Glaciers receive a surge of attention in the Karakoram Himalaya

Abstract

Between 1994 and 1996 catastrophic movement of the 15.5‐km‐long Chiring Glacier transferred 1‐1.5 km3 of ice from its upper two thirds to its lower third, and into the main Panmah Glacier of which it is a tributary. By October 1996, a lobe of Chiring ice some 3.2 km2 in area had entered and compressed the main glacier, which was severely disturbed for 3 km above and 5 km below the junction of the glaciers (Figure 1). Ice streams and medial moraines were pushed into a series of looped or “tear‐drop” forms, well‐known in the surging glaciers. Despite an observational record back to 1856, it was not previously realized that changes in the glacier involve surging.