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Uttarakhand Begins Its First Glacial Lake Early-Warning System
Why in News?
Which Himalayan lake gets Uttarakhand's first GLOF alarm? The GS-III disaster management case to know
Uttarakhand has started installing its first glacial lake early-warning system at Vasundhara Tal, Chamoli.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 min read
Uttarakhand has begun installing its first glacial lake early-warning system at Vasundhara Tal in Chamoli district, with a team of 22 scientists overseeing the project.
Such systems monitor high-altitude lakes so that authorities get advance notice of a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), which can occur when a moraine or ice dam holding back a lake gives way.
The Himalayan State has been hit by several glacier-linked disasters in recent years.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- Uttarakhand has begun installing its first glacial lake early-warning system
- Site: Vasundhara Tal, Chamoli district
- A team of 22 scientists is overseeing the project
- GLOF = Glacial Lake Outburst Flood, which can occur when a moraine or ice dam holding back a lake gives way
- Early-warning systems monitor high-altitude lakes to give authorities advance notice of a GLOF
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) can occur when a moraine or ice dam holding back a glacial lake gives way.
- Uttarakhand's first glacial lake early-warning system is being installed at Vasundhara Tal in Chamoli district.
- Early-warning systems for glacial lakes monitor high-altitude lakes to give authorities advance notice of a possible outburst.
Mains
GS-III (Disaster Management, Environment): The Himalayan State has faced several glacier-linked disasters, and GLOFs threaten downstream settlements and infrastructure. Monitoring high-altitude lakes with early-warning systems gives authorities advance notice and supports preparedness under the disaster management framework. The way forward is to extend such systems to other vulnerable lakes, combine them with hazard mapping, community alerts and regulation of construction in risk zones.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Uttarakhand has begun installing its first glacial lake early-warning system at Vasundhara Tal, which lies in which district?
- Chamoli
- Uttarkashi
- Pithoragarh
- Rudraprayag
Show answer
Answer: A — Correct: Chamoli — Vasundhara Tal lies in Chamoli district, where the State's first glacial lake early-warning system is being installed. • Uttarkashi — wrong: Uttarkashi has several glacial lakes, but Vasundhara Tal is not in this district. • Pithoragarh — wrong: Pithoragarh is a border district with glaciers in the Kumaon Himalaya, but it does not host Vasundhara Tal. • Rudraprayag — wrong: Rudraprayag has Chorabari and Kedarnath-area lakes, but not Vasundhara Tal.
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