Attention is drawn to the cause of an unusual natural disaster in the Himalayan alpine region of Uttarakhand Province in northern India, in which more than 170 people disappear from a sudden flood.
The flood was accompanied by powerful rapids like a tsunami. The rapids swept not only those who could not evacuate, but also to hydroelectric power plant facilities, dams, bridges, and villages.
According to the local media and foreign media on the 8th, experts agree that this’water crisis’ occurred the previous day at an altitude of 7,816m near Mt.
Experts agree that the glacial collapse is due to global warming.
However, opinions are divided on how the glaciers collapsed to form these torrents.
One of the most influential theories is that the large pools of glaciers were flooded with standing water.
The collapse of glaciers near the puddle, rise in water levels, and weakening of the ground pushed down a huge amount of water.
It is analyzed that global warming has contributed to the formation of puddles in the ice area.
As the average temperature rises, the massive glaciers melt and fall away, and the space is filled with moraine, ice, and water.
Some even form glacial lakes beyond mere puddles nestled between glaciers. Thousands of glacial lakes are known to exist in the Himalayas.
However, according to the results of scientists’ satellite images and Google map reading, it is known that there are no large glacier lakes near the flooded area.
Mohamed Farouk Azam, assistant professor of glaciology at Indore at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), told Times of India daily, “There is a possibility that there is a puddle that caused flooding in the area.” And further analysis is needed.”
It is also possible that a huge chunk of ice from the glacier spilled into the river along with mud and rocks, eventually leading to a flood.
Ice researcher DP Taunt told the British public BBC that this is a promising theory, as a huge amount of sediment flowed down this time.
It is also possible that the flow of the river, which was blocked by avalanches and landslides, overflowed as the water level rose.
However, it was analyzed that torrential rains in the alpine regions were not the cause of this flood. This is because the weather in the area was clear at the time of the flood.
In particular, experts are paying attention to the fact that this flood occurred in the middle of winter, not in the summer when the glaciers melt.
Environmental expert Anil Joshi told The New York Times that “glacial collapse shows the potential for climate change.” “Changes in temperature have affected the separation of glaciers.”
Uttarakhand Province, where the foothills of the western Himalayas are located, is considered an area vulnerable to “slap floods” and landslides.
In June 2013, a record heavy rain poured out, causing landslides and floods called the’Himalayan tsunami’, killing some 6,000 people.
As this area is susceptible to natural disasters, some experts have argued that power plants or dams should not be built in the past.
Former Indian Water Resources Minister Uma Bati said, “When I was in office, I insisted that the Himalayas should not be built because it is a very sensitive area.”
“The dams that have been damaged by the flood this time are only a few miles away from the Nandadebi mountain glacier,” said Josi Anil.
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