Hanging Glaciers
Why in News?
A study identified 219 hanging glaciers in the Alaknanda basin of Uttarakhand, highlighting risks associated with climate warming and permafrost thaw.
What is a Hanging Glacier?
A glacier that:
- Develops on a steep mountain wall or valley side.
- Does not extend down to the main valley floor.
- Often terminates abruptly above a cliff.
Formation
They can occur when:
- A major valley glacier retreats/thins.
- Tributary glaciers remain perched above the main valley.
- The tributary glacier becomes a hanging glacier.
Hazards
Sudden detachment can produce:
- Ice avalanches
- Ice-rock avalanches
- Landslides
- Glacial lake outburst floods
- Downstream flooding
Indian Distribution
Important areas include:
- Uttarakhand
- Himachal Pradesh
- Ladakh
- Sikkim
- Himalayan-Karakoram region
Prelims Pointer: Hanging glacier ≠ hanging valley.
A hanging valley is a geological valley left above the main valley, whereas a hanging glacier is an ice mass perched on a steep slope/valley side.
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