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Change in course of Himalayan glacier can help to understand the glacial-tectonic interaction (GS: 1 Geography)

Change in course of Himalayan glacier can help to understand the glacial-tectonic interaction (GS: 1 Geography)
  • About: Indian researchers studying an unnamed glacier in the upper Kali Ganga valley, have reported that glacier had abruptly changed its main course.
  • WIHG: Scientists of Wadia Institute Himalayan Geology, autonomous institute under the DST, GOI, found that the unnamed NE moving glaciers had abruptly truncated and forced to move SE.
  • Observations: The WIHG team observed that:
    •  The 5 Km long unnamed glacier moved, truncated and ultimately merged with the adjacent glacier named Sumzurkchanki as a result of tectonic forcing.
    • It is one of unique behaviours of the glacier, and no such observation has so far been reported on this type of glacier kinematics.
    •  Climate is not the only factor that triggers disasters in the Himalaya, which is an active mountain range, but tectonics also plays an important role in glacial catchments.
  • Conclusion: Study opens new doors for a new approach in glacier studies, focused on the course change and evolution of new landform formed by glacial-tectonic interplay.