Hindu Kush Himalayas at risk: 65% faster glacier melting rate uncovered by ICIMOD study
Photo: Sergey Pesterev/ Unsplash
Kathmandu, June 21. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has released its latest study titled ‘Water, Ice, Society, and Ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HI-WISE)’ on the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, revealing alarming findings.
According to the peer-reviewed study, glacier mass loss in the HKH has surged by 65 percent, amounting to a reduction of 0.28 meters in water equivalent from 2010 to 2019. The research also highlights a significant decline in seasonal snow cover, particularly during the summer and winter months.
As a consequence of these changes, experts predict that most HKH river basins will reach their ‘peak water’ stage around mid-century, resulting in a considerable decrease in overall water availability by the end of the century.
Moreover, the study demonstrates a troubling trend of rising temperatures across all HKH regions. The mean temperature has shown an average increase of 0.28 degrees Celsius per decade from 1951 to 2020, with variations observed in individual basins.
Click here to read the full report entitled “Water, ice, society, and ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya” published by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on June 20, 2022.
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