The Hindu: Published on 25th Dec 2024:
Why in News?
A new study has revealed that permafrost covers 64.8% of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, with its thawing posing significant risks to roads, households, lakes, and hydropower projects. Permafrost degradation has been largely overlooked in the region despite its implications for infrastructure and climate change.
Key Findings of the Study
Conducted by University of Kashmir and IIT-Bombay, the study analyzed 21 years of satellite data.
It found that 87% of Ladakh is covered with permafrost, while the Jammu foothill plains, Shigar Valley, and Siwaliks have none.
Types of permafrost in the region:
Continuous permafrost: 26.7%
Discontinuous permafrost: 23.8%
Sporadic permafrost: 14.3%
How Permafrost Degradation Affects the Region?
Infrastructure Damage:
193 km of roads and 8 hydropower projects are at risk.
Buildings and military infrastructure in Ladakh are vulnerable.
Environmental Consequences:
Release of methane from melting permafrost intensifies global warming.
Contributes to the formation and expansion of glacial lakes, increasing risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
Disaster Risks:
The Chamoli disaster (2021) and South Lhonak Lake outburst (2023) were linked to melting permafrost.
332 proglacial lakes in J&K are vulnerable, with 65 lakes at high risk.
Water Supply Disruptions:
Permafrost-fed rock glaciers contribute to river flows; their degradation could reduce groundwater and river levels.
Tourism and Human Activity:
Deforestation, real estate expansion, and dam construction accelerate permafrost thaw.
Scientific & Policy Gaps-
Lack of in-situ monitoring: No real-time ground data collection, relying mostly on satellite remote sensing.
Limited Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA): Hydroelectric projects often ignore permafrost risks in feasibility studies.
Unclear policies: No clear mitigation strategies for permafrost-affected regions.
Suggested Mitigation Measures-
- Integrate Permafrost Data in Infrastructure Planning: Avoid building roads and settlements in unstable permafrost zones.
- Better Monitoring Systems: Deploy data loggers to track temperature variations in high-risk areas.
- Revise Disaster Management Strategies: Incorporate cryospheric hazards in national disaster planning.
- Increase Awareness & Research: Strengthen scientific studies on permafrost and climate adaptation policies.
Conclusion-
Permafrost degradation is an emerging environmental threat in Kashmir and Ladakh. While climate change is a major driver, human activities are worsening the risks. Without proactive policies and scientific interventions, the region may face severe infrastructure damage, water scarcity, and disasters in the near future.
