ISLAMABAD:
Experts believe that military activity across the Siachen area caused the glacier to ‘surge’, which led to the recent tragedy in the Giari sector.
“It was neither a cloudburst nor an avalanche, but a ‘glacier surge’ that took the lives of our soldiers,” said Arshad Abbasi, an authority on glaciers and a consultant with the Sustainable Development and Policy Institute (SDPI).
Glacier surges are caused either by a rise in temperature or tectonic movements, during which glaciers advance substantially, he said.
Having checked the record of tremors occurring in the last month and not finding any evidence, Abbasi insists that a rise in temperature caused the ice at the base of the glacier to melt, reducing the frictional resistance keeping it from sliding downwards.
The rise in temperature is directly proportionate to the excessive military presence in the area, he said.
The latest images of the glacier show “visible cracks in its midst and the number of glacial lakes formed beneath it,” he added. Abbasi also rejected the impression that global warming was causing the Siachen glacier to melt.
The adjoining Baltoro Glacier is not only stable, but has also gained mass compared to its volume in 1904, he said.
He cited a NASA report titled ‘Advancing Glaciers and Positive Mass Anomaly in the Karakoram Himalaya’ which states that more than 65% of glaciers in the Karakoram are growing.
“Therefore, it is a myth that Siachen is melting because of global warming; it is a case of direct human interference,” Abbasi said.
He said it is time that the global community works with Pakistani and Indian leaders to save Himalayan glaciers by solving the long-standing Siachen dispute.
Meanwhile, adviser to the federal government on climate Qamar Zaman Chaudhry said heavy military presence of India and Pakistan has definitely had an impact on the glacier surge in Siachen.
He agreed that the area needs to be declared an independent glacier park by withdrawing forces from both sides.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2012.
COMMENTS (18)
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It is serious discussion on complex subject, ask the families of more than 800o soldiers on both sides. But here let make point that Mostly almost 80 % Glaciers in Karakorum are growing, except Siachen. Please read latest 342 pages, Book ‘The Karakoram Anomaly’ based on field observation by R. Baudo, Gianni Tartari, Elisa Vuillermoz – published in 2007.
@Arshad: I agree with you, and that part of the expert is correct and both countries should back off. Theset things can be triggered by and dynamic activity and the arming of glacier must be stopped. However, the part that I disagree with the expert is the denial of global warming and in fact increase in the amount of glacier and its mass. Regards, Mirza
Even a slight pressure from a skier can trigger avalanches. Do not blame Military activity. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLMPNj1HK_c
The expert's opinion seems logical. Both India and Pakistan must be stopped by the UN to deploy troops on glaciers which are damaging the environment.
Did he warn Military authorites and what was their response? Real experts warn before something happens. There is no shortage of monday morning quarterbacks in our nation. The simple truth is, there are many places on earth where human beings should not leave their footprint. If we travel in Pakistani mountains, there is hardly any place where houses are not built. Only very high unapproachable mountains are spared from humans and these humans have least respect for nature. Majority of the hills and mountains have been wiped out of trees and grass. Is there any report from experts about this humiliation of nature? After disaster, these experts will come forward to deliver their lectures, but it will be too late then.
@raw is war: Keep dreaming!!!
take Siachian take the whole world ,but just save one LIFE
@raw is war: In your dreams!
Sorry- siachin is still is ours.
Can someone explain to me why we are both (Pak-India) fighting over a GLACIER?? What are we gonna do - build a PC resort over there at 15000 feet? JUst make it neutral and both armies get out of there - enough lives have been lost on both sides for no reason!!
Any expert who can shed light if this massive snow slide might have been the result of using some sophisticated resonance equipment or a laser beam. I guess, even if quite a little energy is applied at some critical point, then initially a small scale snow slide can build into what happened here.
Ice can expand pending on temperature/what step in the process of freezing and melting the ice is in. One such example being when it's initially melting it expands.
Military activity in this particular area has never been a factor even remotely to be considered.
What are the credentials of this expert who is single handedly rejecting the global warming? If the glaciers are melting and growing at the same time that means there would and should be no shortage of water in the rivers. However, the water is becoming more and scarcer.
What happened to global warming?