Glaciers of Pakistan

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The Famous Glaciers in Pakistan



Abruzzi Glacier

The Abruzzi Glacier is a glacier north of the Baltoro Kangri peak in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The glacier joins the Baltoro Glacier (one of the largest glaciers outside the polar region) that flows northwest in the beginning and then turns westward. The glacier provides superb views of K2, the highest peak in Pakistan.

The glacier was named in honor of Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi an Italian mountaineer and arctic explorer who led an expedition to the Karakoram mountain range in 1909, including several partial ascents of K2.


Baltoro Glacier


The Baltoro Glacier at 63 km (39 mi) in length, is one of the longest glaciers outside the polar regions. It is located in the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. It runs through part of the Karakoram mountain range. The Baltoro Muztagh lies to the south and east of the glacier, while the Masherbrum Mountains lie to the south. At 8,611 m (28,251 ft), K2 is the highest mountain in the region, and three other Eight thousanders within 20 km.

The glacier gives rise to the Shigar River, which is a tributary of the Indus River. Several large tributary glaciers feed the main Baltoro Glacier, including the Godwin Austen Glacier, flowing south from K2; the Abruzzi and the various Gasherbrum Glaciers, flowing from the Gasherbrum group of peaks; the Vigne Glacier, flowing from Chogolisa, and the Yermandendu Glacier, flowing from Masherbrum. The confluence of the main Baltoro Glacier with the Godwin Austen Glacier is known as Concordia; this location and K2 base camp are popular trekking destinations.
The trough of this glacier is very wide. Small valley glaciers form icefalls where they meet the trunk glacier. The sidewalls vary from very steep to precipitous. The glacier has carved striations on the surrounding country rocks. Moving ice has formed depressions, which serve as basins for numerous glacial lakes.
The glacier can be approached via the Balti town of Skardu.


Batura Glacier

Batura Glacier, 57 kilometres (35 mi) long, is one of the largest and longest glaciers outside of the polar regions. It lies in the Gojal region of Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. It is just north of the massifs of Batura, at 7,795 metres (25,574 ft), and Passu, at 7,500 metres (24,600 ft). The glacier flows west to east. The lower portions can be described as a grey sea of rocks and gravelly moraine, bordered by a few summer villages and pastures with herds of sheep, goats, cows and yaks and where roses and juniper trees are common.

Biafo Glacier


The Biafo Glacier is a 67 km (42 mi) long glacier in the Karakoram Mountains of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan-administrated Kashmir which meets the 49 km (30 mi) long Hispar Glacier at an altitude of 5,128 m (16,824 ft) at Hispar La (Pass) to create the world’s third longest glacial system after Siachen glacier outside the polar regions. This highway of ice connects two ancient mountain kingdoms, Nagar, in the west with Baltistan in the east. The traverse uses 51 of the Biafo Glacier’s 67 km and all of the Hispar Glacier to form a 100 km (62 mi) glacial route.

The Biafo Glacier presents a trekker with several days of strenuous boulder hopping, with views throughout and Snow Lake near the high point. Snow Lake, consisting of parts of the upper Biafo Glacier and its tributary glacier Sim Gang, is one of the world’s largest basins of snow or ice in the world outside the polar regions, up to 1,600 m (0.99 mi) in depth.


The Biafo Glacier is the world’s third longest glacier outside the polar regions, second only to the 70 km (43 mi) Siachen Glacier, India-Pakistan and Tajikistan’s 77 km (48 mi) long Fedchenko Glacier.
Campsites along the Biafo are located off of the glacier, adjacent to the lateral moraines and steep mountainsides. The first three (heading up from the last village before the glacier, the thousand-year-old Askole village) are beautiful sites with flowing water nearby. Mango and Namla, the first two campsites, are often covered in flowers and Namla has an amazing waterfall very near the camping area. Baintha, the third camp site, is often used as a rest day. A large green meadow, it has a few running streams near the camp and many places to spend the day rock climbing or rappelling.


