Low snow on the Himalayas threatens water security: Study
Millions of people dependent on Himalayan snowmelt for water face a “very serious” risk of shortages this year after one of the lowest rates of snowfall, scientists warned Monday. Snowmelt is the source of about a quarter of the total water flow of 12 major river basins that originate high in the region, the report said. ”This is a wake-up call for researchers, policymakers, and downstream communities,” said report author Sher Muhammad, from the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). ”Lower accumulation of snow and fluctuating levels of snow pose a very serious increased risk of water shortages, particularly this year.” Snow and ice on the Himalayas are a crucial water source for around 240 million people in the mountainous regions, as well as for another 1.65 billion people in the river valleys below, according to ICIMOD.