Efforts on to monitor Himalayan glaciers

Efforts are underway for the regular monitoring of the dynamics and climate studies of Himalayan glaciers, Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said Wednesday.

"Efforts are underway for regular monitoring of glacier dynamics, snow and glacier melting, geometrical changes and climate studies of the Himalayan glaciers," Jitendra Singh said in reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

He added: "A number of glaciers have already been taken up for long-term measurements on glacier-climate interaction by several government agencies."

Studies so far show the Himalayan glaciers are melting. However, the rate, amount and patterns differ.

"The Wadia Institue of Himalayan Geology in Dehradun has set up a number of Automatic Weather Stations to collect real-time weather parameter data at different altitudes in the glacierised areas of the Himalayas to assist and evaluate the climate change...," the minister said.

Jitendra Singh added that his ministry has also identified a few benchmark glaciers for continuous monitoring to understand their dynamics.