permafrost to thaw, destabilizing the ground.

Relevance of Permafrost in the Himalayas:

·         Permafrost collapse is a growing concern in the upper Himalayas, though its link to recent disasters like the South Lhonak glacial lake flood is still unclear.

Lhonak Lake:

  • A glacial-moraine-dammed lake in northwestern Sikkim, it is one of the 14 lakes at risk of a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF).

Himadri Station:

  • India's first permanent Arctic research station, located 1,200 km from the North Pole in Svalbard, Norway.

Gruvebadet Observatory:

  • India's atmospheric science facility in the Arctic, housing atmospheric observation networks.

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/glaciologist-digs-deep-into-permafrost-to-gauge-future-disasters/article68698268.ece