The Indian Express is reporting on a recent study which found fresh snowfall has prevented glaciers in many areas across the Karakoram mountain range from melting.
“The Karakoram ranges – extending from Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India up to China – are home to some of the world’s most active glacial regions,” writes the Indian Express. “The Department of Science and Technology (DST)-supported study attributed healthy glaciers of the Karakoram ranges to the possible constant feeding of fresh snow triggered by precipitation events caused by the passing western disturbances (WDs) over the region during winter months.”
The researchers estimate, “[t]he snowfall volume contributed by WDs over the core glacier regions of Karakoram ranges has increased by about 27 per cent in recent decades.”
As a result of the regular snowfall, the researchers found there was no loss of glacial mass in pockets of the Karakoram mountain range.