Third Pole Glaciers Melting, Water Sources Threatened
Summary
The Third Pole's glaciers are rapidly melting, threatening water supplies for 1.3 billion people across Asia, with springs drying and groundwater depleting in the Himalayan region including Nepal.
Key Points
- The Third Pole, encompassing the Himalayas and surrounding ranges, holds the largest ice mass outside the poles and is crucial for water supply to over a billion people.
- Since the 1970s, glaciers in most parts of the Third Pole have lost about 9% of their mass, causing increased river flows but also threatening water sources.
- Springs across the Himalayan region are drying up, with about 12% lost in Nepal, and groundwater is depleting significantly in parts of northwestern India and Nepal.
- Climate models predict more variable water availability with earlier snowmelt and increased floods and droughts, while a 1.5°C rise could melt 36% of glacier mass in the region.
