Context

• The Kashmir Himalayas are dotted with permafrost structures called ‘rock glaciers’, with significant ice volumes within, a new study mapped.

About Permafrost

• Permafrost refers to ground that remains consistently frozen at or below 32°F (0°C) for a minimum of two consecutive years.
• This type of permanently frozen terrain is predominantly found in areas with high elevations and in the extreme latitudes near the North and South Poles.
• Permafrost extends over substantial portions of the Earth, with nearly a quarter of the land area in the Northern Hemisphere having permafrost beneath its surface.
• Its composition consists of a mix of soil, rocks, and sand bound together by ice, all of which remain frozen throughout the entire year.
• In addition to its frozen components, permafrost soils near the surface contain significant amounts of organic carbon, a residue from deceased plants that couldn't decompose due to the persistent cold.
• Deeper layers of permafrost comprise soils primarily composed of minerals.
• Contrasting the frozen permafrost layers, there exists a surface layer known as the active layer, which undergoes seasonal thawing during warm summer months and refreezes in the fall.

Key Facts about Jhelum River

The Jhelum River:

• It is a river that runs between India and Pakistan.
• It is an Indus River tributary.
• The Jhelum (Vyeth in Kashmiri, Vetesta in Sanskrit, and Hydaspes in Greek) is the valley's principal stream.
• It is the largest and westernmost of Punjab's five rivers, flowing through the Jhelum District in Pakistan's Punjab province.

Some other facts

• It begins in the Verinag Spring in Anantnag, at the foot of the Pir Panjal range in the Kashmir Valley.
• It then passes through Srinagar and Wular Lake before entering Pakistan.
• On its way to Pakistan, the river carves a steep, tight valley.
• It merges with the Chenab River at Trimmu in Pakistan.
• It is approximately 725 kilometers (450 mi) long in total.

Tributaries of Jhelum River

• The major tributary of the Jhelum is the Kishenganga (Neelum) River, which joins near Muzaffarabad and flows into Pakistan's Punjab province.
• The Kunhar River is the river's second major tributary, connecting Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan via the Kohala Bridge of Kanghan Valley.
• Sandran River, Bringi River, Arapath River, Watlara River, Lidder River, and Veshaw River are also tributaries.

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