In response to climate change and diminishing water supplies, villagers in Pakistan’s highlands are reviving an ancient ritual known as “mating glaciers” in hopes of creating new water sources.
The Ritual: Residents believe that combining chunks of “male” and “female” glaciers will spark the creation of a newborn glacier that will grow large enough to serve as a water source.
* The “male” glaciers are identified by their black or brown colour due to rock debris, while “female” glaciers are characterised by their white colour.
* United Nations Development Program (UNDP) supports this initiative by providing small grants for glacier mating and the help of an engineer who’s an expert on Balti traditions.
The Problem: Though located in Asia’s high mountains, often called the “Third Pole” because of the sizeable ice volume, Baltistan is facing severe water scarcity.
* Thousands of glaciers in these mountains have been melting more rapidly over the past two decades, causing disastrous floods while reducing the amount of spring snowmelt that supplies many waterways.
* An expert from ICIMOD stated that even if global warming is kept between 2.7 and 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100, the high mountains of Asia could lose 30%-50% of their ice mass by the end of the century.
Alternatives: Apart from glacier mating, the inhabitants of Baltistan practice several unconventional strategies in an effort to tackle their water problems.
* Some are constructing “ice stupas” – structures that freeze sprayed water mist to form a tower that gradually melts in spring, providing water for irrigation.
* Others are learning to harvest avalanches or flouting laws to divert more stream water into their canals.
Expert Take: Scientists like mountain hydrologist Jakob Steiner concur that the science behind glacier mating is sound.
* Steiner explains that residents retrieve melting ice from lower down the mountain and put it further up where it can’t melt, ultimately leading to the growth of ice.
* However, he adds that technologies like ice stupas, glacier mating, and avalanche harvesting will not solve the wider problem that climate change presents. Nevertheless, they could alleviate specific challenges like providing a steady supply of irrigation water.
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