Itanagar: The second joint scientific expedition to Khangri Glacier in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh, was officially launched by State Chief Secretary Manish Kumar Gupta from the Civil Secretariat on Thursday. The event was attended by key officials, including Sumedha, Secretary of Science and Technology, and Tage Tana, Director of the Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CES&HS).
The expedition team comprises scientists, research associates, and technical officers from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa, CES&HS Itanagar, and research scholars from IIT Roorkee. This collaborative effort aims to conduct comprehensive glaciological and cryosphere studies in the Arunachal Himalayas.
The research team will undertake several critical activities, including measuring glacier flow discharge, riverbed profiling, steam ice drilling, and the installation of water level markers for long-term observation. They will also conduct mass balance studies to assess the gain and loss of ice mass from the glacier system.
Additionally, the team plans to identify a suitable site for establishing a permanent base camp as part of the Polar and Cryosphere Studies (PACER), which will serve as a logistical hub for future glaciological research in the region.
During a brief meeting with the Chief Secretary, team members discussed their field activities, which will include setting up an Automatic Weather Station with satellite communication and an Automatic Water Level Recorder, as well as hydrological investigations and the collection of snow and sediment samples for laboratory analysis.
The Director of CES&HS highlighted the ecological sensitivity of the Arunachal Himalayas, noting significant challenges related to climate change, such as glacial melting, alterations in freshwater availability, and the potential for Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF). Understanding these dynamics is essential for the sustainability of local ecosystems and communities residing in high-altitude areas.
Key team members, including Dr. Sandeep Kumar Mondal and Dr. Anupam Gokhale, addressed critical questions regarding glacier dynamics and hydrological changes, emphasizing their broader impact on the region’s ecosystem.
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