'Threat To Glaciers': Why Scientists Are Worried About Uttarakhand Wildfires

‘threat to glaciers’: why scientists are worried about uttarakhand wildfires

In Uttarakhand, the battle against wildfires has taken a toll on the region’s forests, since November, 1,107 hectares of forest cover have succumbed to 886 separate incidents of wildfires, sparking concerns about the profound impact on the local ecosystems. On Monday, 18 fire outbreaks took over 21.9 hectares of forest.

These fires have claimed three lives, and authorities have charged 61 individuals with deliberate arson. The intense heat and emission of black carbon make the situation worse posing threats to water systems and air quality. The Forest Survey of India (FSI) has issued multiple fire alerts to Uttarakhand, emphasising the severity of the ongoing crisis.

P S Negi, a former scientist from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, sheds light on the broader ecological implications. He warns that the increased concentration of black carbon in the atmosphere, particularly during summer due to forest fires, exacerbates glacier melting and disrupts the delicate balance of the entire ecosystem.

“In summer, black carbon concentration increases in the atmosphere due to forest fires, which impacts the melting of glaciers and the entire ecosystem,” he said, reported Times of India.

A recent study conducted by the World Bank underscores the role of black carbon in accelerating glacier melt. According to the report, the accumulation of black carbon not only diminishes the reflectance of glacier surfaces, leading to increased absorption of solar radiation, but also elevates air temperatures, further accelerating glacier retreat.

Researchers from the G B Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, led by J C Kuniyal, are diligently investigating the sources of black carbon accumulation on glaciers. Kuniyal said that activities such as forest fires, transboundary pollution, and vehicular emissions all contribute to the deposition of black carbon, exacerbating the ecological crisis in the region.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns of accelerated glacier retreat in the Himalayas and heightened risks of natural disasters like glacial lake outburst floods. Their recent study states the need for concerted efforts to mitigate the impacts of black carbon emissions and safeguard the fragile ecosystems of the Himalayan region.