The Pandemic’s Impact on Himalayan Glaciers: Why Controlling Carbon Emissions is Crucial for Glacier Conservation and Global Water Supply

As a result of limited mobility due to the pandemic, there has been an increasing concern about the impact of global warming on Himalayan mountain glaciers. If carbon dioxide emissions are not controlled, these glaciers face a significant risk of complete melting in this century. Even if climate change warms by only 1.5 degrees Celsius, around one-third of the glaciers could still disappear, with melting continuing at some pace due to the long-lasting effects of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The Himalayas and Tibetan highlands are vital for preserving glaciers and the snow that sustains them, as they provide water to ten major rivers in Asia. The spring snowmelt provides water for about half of the annual needs of four billion people. To slow down the rate of snow loss significantly, reducing air pollution, particularly black carbon or soot, is essential.

Research conducted by Indian, German, and British scientists published in the Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics journal revealed that lowering soot levels to those seen during the pandemic lockdown could have a positive impact on slowing down snow melting in the Himalayas by up to half. During South Asia’s pandemic lockdown, transportation over the Himalayas reduced soot deposition, resulting in lighter and less heat-absorbent snow surfaces. This reduction helped preserve snow cover during spring and slowed down melting rates. Preserving snow cover is crucial for glacier conservation as it helps with slow melting processes and new ice formation.