Ice Stupas: Artificial Glaciers for Ladakh Water
Why in the news
Ice stupas drew attention as a low-tech fix for mountain water shortage.
About ice stupas
- Man-made cone-shaped glaciers, named after the dome of Buddhist stupas.
- Designed by Sonam Wangchuk in Ladakh.
How it works
- Stream water runs through pipes on a hydraulic gradient, with gravity doing the work.
- On sub-zero nights it is sprayed upward and freezes mid-air over a frame.
- The vertical cone shape limits sun exposure, so melting is slow.
- In spring the ice melts top to bottom, feeding irrigation.
Science involved
- Phase change and latent heat storage: freezing stores energy, melting releases it.
- Heat transfer depends on shape and exposure.
Significance
- Helps against glacier retreat and water scarcity in the Himalayas.
- Allows several cropping seasons rather than one.
- Cheap, scalable; lowers spring flood risk.
Exam angle
- Inventor and place: Sonam Wangchuk, Ladakh.