Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh—The Fourth Khangri Glacier scientific expedition has successfully concluded, achieving major scientific milestones in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district, including the first-ever reconnaissance of a high-risk glacial lake and the discovery of deep-water aquatic life in a high-altitude lake.
The week-long mission, conducted from November 8 to 14, is a joint flagship initiative between the Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS) and the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Landmark Achievement: Reconnaissance of High-Risk Glacial Lake
A landmark success of this year’s expedition was the first scientific scaling and reconnaissance of Dharkha Tso. This lake is one of the 29 Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)-susceptible lakes identified by the NDMA in Arunachal Pradesh, posing a serious hazard risk.
Dharkha Tso, located at 16,145 feet in Mirathang Valley, presented extreme challenges. The team, navigating steep ridges, slippery trails, and over three feet of snow across a 700-meter stretch, successfully reached the lake. Despite the arduous 3.8 km ascent through low-oxygen environments, scientists completed:
• Aerial drone mapping for detailed topography.
• Water and sediment sampling for GLOF hazard assessment.
Aquatic Life Found at Depth in Rani Lake
Another significant scientific breakthrough was achieved at Rani Lake. An unmanned sonar-based bathymetric survey revealed the presence of aquatic life at a depth of 20 meters, a notable finding in the extreme environment of a high-altitude glacial lake.
CESHS Director Tana Tage stated that the mission aims to deepen scientific understanding of glacier dynamics, climate change impacts, and water resource sustainability in the Eastern Himalayas.
Glacier Monitoring and Data Retrieval
Though heavy snowfall prevented access for direct summer mass balance measurements on the glacier, the team, led by senior glaciologist Dr. Parmanand Sharma, successfully employed advanced technologies and retrieved critical data:
• High-Resolution Aerial Surveys: Khangri Glacier and Rani Lake were mapped using advanced drone platforms equipped with precision sensors.
• Data Retrieval: Researchers successfully retrieved summer-season data from the previously installed Automatic Weather Station (AWS) and Automatic Water Level Recorder (AWRL).
• Hydrological Study: They completed 24-hour stream discharge assessments downstream of Khangri Glacier to analyze meltwater behavior and hydrological variations.
The successful completion of this expedition marks a crucial step in India’s scientific efforts to build robust datasets for cryospheric and hydrological research, helping to assess glacier health and GLOF risks in the region.