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Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
India leads push for unified Himalayan cryosphere monitoring guidelines
Dehradun: Scientists and policymakers from across India have concluded a landmark workshop to finalise the first set of standardised guidelines for monitoring glaciers, snow and permafrost in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. Organised by Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) at IIT Indore, the two-day consultation was held last week and marked the final leg of a series of such events across HKH countries. It is expected to lay the foundation for a region-wide monitoring framework. More than 40 experts from IIT Bombay, IIT Indore, Kashmir University, the National Institute of Hydrology, and other leading institutions refined ICIMOD's draft manual, aligning it with India's field realities while maintaining consistency across the HKH region, which stretches from Afghanistan to Myanmar. "This guideline should steer all future cryosphere research in the region," said Dr R K Bahuguna, former deputy director of Isro's Space Applications Centre. The need for a coordinated monitoring system has become increasingly urgent. ICIMOD's 2025 Snow Update, released in April, reported that seasonal snow cover in the HKH was 23.6% below the 20-year average (2003–2023) -- the steepest drop since satellite tracking began. Further, a recent report by Hong Kong-based think tank China Water Risk (CWR) had warned that if emissions continue unchecked, 70–80% of HKH glaciers could disappear by 2100, threatening rivers like the Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra and Mekong that sustain nearly two billion people. Despite the scale of the crisis, inconsistent data collection methods have long hampered regional understanding of cryospheric changes. The proposed guidelines aim to standardise everything from sensor placement to data archiving, enabling long-term, comparable assessments of ice loss and improving early warning systems for downstream communities. "With glaciers retreating, snow cover shrinking, and permafrost steadily degrading, a coordinated approach is essential, not just for scientific accuracy but to strengthen our collective capacity to manage climate risks in the Himalayas," said Mohd Farooq Azam, senior intervention manager, cryosphere, at ICIMOD. "This consultation is a significant step toward a common vision for cryosphere research in India and the broader HKH region," he said. Often referred to as the world's "Third Pole," the HKH spans 4.2 million sq km across nine countries, including India, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. The revised manual will now be reviewed at ICIMOD's headquarters in Kathmandu before being shared with HKH govts later this year. Once adopted, officials say it could inform early warning systems, shape water policy and support funding proposals for climate-resilient infrastructure across South and Central Asia.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
South Asian rivers at risk as Hindu Kush Himalaya snow cover hits 23-year low
1 2 3 Dehradun: The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region recorded its lowest snow persistence in 23 years during the 2024–2025 winter, severely affecting major river basins and renewing concerns over water security for more than two billion people across South Asia. The 2025 Snow Update by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), released on Monday, revealed that seasonal snow cover in the HKH region was 23.6% below the 20-year average (2003–2023) — the sharpest decline since satellite monitoring began. Snow persistence — the duration snow remains on the ground — is a critical indicator of future water availability. HKH, often called the "Third Pole", spans 4.2 million sqkm across nine countries, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan. It is the source of 10 major river systems, such as the Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra, which support agriculture, hydropower, and drinking water for a third of the global mountain population and a fifth of the world's population overall. "Four of the past five winters between 2020–21 and 2024–25 saw below-normal snow persistence," the report said. "But the 2024–2025 winter evidenced a historically low persistence of -23.6%, the lowest ever recorded in the past twenty-three years." Snowmelt from the HKH region contributes nearly 23% of annual river flow, making it a key input for irrigation, hydropower, and ecosystems across 12 major river basins. In the current season, all 12 basins recorded deficits. The Mekong (-51.9%) and Salween (-48.3%) saw the steepest declines. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads View Deals Undo In India and Pakistan, the Ganga (-24.1%), Brahmaputra (-27.9%), and Indus (-16.0%) basins — among the most densely populated and agriculturally dependent regions — also recorded significant declines. Experts warned that reduced snow cover, coupled with weak spring precipitation, could lead to reduced river runoff, greater dependence on groundwater, and a heightened risk of drought. Even if global warming is restricted to 1.5°C, studies estimate that nearly one-third of the HKH region's glaciers could melt by the end of the century. This would further threaten seasonal water flows, especially in early summer when snowmelt becomes crucial for farming and power generation. Experts called for immediate basin-level adaptive water management strategies , drought preparedness, and stronger collaboration among regional stakeholders to safeguard agriculture, hydropower, and natural ecosystems in snow-fed areas. "Carbon emissions set the HKH region on an irreversible path of recurring snow loss," said Dr Pema Gyamtsho, director general of ICIMOD. "Addressing this crisis requires science-driven, forward-looking policies and renewed regional cooperation." Sher Muhammad, remote sensing specialist at ICIMOD and lead author of the report, described the trend as alarming. "We are now seeing snow deficits occur in continuous succession," he said. "Our findings offer a regional overview, but action must be basin-specific, especially where seasonal snowmelt is a major water source."