Evidence of wildlife can be seen on the trek, including Ibex and the Markhor Mountain Goat. The area is also known for Himalayan brown bears and snow leopards, although sightings are rare.


Biarchedi Glacier

The Biarchedi Glacier is located on the northeast of Biarchedi Peak in Pakistan. It flows north into the Baltoro Glacier.

Bilafond Glacier


Bilafond Glacier is located in Siachen region across Karakoram Range in Pakistan. It is a main source for Saltoro River.It is under Pakistani control.



Godwin-Austen Glacier

The Godwin-Austen Glacier is a glacier in the Karakoram, close to K2 in the Pakistani region of Gilgit Baltistan. Its confluence with the Baltoro Glacier is called Concordia and is a popular trekking destination as it provides views of four of the five eight-thousanders in the region.

The glacier can be approached via the Balti town of Skardu. It receives its name from Henry Haversham Godwin-Austen, an early explorer of this region. K2 was originally named Mount Godwin-Austin in his honour.

Gondogoro Glacier

Gondogoro Glacier or Gondoghoro Glacier is glacier near Concordia in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It serves as an alternative means to reach Concordia; the confluence of Baltoro Glacier and Godwin-Austen Glacier.

Hainablak Glacier

Hainablak Glacier is a glacier near Trango Tower mountain in Baltistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.


Hispar Glacier

Hispar Glacier is a 49 km (30 mi) long glacier in the Karakoram Mountains of Gilgit–Baltistan, Pakistan which meets the 63 km (39 mi) long Biafo Glacier at the Hispar La (Pass) at an altitude of 5,128 m (16,824 ft) to create the world’s longest glacial system outside of the polar regions.

Kutiah Lungma Glacier


Kutiah Lungma Glacier is a 12 km long and 3 km wide glacier in Karakorum mountain ranges in Stak Valley of District Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is located in a valley, Stak Valley (sometimes also referred to as Staq), which is in the subdivision Roundu of district Skardu Gilgit-Baltistan.

The glacier is in the north of Nanga Parbat (the ninth highest peak of the world), about 20 kilometers away from the northern bank of the Indus River. One can access the glacier from June–September from Skardu or Gilgit city, as it is about 10 km away from the Gilgit-Skardu road. An un-metalled road from Gilgit-Skardu Road at the junction of Indus River and Stak Valley stream leads to the base camp of the glacier.

Miar Glacier

Miar Glacier is a glacier that forms in the north of Miar Peak (6,824 m (22,388 ft)) in Hoper Valley in Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is a major component of the Barpu Glacier.

Panmah Glacier

Panmah Glacier is a glacier in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. It is included in the Central Karakoram National Park.


Passu Glacier

Passu Glacier is situated in the south side of Passu village. Passu Peak is situated in the back side of the glacier. This glacier is linked with Batura Glacier and many other glaciers of the region.

Rupal Glacier


Rupal Glacier or Tashain Glacier is a glacier in the Great Himalaya subrange of Himalayas. It starts north of an unnamed 6,326-metre-high (20,755 ft) peak (35°8′35.93″N 74°24′52.46″E) and flows northeastward, north of Laila Peak (Rupal Valley) and south of Nanga Parbat’s many peaks. The meltwater from the glacier forms Rupal River.


Rimo I

Rimo I is the main summit of the Rimo massif with an elevation of 7,385 metres (24,229 ft). It lies in the northern part of the remote Rimo Muztagh, a subrange of the Karakoram range. It is located about 20 km northeast of the snout of the Siachen Glacier and is the world’s 71st highest mountain. Rimo means “striped mountain”. The Rimo Glacier, originating here, drains to the Shyok river.

Due to its remote location in the heart of the eastern Karakoram, Rimo was little-known and almost entirely unvisited until the twentieth century. Explorers Filippo De Filippi and Philip and Jenny Visser visited the area in 1914 and 1929 respectively. Adding to its isolation is the unsettled political and military situation between India and Pakistan in the region, especially on the nearby Siachen Glacier. This means that India controls access to the massif.


