New Delhi: Amid raging forest fires in Uttarakhand that have burned over 1,140 hectares of forest cover since November 2023, experts have warned that this could accelerate the melting of Himalayan glaciers.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the fires, exacerbated by the Indian government’s inadequate response to climate change and forest conservation, release black carbon, a pollutant that absorbs heat and light, causing glaciers to melt faster.
Scientists say that protecting vegetation around glaciers is crucial to preventing further melting. The World Meteorological Organization has also warned that accelerated glacier retreat in the Himalayas could increase the risk of glacial lake outburst floods.
The Indian government’s lack of effective measures to address deforestation, pollution, and climate change has contributed to the crisis, experts claim.
The World Meteorological Organization has also warned that accelerated glacier retreat in the Himalayas could increase the risk of glacial lake outburst floods.
