Himalayan Glaciers and Snow at Risk of Losing Their Volume, Revealing the Impact of Global Warming on Food Production

A new assessment report from the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) reveals the impact of global warming on the glaciers, permafrost, and snow of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. The cryosphere in this area shows significant unprecedented and irreversible changes.

An Unsettling Discovery

ICIMOD released a report entitled "Water, Ice, Society, and Ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HI-WISE)," which investigates how the rapid changes in glaciers and snow affect people and nature. In this study, scientists used recent scientific advances to establish the links between water, cryosphere, and biodiversity.

Research contributor Hester Biemans of Water and Food at Wageningen University & Research studied the interactions between melting glaciers and food production in the downstream region. She emphasized the need to quantify the impact on the people relying on meltwater.

It was found that the glaciers in the Himalayan region were disappearing 65% faster in 2010 than in the previous decades. This means that by the end of the century, glaciers could disappear by up to 80%. The report also assumes that water availability in the region will peak in mid-century due to glacial melt and then will be followed by a projected decline.

The study also projects the reduction of snow cover by 25% under high emissions conditions. This trend lowers the amount of freshwater for major rivers like the Amu Darya, the Indus, and Helmand, where it contributes a significant volume of river flow. Meanwhile, a decrease in the extent of permafrost is also reported, suggesting possible landslides and other problems for highly elevated infrastructure.

According to Biemans, a comprehensive assessment of glacier melting is significant in understanding water availability in downstream areas for floods and droughts. The new insight the study provides can enable the experts to take proactive measures and make necessary adjustments to mitigate these consequences. To sustain the production of food, farmers' agricultural practices should adapt to the changes in the meltwater supply.

Critical Role of the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Stretching 3,500 km from Afghanistan to Myanmar, the Hindu Kush Himalaya contains the highest mountain ranges on Earth. It is often called the "third pole" due to its large frozen water reservoir outside the polar regions, hosting global biodiversity hotspots of diverse flora and fauna.

The 12 rivers that flow through 16 nations in Asia, such as Yangtse, Ganges, and Mekong, rely on its meltwater as an important water source. An estimated 2 billion people count on this water for their basic needs like irrigation for food production, drinking water, and energy generation.

Moreover, almost one-third of rice and a quarter of wheat worldwide are grown and harvested in these river basins. Because of this, experts express their concern about the possible impacts of melting ice on the production of rice and wheat in the area and the overall food security in the region.