Sarpo Laggo Glacier


The Sarpo Laggo Glacier (Sarpo Laggo: young husband) is a glacier in the autonomous region Xinjiang of China, in the Karakoram mountain range of the Himalayas. It lies north of the Baltoro Muztagh range. It could be reached from the Baltoro glacier on the Pakistani side of the Karakorams via the Old Muztagh Pass northeast of the Trango Towers. It is however easier to approach the glacier from the Chinese side, starting a long hike at Kashgar on the Karakoram Highway and finally passing K2’s northern base camp.

The Glacier is named after Francis Younghusband, who was the first person to pass the Old Mustagh Pass and thus enter the Sarpo Laggo region. There is another glacier not far away, also named after him: Younghusband glacier (also known as Biango glacier) flows from Muztagh Tower towards the Baltoro Glacier.

Shani Glacier


Shani Glacier is a glacier in the north of Shani Peak (5,887 m (19,314 ft)) in Naltar Valley, Pakistan.


Siachen Glacier


The Siachen Glacier is a glacier located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas at about 35.421226°N 77.109540°E, just northeast of the point NJ9842 where the Line of Control between India and Pakistan ends. At 76 km (47 mi) long, it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and second-longest in the world’s non-polar areas. It falls from an altitude of 5,753 m (18,875 ft) above sea level at its head at Indira Col on the China border down to 3,620 m (11,875 ft) at its terminus. The entire Siachen Glacier, with all major passes, is currently under the administration of India since 1984. Pakistan controls the region west of Saltoro Ridge, far away from the glacier,with Pakistani posts located 3,000 ft below more than 100 Indian posts on Saltoro Ridge.


The Siachen Glacier lies immediately south of the great drainage divide that separates the Eurasian Plate from the Indian subcontinent in the extensively glaciated portion of the Karakoram sometimes called the “Third Pole”. The glacier lies between the Saltoro Ridge immediately to the west and the main Karakoram range to the east.

The Saltoro Ridge originates in the north from the Sia Kangri peak on the China border in the Karakoram range. The crest of the Saltoro Ridge’s altitudes range from 5,450 to 7,720 m (17,880 to 25,330 feet). The major passes on this ridge are, from north to south, Sia La at 5,589 m (18,336 ft), Bilafond La at 5,450 m (17,880 ft), and Gyong La at 5,689 m (18,665 ft). The average winter snowfall is more than 1000 cm (35 ft) and temperatures can dip to −50 °C (−58 °F). Including all tributary glaciers, the Siachen Glacier system covers about 700 km2 (270 sq mi).

The Famous Glaciers in Pakistan – Karakorum Expeditions

www.karakorumexpedition.com

 

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A Study of Glaciers in Northern Pakistan

R.Jilani, M.Haq, A.Naseer

Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) SUPARCO H.Qs, secto-28, Gukzar-e-Hijri Off University road, Karachi-75270, Pakistan E-mail: ais_taj_pink@yahoo.com

Glaciers serve as a natural regulator of regional water supplies. Pakistan’s glaciers are spread over an area of about 16933 Km². Pakistan is a home of 108 peaks above 6000m, and numerous peaks above 5000 and 4000. Five of the 14 highest independent peaks in the world are here. These glaciers are enormous reservoirs of fresh water and their melt water is an important resource which feed rivers in Pakistan.

Glacier depletion, especially recent melting can affect agriculture, drinking water supplies, hydro-electric power, and ecological habitats. This can also have a more immediate impact on Pakistan’s economy that depends mainly on water from glacier melt. Melting of seasonal snowfall and permanent glaciers has resulted not only in reduction of water resources but also caused flash floods in many areas of Pakistan. Using satellite data the study of glaciers, has become possible.

