Ice Stupas – Artificial Glacier

Source: PO

Context: Farmers in Gilgit-Baltistan region have successfully used ice stupas, inspired by Ladakhi engineer Sonam Wangchuk, to overcome water shortages.

About Ice Stupas – Artificial Glacier:

• What are Ice Stupas?

• Ice stupas are artificial glaciers shaped like cones that store winter water in frozen form. Named after Buddhist stupas due to their iconic dome-like shape.

• Ice stupas are artificial glaciers shaped like cones that store winter water in frozen form.

• Named after Buddhist stupas due to their iconic dome-like shape.

• Science Behind the Formation of Ice Stupas:

• Gravity-Fed Water Supply: Water is diverted from nearby glacial streams using gravity-driven pipelines, eliminating the need for pumps or electricity. Spraying and Freezing Mechanism: At sub-zero temperatures during winter nights, water is sprayed vertically into the air, where droplets freeze mid-air and settle over a support frame. Vertical Cone Formation: The ice accumulates into a cone-shaped structure (stupa), which reduces sunlight exposure and insulates the core, minimizing early melting. Seasonal Melting for Irrigation: In spring, the stupa melts gradually from top to bottom, releasing water slowly to irrigate crops like apples, apricots, wheat, and barley. Scientific Concepts Involved: The process uses phase change, latent heat storage, heat transfer, and hydraulic gradient to create a natural, low-cost water storage solution.

• Gravity-Fed Water Supply: Water is diverted from nearby glacial streams using gravity-driven pipelines, eliminating the need for pumps or electricity.

• Spraying and Freezing Mechanism: At sub-zero temperatures during winter nights, water is sprayed vertically into the air, where droplets freeze mid-air and settle over a support frame.

• Vertical Cone Formation: The ice accumulates into a cone-shaped structure (stupa), which reduces sunlight exposure and insulates the core, minimizing early melting.

• Seasonal Melting for Irrigation: In spring, the stupa melts gradually from top to bottom, releasing water slowly to irrigate crops like apples, apricots, wheat, and barley.

• Scientific Concepts Involved: The process uses phase change, latent heat storage, heat transfer, and hydraulic gradient to create a natural, low-cost water storage solution.

• Significance:

• Climate Adaptation: Addresses water scarcity in arid mountain areas affected by warming. Agro-innovation: Enables multiple crop cycles annually instead of just one. Low-cost, Low-tech: Sustainable, community-driven innovation requiring no heavy infrastructure. Disaster Mitigation: Reduces dependency on rapidly melting glaciers, lowering flood risk.

• Climate Adaptation: Addresses water scarcity in arid mountain areas affected by warming.

• Agro-innovation: Enables multiple crop cycles annually instead of just one.

• Low-cost, Low-tech: Sustainable, community-driven innovation requiring no heavy infrastructure.

• Disaster Mitigation: Reduces dependency on rapidly melting glaciers, lowering flood risk.