Climatic Changes & The Story of a 28-Year-Old Discovery
Last week, I wrote an article on the cloudburst incident in Jhalkhand, which sparked a wave of responses from many fellow writers. Several friends also created documentary videos on the same theme. I received encouraging feedback from readers and friends alike, and I would like to sincerely thank everyone for their appreciation and support.
Today, once again, a significant piece of news surfaced on social media—a 28-year-old missing body was found beneath the glaciers of Kolas Pallas in Kohistan. The family and the local community considered it nothing short of a miracle. Indeed, finding a body lost for 28 years is an extraordinary event. However, for those of us who view the world with a learner's eye, this incident provides important lessons and stands as undeniable evidence of Global Warming.
The Incident:
In 1997, a man named Naziruddin, son of Bahram Khan, went missing along with his horse after falling into a crevasse in the Lady Pallas glaciers of Kohistan. His body was recently discovered after 28 years. Identification was made possible because his ID card was still intact in his pocket. To keep this write-up concise, I’ll briefly discuss the technical aspects related to crevasses and their connection to global warming.
What are Crevasses?
Crevasses are large cracks or fissures that form on the surface of a glacier. These cracks develop when the glacier moves and undergoes stress at different sections. There are several reasons for the formation of crevasses, but I’ll mention the primary ones here:
1. Mechanical Stress: As a glacier flows downhill or through a valley, the surface ice moves faster than the bottom layers (due to friction with the ground), causing tension at the surface and resulting in cracks.
2. Bending or Slope Change: When a glacier bends sharply or encounters a sudden change in slope, tension builds in the upper layers, forming crevasses.
3. Strong vs. Weak Ice Zones: Differences in the hardness of ice within a glacier also cause stress during movement, leading to cracks.
4. Obstacles Beneath the Glacier: Rocks or solid obstacles beneath the glacier increase localized stress, forming dangerous crevasses. A tragic example of this occurred just two days ago in Bagrote, where a father and son fell into a crevasse. The father was rescued, but sadly, his son couldn’t be saved.
How Deep Can Crevasses Be?
Crevasses generally range from 10 to 40 meters (33 to 130 feet) deep, but in certain areas, they can reach depths of up to 60 meters (200 feet). These hidden cracks are extremely dangerous, especially when thin layers of snow or ice storms cover them, creating invisible traps for both humans and animals. Siachen, for example, has witnessed countless such accidents involving army personnel.
Personally, I have had multiple close encounters with these perilous crevasses during my own glacier expeditions, which gave me first-hand experience of their hidden threats.
Global Warming & The Rising Frequency of Such Discoveries
As climate change accelerates, glaciers are melting and shrinking. Consequently, bodies and remains of people who went missing decades ago are being uncovered. A few notable examples include:
July 29, 2023: Remains of a German climber, missing since 1986, were found near the famous Matterhorn Glacier in Switzerland.
In recent years, melting glaciers have revealed the wreckage of an aircraft that crashed in 1968.
2015: The remains of two Japanese climbers, lost in a 1970 snowstorm, were recovered.
2014: The body of British climber Jonathan Conville, missing since 1979, was found at Matterhorn by a helicopter pilot.
These incidents are happening because global warming is causing glaciers to lose their thickness by 30 to 200 feet. Despite relentless search efforts by families, local authorities, and rescue teams, it was impossible to locate these missing individuals until now, as they were buried deep within the glaciers.
The recent case of Naziruddin from Kohistan is no different. He and his horse fell deep into a crevasse, and for 28 years, the glacier slowly melted until their remains became visible at the surface. This is undeniable proof that the glaciers surrounding us are thinning at an alarming rate due to climate change.
A Dire Warning
If the menace of global warming and climatic changes is not addressed immediately, the planet will soon become uninhabitable for living beings. The continuous melting of glaciers is not just an environmental issue but a global crisis that threatens human existence.
Altaf Hussain