Comparison of Landsat images of Batura glacier for the year October 1992 and October 2000 has revealed that there is decrease of about 17 km2 in Batura glaciers. Biafo glacier has also retreated. Through this study efforts have been made to analyze future changes in glaciers because, changes cannot be assessed without baseline information on glacier extent. ALOS data could be effectively used to compare with the historical data to detect changes in the glaciated area. ALOS PRISM data can also help in DEM generation for volume assessment. 1. INTRODUCTION Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential for sustaining life and development. The water resource in Himalaya is partly stored as glacier ice, i.e. capital water. There are approximately 70 large glaciers in Himalaya covering about 166.12 km2 or 17 % of the mountain area. This is the largest body of ice outside the Polar caps, and forms a unique water reservoir. The glaciers supply 303.6 million cubic feet every year to Asian rivers, including the Indus in Pakistan. In fact this river is lifelines of millions of people (Ole R. Vetaas ). 2. GLOBAL WARMING Due to greenhouse effect absorption and emission of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases warm a planet's atmosphere and surface. On Earth, the major natural greenhouse gases are water vapor, which causes about 36–70% of the greenhouse effect Carbon Dioxide (CO2), 9–26%; methane (CH4), 4–9%; and ozone, which causes 3–7%.

The atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and CH4 have increased by 31% and 149% respectively above pre-industrial levels since 1750. This is considerably higher than at any time during the last 650,000 years. About threequarters of the anthropogenic [man-made] emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere during the past 20 years are due to fossil fuel burning. The rest of the anthropogenic emissions are predominantly due to land-use change, especially deforestation. The present atmospheric concentration of CO2 is about 383 parts per million (ppm) by volume. Future CO2 levels are expected to rise due to ongoing burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and land-use changes.

The rate of rise will depend on uncertain economic, sociological, technological, natural developments, but may be ultimately limited by the availability of fossil fuels. The IPCC Special Report on Emissions Scenarios gives a wide range of future CO2 scenarios, ranging from 541 to 970 ppm by the year 2100. Fossil fuel reserves are sufficient to reach this level, if coal, tar sands or methane clathrates are extensively used.

 

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Figure: 1 Shows recent increase in atmospheric CO2. The monthly CO2 measurements display small seasonal oscillations in an overall yearly uptrend; each year's maximum is reached during the northern hemisphere's late spring, and declines during the northern hemisphere growing season as plants remove some CO2 from the atmosphere.

One of the important factors relates to the evaporation of water. CO2 injected into the atmosphere causes a warming of the atmosphere and the earth's surface. The warming causes more water to be evaporated into the atmosphere. Since water vapor itself acts as a greenhouse gas, this cause still more warming; the warming causes more water to be evaporated, and so forth. Another important feedback process is icealbedo feedback.

The increased CO2 in the atmosphere warms the Earth's surface and leads to melting of ice near the poles. As the ice melts, land or open water takes its place. Both land and open water are on average less reflective than ice, and thus absorb more solar radiation. This causes more warming, which in turn causes more melting, and this cycle continues. Due to global warming, the average global temperature for 2004 rose to 14.60˚ Celsius making it the fourth warmest year on record.

October and November of 2004 were the hottest of those months on record since recordkeeping began in 1880. February of 2004 was the second warmest, and March, April and December were the third warmest of those three

Figure: 2 Shows observations of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies which come from the global series indicate continuous trend of rising global temperatures. The average temperature of 14.01˚ Celsius in the 1970s rose to 14.26˚C in the 1980s. In the 1990s it reached 14.40˚Celsius. And during the first five years of this new decade, it has averaged 14.59˚C (NASA, 2004)

3. PAKISTAN SCENARIO

Studies have shown that land surface temperatures have raised more than sea surface temperatures and that temperatures in higher elevations are rising more rapidly (Liu and Chen, 2000; Beniston et al., 1997).

