A Silent Threat: Himalayan Glaciers Melting at Double the Speed

Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma

According to an alarming study by Science Advances, a science journal, the Himalayan glaciers are melting at twice their normal speed. The scientists who have studied 650 glaciers have concluded that approximately 800 crore tonnes of ice is melting every year. To put things into perspective – 10,000 Himalayan glaciers contain around 60,000 crore tonnes of ice.

The accelerated melting of ice is one of the many solid evidences in favour of rising global temperatures. 

While larger glaciers are melting at two times the speed, smaller glaciers are melting at 10 times the speed. This puts glaciers like the Gangotri, Yamunotri, Satopanth, Chorabari, Bhagirath-Kark at risk, and consequentially the rivers they feed, and the towns they flow through. These glaciers are considered primary sources of water in India with almost 40% of the population depending on them.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) says that 70% of glaciers may disappear in the Hidukush-Himalaya region, putting India, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh at stake.

There is a dire need for every country to reduce their carbon footprint. 15 countries in the world generate around 70% of the global carbon footprint with US, China, India, and Russia generating about 50%.

Impact of Climate Change on Water Bodies

Rivers are drying up due to extinction of forests, there is water scarcity in the hills due to increase in population. Water sources are getting scarce due to massive construction works and groundwater crisis has worsened due to destruction of lakes and wells. This has led to dams in the country drying up, and there is a fear of acute water shortage in 24 metro cities.

(Inputs are taken from Hridayesh Joshi's article originally published in Quint Hindi)