Study: Ice in the Himalayan Mountains Melting at an Alarming Rate

A study revealed that glaciers covering the Himalayan mountains in Asia are melting rapidly because of climate change. Glaciers, or thick and large masses of ice, are formed from years of snowfall. Due to the rising global temperature, glaciers on the Himalayan mountains are melting faster than snowfall can sustain them. According to the author of the study, Hamish Pritchard, this imbalance resulted in the rapid shrinking of the glaciers. About 221 million people depend on the Himalayan meltwater or melted ice, so a lot is at stake. Since the glaciers are melting and shrinking rapidly, huge amounts of meltwater are being produced. Although it has helped in recent droughts, Pritchard warns that the Himalayan meltwater will decrease until it significantly diminishes by 2090. The large amounts of meltwater coming down from the mountains are also leading people to consume more water. This will eventually create a shock among the communities when the meltwater supply recedes. The effects of the melting glaciers will be even more devastating as drought worsens. Pritchard predicts that crops and livestock will be affected and force people to fight over food or water supply. Several organizations share the same concerns as Pritchard. Tianyi Luo [tee-en YEE luo] from the World Resources Institute is worried that food and energy demand and the growing population will further increase the need for water. An analyst at WaterAid also said that the effects of drought will be strongly felt by the regions with the poorest communities that have little to no access to clean water.