Therefore mountain areas such as the Karakoram and Himalaya region of Pakistan have also been affected due climate change. According to a study carried out by GTZ for WAPDA analyzed trends in temperature and precipitation in the Northern Areas for the last century by making use of the climate data at the Meteorological Office in Lahore and Gilgit.It was found that at Skardu seasonal and annual temperature have risen over the last century.

Mean annual temperature through the century has increased by 1.40˚C with the mean annual daily maximum rising more (2.35˚C) than the mean annual daily minimum (0.54˚C). But the study notes that winter temperatures have risen far more than summer, with an increase of about 30˚C during January-March or up to 0.51˚C in winter maxima per decade since 1961. This is a common feature within the Northern hemisphere and implies a link between regional and global

 

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climate (Fowler and Archer, 2004). This temperature increase is calculated to represent an upward shift of almost 400 meters in the frost line and hence whether the area will receive snow or rain and as a consequence how much snow will be available for melting during the warm season. During the spring to summer season a more modest warming trend is noted, with mean temperature rising by only 0.77˚C (Archer, D. R. 2001).

4. CASE STUDY

SUPARCO has conducted studies based on the applications of satellite/ground based data for water resources and environment monitoring. SUPARCO recently conducted a pilot study on Glacier in Northern Pakistan. Temporal satellite images of Landsat 5 TM for the year 1992 and Landsat 7 ETM+ for the year 2000 of Batura and Biafo Glacier were acquired and analyzed

4.1. Batura Glacier

Batura Glacier one of the largest glaciers outside the polar region. It lies in the north of Passu 7,500 meter above sea level, located geographically at 36o 30`N to 36o 40`N and 74o 22` 33``E to 74o 52` 30``E. It feeds River Hunza in northern Pakistan which flows west to east. River Hunza is joined by the Gilgit and the Naltar Rivers before it flows into the Indus River. It was observed that the ice covered and ice free areas in the year 1992 was 98 km2 and 25 km2 respectively, whereas in the year 2000, the ice covered area reduced to 81km2 , consequently increasing the ice free area to 42km2 (Rahmatullah Jillani, 2006).

Figure: 3 Image segment to be classified from Landsat 5 TM (Oct 1992) of Batura Glacier, the following bands were used: TM2 (blue); TM3 (green); TM4 (red). Blue color shows snow and ice covered area and green color show snow free area.
Figure: 4 Image segment to be classified from Landsat 7 ETM+ (Oct 2000) of Batura Glacier, the following bands were used: TM2 (blue); TM3 (green); TM4 (red). Blue color shows snow and ice covered area and green color show snow free area.
Figure: 5 Classified and calculated Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) of Batura image of 1992 Figure: 6 Classified and calculated Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) of Batura image of 2000

 

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As May is the suitable month for the estimation of snow accumulation on glacier, As shown in figure 7: Visual analysis of AVNIR (May 2007) and Landsat (1992 and 2000) images of Batura glacier reveals that snow covered area has reduced.

4.2. Biafo Glacier

Biafo Glacier is the third largest glacier in the Karakoram and the fourth largest in Asia(Hewitt, K,1989).

The Biafo Glacier is located on the south-facing slopes of the Karakoram Range in the Baltistan area of Ladakh. It lies in the center of Shigar River Basin located geographically at 35o 19`N to 36o 07`N and 74o 53`E to 76o 75`E. The main steam originating from this glacier is Barldu River flows into the Shigar River which in turn is a tributary of the Indus River.

