Pakistan Glaciers

Pakistan is home to a significant number of glaciers, particularly in the northern mountain ranges such as the Karakoram, Himalayas, and Hindu Kush. Here's a detailed exploration of glaciers in Pakistan:

Number and Named Glaciers

Pakistan has over 5,000 glaciers, which contribute significantly to its freshwater resources and landscape. Some of the named glaciers include Siachen Glacier (the world's longest non-polar glacier), Biafo Glacier, Baltoro Glacier, Hispar Glacier, and Yengunta Glacier, among many others scattered across the northern regions.

Largest Glaciers

• Siachen Glacier: Located in the eastern Karakoram range, it's the longest glacier outside the polar regions.
• Baltoro Glacier: Known for its expanse and size, Baltoro is a major attraction for trekkers and climbers.
• Biafo Glacier: This glacier forms the world's longest glacier outside the polar regions when combined with its tributary Hispar Glacier.

Types of Glaciers

1. Valley Glaciers: Found in valleys and mountainsides, flowing down like rivers of ice.
2. Tidewater Glaciers: End in the ocean, where they calve icebergs.
3. Cirque Glaciers: Small, bowl-shaped glaciers in mountain hollows.
4. Ice Field Glaciers: Large expanses of interconnected glaciers covering plateaus.
5. Piedmont Glaciers: Formed when valley glaciers spill into plains and spread out.
6. Continental Ice Sheets: Vast ice sheets covering large areas like Greenland and Antarctica.

Parts of Glaciers and Their Functions

• Zone of Accumulation: Upper part where snow accumulates and turns into ice.
• Zone of Ablation: Lower part where ice melts or sublimates.
• Equilibrium Line: Boundary where accumulation equals ablation.
• Moraines: Deposits of rock and debris carried and deposited by glaciers.
• Crevasses: Deep cracks in the glacier's surface.
• Moulins: Vertical shafts through which water enters the glacier.

Age and Recession

Determining the age of glacier ice by weight and color is complex and typically requires scientific dating methods rather than visual inspection. Glaciers in Pakistan have been accumulating for thousands to millions of years. However, due to climate change, many have been receding rapidly in recent decades.

Climate Impact and Research

Research on Pakistan's glaciers focuses on their role in freshwater supply, climate change impact, and the potential for glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Climate studies monitor glacier retreat and assess the implications for water resources and natural hazards.

Human Relics and Tourism

Receding glaciers in Pakistan have revealed ancient artifacts and human remains, providing insights into historical human activity in the region. Tourism activities on glaciers include skiing, ice climbing, trekking, and glacier walking. Companies like High Altitude Dreams offer guided tours and climbing expeditions to some of Pakistan's iconic glaciers.

Flood Management

Pakistan is implementing measures to mitigate flood risks from melting glaciers, including early warning systems for GLOFs and infrastructure development in vulnerable areas.

In summary, Pakistan's glaciers are not only vital for freshwater resources but also play a crucial role in tourism and climate research. Efforts are ongoing to manage the impacts of climate change on these natural wonders while promoting sustainable tourism and scientific exploration.

Pakistan Glacier Database Field Descriptions

PHOTO_YEAR
Description: The 4-digit year of the photograph used for measurements of Pakistan glacier parameters. Note: If more than one photograph were used, the most relevant year is recorded here; and the others used are recorded in the REMARKS field. In general, the Pakistan glaciers outlines; and hence, the values for area and length; were determined from Pakistan aerial photographs, so we recommend using the PHOTO_YEAR for glacier area values.
No Data Value: Null
Example: 1976

MAX_ELEV
Description: Maximum elevation of the highest point of the Pakistan glacier in meters above sea level, up to 4 digits.
No Data Value: Null
Example: 3962

MEAN_ELEV
Description: The mean elevation is the altitude of the contour line, in meters above sea level, that halves the area of the glacier, up to 4 digits.
No Data Value: Null
Example: 3170

MIN_ELEV
Description: The minimum elevation of the lowest point of the glacier in meters above sea level, up to 4 digits.
No Data Value: Null
Example: 1590

FORM
0 Miscellaneous Any type not listed below.
1 Compound Basins Two or more individual valley glaciers issuing from tributary valleys and coalescing.
2 Compound Basin Two or more individual accumulation basins feeding one glacier system.
3 Simple Basin Single accumulation area.
4 Cirque Occupies a separate, rounded, steep-walled recess which has formed on a mountain side.
5 Niche Small glacier in a V-shaped gully or depression on a mountain slope; generally more common than genetically further-developed cirque glacier.
6 Crater Occurring in extinct or dormant volcanic craters.
7 Ice Apron Irregular, usually thin ice mass which adheres to mountain slopes or ridges.
8 Group A number of similar ice masses occurring in close proximity to one another but are too small to be assessed individually.
9 Remnant Inactive, usually small ice masses left by a receding Pakistan glacier.

FRONT_PROF:
0 Miscellaneous Any type not listed below.
1 Piedmont Ice field formed on a lowland area by lateral expansion of one or coalescence of several glaciers.
2 Expanded Foot Lobe or fan formed where the lower portion of the glacier leaves the confining wall of a valley and extends on to a less restricted and more level surface.
3 Lobed Part of an ice sheet or ice cap, disqualified as an outlet glacier.
4 Calving Terminus of a glacier sufficiently extending into sea or lake water to produce icebergs; includes- for this inventory- dry land ice calving which would be recognizable from the "lowest glacier elevation."
5 Confluent Coalescing, non-contributing.
6 Irregular, mainly clean ice (mountain or valley glaciers).
7 Irregular, mainly debris-covered (mountain or valley glaciers).
8 Single lobe, mainly clean ice (mountain or valley glaciers).
9 Single lobe, mainly debris-covered (mountain or valley glaciers).

SRC_NOURSH:
0 Unknown
1 Snow
2 Avalanches
3 Superimposed ice

TONGUE_ACT:
0 Uncertain
1 Marked retreat
2 Slight retreat
3 Stationary
4 Slight advance
5 Marked advance
6 Possible surge
7 Known surge
8 Oscillating

TOTAL_AREA:
The total area of the glacier in a horizontal projection in square kilometers.

AREA_ACY:
Area Accuracy Ratings
Rating Accuracy (%)
1 0 - 5
2 5 - 10
3 10 - 15
4 15 - 30
5 > 30

AREA_IN_ST:
The total area of the Pakistan glacier that resides in the political state concerned in a horizontal projection in square kilometers.

AREA_EXP:
The area of the exposed ice of the glacier in a horizontal projection in square kilometers.

MEAN_WIDTH:
The mean width of the Pakistan glacier in a horizontal projection in kilometers.

MEAN_LENGT:
Mean length of the Pakistan glacier in a horizontal projection in kilometers.

MAX_LENGTH:
Maximum length of the Pakistan glacier in kilometers measured along the most important flowline in a horizontal projection.

MAX_LEN_EX:
Maximum length, in kilometers, of the exposed ice of the glacier in a horizontal projection.

MAX_LEN_AB:
Maximum length, in kilometers, of the ablation area of the Pakistan glacier in a horizontal projection.

Source: World Glacier Inventory
Map Copyright CCCARTO 2024