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Ecology & Environment
Mahesh

13/01/24 07:30 AM IST

Over 100 active permafrost structures identified in Jhelum basin, can cause catastrophic disasters in future: Study

In News
  • The Kashmir Himalayas are dotted with permafrost structures called ‘rock glaciers’, with significant ice volumes within, a new study mapped.
Major Highlights
  • More than 100 of these had ridges and bulges on their body, which indicates that the permafrost in them has started moving or melting.
  • These are called ‘active glacial rocks’ and may contribute to natural disasters as the region warms.
Rock glaciers
  • Rock glaciers are a type of landform that consists of a mixture of rock fragments and ice.
  • Rock glaciers typically form in mountainous regions where there is a combination of permafrost, rock debris, and ice.
  • Permafrost is a permanently frozen layer on or under Earth's surface. It consists of soil, gravel, and sand, usually bound together by ice.
  • One common scenario involves a pre-existing glacier that accumulates debris and rocks as it moves. Over time, if the glacier recedes or thaws, the debris-covered ice can transform into a rock glacier.
  • These rock glaciers occur in highly elevated regions with steep slopes.
  • To the naked eye, the rock glaciers look like regular ground, they require a geomorphological view for proper identification.
Thermokarst
  • This is a type of terrain that is characterized by irregular surfaces of marshy hollows and small hummocks (ridges), formed by the thawing of ice-rich permafrost.
  • The active rock glaciers could lead to the formation of thermokarst features, such as ponds or lakes, that could alter the hydrology, ecology, and carbon cycle of the region.
  • The presence of water bodies near Kulgam town, Jammu and Kashmir suggests the existence of permafrost underground, resembling 'thermokarst lakes', which can pose further risks.
Jhelum basin
  • The Jhelum basin is drained by the upper Jhelum River, which originates from a deep spring at Vernag at Anantnag, situated at the base of the Pir Panjal range in the Kashmir Valley, the river passes through Srinagar and Wular Lake before entering Pakistan.
  • As a tributary of the Indus River, the Jhelum contributes to the larger river system in the Indian subcontinent.
  • The river flows through Jammu and Kashmir and into Pakistan, where it joins the Chenab River.
  • The primary tributary is the Kishenganga (Neelum) River.
Source- DTE

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