The analysis indicates that snow and ice cover and free area in 1992 was 92.807 km2 and 20.916 km2 respectively, and in 2000 the ice cover area reduced to 86.250 km2 . We have used the band ratios and NDSI techniques to investigate the change in area. Biafo Glacier

Figure: 8 Image segment to be classified from Landsat 5 TM (Oct 1992) of Biafo Glacier, the following bands were used: TM2 (blue); TM3 (green); TM4 (red). Blue color shows snow and ice covered
Figure: 7 Image segment to be classified from ALOS AVNIR (May 2007) of Batura Glacier,

the following bands were used: AVNIR4 (red); AVNIR3 (green); AVNIR2 (blue) Biafo Glacier
Figure: 9 Image segment to be classified from Landsat 7 ETM+ (Oct 2000) of Biafo Glacier, the following bands were used: TM2 (blue); TM3 (green); TM4 (red). Blue color shows snow and ice covered area


5. Reduced Level of Water in the Indus River System

The Indus River, its tributaries originate in the Karakoram, Hindukush, and the Himalayan regions along the north and north eastern borders of Pakistan. The Indus System rivers form a link between two great natural reservoirs, the snow and glaciers in the mountains and the groundwater contained by the alluvium in the Indus Plains of the Punjab and Sindh Provinces of Pakistan. The water from the Indus River and its tributaries supports the bulk of the agricultural water supply for its 130 million people. Dams on the main stem of the Indus River and its tributaries produce about 45% of the electrical energy for Pakistan.


6. CONCLUSION

Glaciers are major sources of water, studying the aspects and temporal changes are vital for planning, development water resource conservation, flood monitoring and mitigation activities.Additional anticipated effects include agriculture, increased intensity and frequency of hurricanes and extreme weather events and spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

Some effects on both the natural environment and human life are, at least in part, already being attributed to global warming. As per IPCC 2001 report retreat, sea, changes in rainfall pattern, increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, are being attributed in part to global warming. Other expected effects include water scarcity, changes in mountain snow pack, adverse health effects from warmer temperatures, and the spread of diseases.

Rising temperatures could bring largescale drought in critical agricultural regions worldwide, extreme temperature drops in some regions and searing heat in others, and civil unrest and mass migrations from spreading insecurity about water and food supplies.


RECOMMENDATIONS

• There is need to conduct comprehensive study on our glaciers .
• Develop a model to determine water melt off from glaciers .
• Water conservation plan should be enforced at national level.

 

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Hopper galcier Gilgit bultistan

 

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GLACIERS of Pakistan

1. 13% area of mountain region is covered by glacier in Pakistan.

2. In Pakistan glaciers covers the area of 13680 SqKm.

3. Siachen,
Hispar,
Biafo,
Batura,
Chogo
Lungma and
Yengunta glaciers, are present in Karakoram Range.

4. Siachen glacier, is present in the region of Baltistan.

5. The total length of Siachen glacier, is 72.5 km.

6. Batura, is the 2nd largest glacier of Pakistan, with the length of 64.5 km,.

7. Baltoro glacier, is situated in the mountain range of Karakoram,.

8. Siachen, is the highest glacier of Pakistan.

9. The total length of Hispar glacier, is 49 km. Biafo glacier is 67 km long.

10. Siachen is the longest glacier ,of Pakistan.

11. The total length of Baltoro glacier, is 58 km.

12. The total length of Siachen glacier, is 20000 feet.

 

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Great Trango Tower, 6,286 m (20,623 ft), Baltoro Glacier, Pakistan

 

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A closeup of Nanga Parbat.

 

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K2. Baltoro range.

 

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A view of Baltoro Glacier from near the summit of Broad Peak..
Pakistan.

 

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K-2

 

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For the love of photography, flying over 23,000 feet on Baltaro glacier, on right the magistic K2 and Muztagh Tower on left.

 

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Baltoro Glacier.

 

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1) Some of the largest glaciers outside the polar region are found in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. 12% of land of both regions is covered by glacial ice. Major glaciers of province are Biafo - 62 km, Baltoro - 58 km, Hispar - 61 km,

2) Gasherbrum - 38 km, Chogo Lungma - 38 km, Passu - 32 km, Batura - 58 km, Rupal - 29 km, Nabandi - 32 km, Baraldu - 30 km, Snowlake Sim glacier - 20 km and Siachen - 62 km.