Sikkim launches study of risk posed by glacial lake outburst flood
GANGTOK: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) of Sikkim has launched a scientific expedition to the East Rathong glacier in West Sikkim.
Beginning on June 22, 2024, this two-week-long mission aims to deepen the understanding of glacier dynamics and assess the impacts of climate change in the Himalayan region.
The expedition is being led by a team of distinguished scientists and researchers from DST, equipped with advanced instruments and technologies to ensure precise and accurate data collection.
East Rathong Glacier, a valley-type glacier, spans an average width of 800 meters and is situated in the Gyalshing district under Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim.
The glacier sits at an elevation ranging from 4600 to 6700 meters above sea level and is one of the sources of the Rangit River in Sikkim.
The expedition requires a three-day trek from Yuksom, the last motor-able village in West Sikkim.
The main glacier occupies an area of 4.8 square kilometres and stretches 7 kilometres in length, with a total catchment area of 19.8 square kilometres up to the gauging site.
Since 2012, the Science and Technology Department of Sikkim has been conducting long-term monitoring of the East Rathong Glacier, with extensive field research carried out twice a year.
One of the core objectives of this mission is to minimize the threat of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF), which has been a focus of the Sikkim State Climate Change Cell under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE).
In this context, nineteen potentially vulnerable glacial lakes have been identified in Sikkim.
The current expedition includes scientific studies of three such lakes.
The primary objectives of the current field expedition include:
· Conducting bathymetric surveys of three potentially vulnerable glacial lakes: Rathong Lake, Bhaley Pokhari, and Tikip La Lake.
· Installing stakes to study glacier velocity.
· Examining the vertical retreat of East Rathong Glacier.
· Analyzing the glacio-hydrology of East Rathong meltwater streams.
· Maintaining and upgrading the automatic weather station at Rathong Glacier.
The catastrophic flood on October 4, 2023, which caused significant damage to infrastructure and disrupted communities, underscored the urgent need for comprehensive glacier and glacial lake studies in Sikkim.
This expedition aims to provide scientific data that will guide policies and strategies for climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the region.