10 months ago
Scientists Discover Aquatic Life in Arunachal's Rani Lake, Survey High-Risk Dharkha Tso
Scientists went on a special trip to mountains in a place called Arunachal Pradesh.
They looked at a big lake formed by a melting ice mountain, called Dharkha Tso, which could be dangerous.
They also used a special underwater sound machine to look in another lake called Rani Lake.
Surprisingly, they found tiny living things, like fish or bugs, swimming deep down in Rani Lake!
This is a big deal because it's high up in the cold mountains.
The scientists are trying to learn more about how the ice mountains are changing and what it means for the water we use.
Scientists conducted a week-long expedition in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district from November 8 to 14.
The expedition surveyed the high-risk Dharkha Tso glacial lake for the first time.
Aquatic life was discovered at a depth of 20 meters in Rani Lake using sonar technology.
The mission aimed to study glacier dynamics, climate change, and water resource sustainability.
The expedition also involved aerial surveys of Khangri Glacier and stream discharge assessments.
- Who
- Scientists from CESHS, NCPOR Goa, Nagaland University, and NERIST
- What
- Conducted a scientific expedition, surveying Dharkha Tso glacial lake and discovering aquatic life in Rani Lake
- Where
- Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh
- When
- November 8 to November 14
- Why
- To enhance scientific understanding of glacier dynamics, climate change impacts, water-resource sustainability, and assess Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risks.
Key facts
- Expedition Name
- Fourth Khangri Glacier scientific expedition
- Dates
- November 8 to November 14
- Lead Institutions
- Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies (CESHS) and National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)
- Location
- Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh
- Key Discoveries
- Aquatic life in Rani Lake at 20m depth, First reconnaissance of Dharkha Tso
- Dharkha Tso Altitude
- 16,145 ft
Quotes
Tana Tage
CESHS Director
“Despite heavy snowfall preventing access to the glacier for summer mass balance measurements, the team successfully carried out high-resolution aerial surveys of the Khangri Glacier and the Rani Lake using advanced drone platforms equipped with precision sensors.”
assamtribune.com
“A significant breakthrough came from an unmanned sonar-based bathymetric survey of Rani Lake, which revealed aquatic life at 20 metres, an important finding in a high-altitude glacial environment.”
assamtribune.com
CESHS
Centre for Earth Sciences and Himalayan Studies
“The successful completion of the fourth expedition marks a significant step forward in India's scientific efforts to study glacier health, meltwater contribution, hydrometeorological patterns and glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) risks in the Eastern Himalayas.”
assamtribune.com
