Rapid deglaciation on the southeast-Facing slopes of Kanchenjunga under the present state of global climate change and its impact on the human health in this Part of the Sikkim Himalaya

Abstract

Rapid change in climate through the Quaternary under the impact of global warming and its impact on the snow fields and glaciers of the Inner Himalayan parts have attracted many geoscientists over the last four decades. But little work has been done so far to assess the impact of climate change and its impact on the size reduction of glaciers as well as on the human health in the surrounding settlement areas of the glaciers. This paper is a revelation and discussion on the present pattern of retreat of the major glaciers in the southeast-facing slopes of Kanchenjunga in the Sikkim Himalaya under the present state of global warming. Studies on the calculation of trim line of the fresh moraines of the two main glaciers, namely, Rathong and Onglaktang, have revealed that these glaciers have retreated remarkably over the last 50 years experiencing a volume reduction of more than 70 % during this limited time period. These glaciers are considered to be among the fastest retreating glaciers in any part of the Himalaya. This feature can be attributed to the rapid climatic amelioration in the present day. According to meteorological data made available, a rise of about 1 °C in the atmospheric temperature in this part of the Himalaya has taken place. The discharged pattern of the rivers, fed by the meltwater from these glaciers, has been very erratic and temperamental, thus causing flash floods particularly over the last two decades. Snowfall on the higher parts of the mountain has diminished in recent years, and the winter season of the year has shortened to a marked extent. Survey in the three settlement areas in this western part of the Sikkim Himalaya on human health status, based on random sampling, shows that incidences of some particular diseases, like skin problems and asthma, which were rare earlier, are spreading significantly among the inhabitants in this part of the Sikkim Himalaya.