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According to CWC Report, Himalayan Glacial Lakes Expanded Over 10% in Area from 2011 to 2024.

National | Dated: 14 Nov 2024

According to the CWC's report, glacial lakes and other water bodies across the Himalayan region witnessed an overall increase of 10.81% in areas, from 5.33 lakh ha in 2011 to 5.91 lakh ha in 2024 due to climate change, which indicates towards increased risk of GLOFs.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - As per the report, the total inventory area of glacial lakes in India has increased by 33.7%, i.e., from 1,962 ha in 2011 to 2,623 ha in 2024 (September).
  • - The report has identified 67 lakes in India that experienced an over 40% expansion in surface area, placing them in the high-risk category for potential GLOFs.
  • - The report cautioned that the rapid expansion of these GLOFs, attributed to increased melting of glaciers due to increasing temperatures in the region, could lead to severe consequences for downstream communities, infrastructure, and biodiversity.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) The report emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring of glacial lakes, even smaller lakes, due to their potential for sudden, catastrophic GLOFs.
  • (ii) The CWC report highlighted the transboundary risks posed by expanding glacial lakes in neighbouring countries, including Bhutan, Nepal, and China.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Recently, according to a CWC report, by what percentage did the Himalayan glacial lakes expand in area from 2011 to 2024?

Correct Answer: 10.81%

🚀 Quick Recap: