A study indicates that the rate of glacier melt in the Himalayas is accelerating compared with last year and is expected to reach a peak in which meltwater volumes are at their highest around the middle of this century. As a result, millions of people downstream may face the risk of disruption to water resources.
According to a study published this month, the rate of glacier melt in the Himalayas is faster than in the past. The study indicates that meltwater discharge is expected to reach a peak around the middle of this century.
The timing and scale of this peak depend on glacier-melt dynamics, and the study points to the possibility that water-resource supplies may fluctuate under the effects of global warming.
The study suggests that millions of people living downstream will be exposed to the risk of disruption to water resources as meltwater volumes fluctuate, highlighting the need to consider river-flow management and adaptation measures for water resources.