Avalanche in Uttarakhand's Mana Village: Why do glaciers break? Know the reason behind this

A major avalanche struck Mana village in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, burying 57 workers under snow due to a glacier burst. The weather in the area has been poor for the past two days, with heavy rains affecting many parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, affecting rescue operations.

This is not the first instance of a glacier breaking in Uttarakhand. According to scientists, several factors contribute to glacier breakage, including climate change, rising temperatures, and natural variations.

Melting of Himalayan glaciers has doubled 

Melting of Himalayan glaciers has doubled since the start of the 21st century due to rising temperature, losing over vertical foot-and-half or ice each year and potentially threatening water supply for hundreds of millions of people in counties, including India.

An analysis spanning 40 years of satellite observations across India, China, Nepal, and Bhutan indicated that climate change is eating the Himalayan glaciers, according to a study published in 2019.

The reasons for glacier breakage can be divided into two main categories: natural causes and human-induced effects.

Heavy rains and rising temperatures contribute to melting of glaciers

Heavy rains and rising temperatures contribute to the melting of glaciers, weakening their structure and leading to breakage. According to scientists, excessive rainfall causes the ice to slide and change shape, ultimately resulting in the glacier breaking apart.

Global warming is also a significant factor. Rising temperatures make glaciers unstable, causing them to shrink in size and break more rapidly. Additionally, seismic activities within the Earth and the movement of tectonic plates affect the stability of glaciers.

Glaciers have a different structure than normal ice. They are formed when layers of ice accumulate and get pressed for years. Over time, due to their heavy weight, they slowly start sliding and drag rocks and debris present on the ground with them. The surface and water around them determine how they will break and to what extent they can be destructive.