As ice frozen for millennia thaws, Kashmir wakes up to new risks

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 7)

What is Permafrost?

• Permafrost refers to ground that has remained frozen for at least two years.

• It stores large amounts of organic carbon, which is released as methane when it melts, worsening climate change.

Extent of Permafrost in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

• Permafrost covers 64.8% of the total geographic area of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.

• 26.7% of this area has continuous permafrost, 23.8% has discontinuous permafrost, and 14.3% has sporadic permafrost.

• The Ladakh plateau has the highest permafrost coverage (87%), while the foothill plains of Jammu, Shigar Valley, and Siwaliks do not have any permafrost.

Main Causes of Permafrost Degradation

• Rising surface temperatures due to global warming are the primary cause of permafrost melting.

• Human activities such as deforestation, land-use changes, and wildfires impact permafrost stability.

• Infrastructure development, including roads, dams, and real estate projects, disturbs permafrost.

• Tourism and related activities increase environmental pressure in these regions.

Potential Risks and Hazards

• Thawing permafrost threatens thousands of glacial lakes in the Indian Himalayas.

• In Jammu & Kashmir, 332 proglacial lakes have been identified, with 65 posing a risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

• Melting ice in steep mountain regions can trigger avalanches and landslides, similar to past disasters in Uttarakhand and Sikkim.

• Permafrost degradation may also impact groundwater reserves and river flow.

Need for Sustainable Planning

• Future road construction should consider permafrost presence to prevent long-term damage.

• Environmental impact assessments for hydroelectric projects must account for permafrost-related risks.

• Settlements in permafrost-rich areas, including military infrastructure in Ladakh, face increased risks.

• Installing in-situ monitoring systems, such as data loggers, can provide accurate temperature data for better permafrost monitoring.