Why is the melting of Siachen catastrophic for the South Asian region?
In the last 25 years, the glacier has been reduced to 35 percent and is retreating three dimensionally, thinning vertically at an alarming rate, as well as retreating horizontally, at approximately more than 100 metres per year. The melting of Siachen and other glaciers due to this (India-Pakistan) conflict is already causing variance in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, but its worst impact on global sea level rise remains under-estimated and understudied. Rising sea level is the most serious threat to the populations living on and along the coast. Q: Is it unprecedented compared to other glaciers in the Himalayas? A: Yes, the recession is unprecedented when you compare it to other neighbouring Himalayan glaciers like Bara Shigri, Gangotri and Chhota Shigri. Q: Can you cite the factors that have contributed to the accelerated melting of the Siachen glacier? A: Permanent base camps on the glacier, cantonments in its vicinity, hourly helicopter flights to retrieve w
