New studies find a surprising and disturbing rate of change across High Mountain Asia. This region, often referred to as the “Third Pole,” contains some of the largest reserves of glacier ice outside the polar regions. This region contains the world’s largest expanse of glacier ice outside the polar regions. That’s under siege from ice loss never seen before, thanks to altered monsoon patterns. Sonam Sherpa, an assistant professor at the University of Utah, directed a recent study that reveals alarming findings. We found that glaciers in this key region are losing more than 22 gigatons of ice per year. The ramifications of these discoveries have the potential to put water resources at risk for more than 1.4 billion people throughout South and Central Asia.
Climate change is threatening High Mountain Asia’s glaciers, which are vital freshwater reservoirs. They feed our lakes and rivers, which provide fresh drinking water for millions of Americans. Our study region in the Central Himalaya is heavily impacted by the South Asian monsoon. In the higher elevations, cold temperatures convert annual precipitation to large amounts of snowfall, feeding the glaciers renewably. Recent trends suggest a disturbing reversal, resulting in markedly increased glacier retreat.
Increasing Ice Loss and Changing Patterns
The effects of climate seasonality on glacier mass changes in the Central Himalaya were published August 1, 2025 in the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics on Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing. It uses GRACE observations to illustrate these effects. The scientists determined that glaciers are retreating due to a lack of snowfall or an increase in melting. The Yala glacier has visibly receded, having lost almost 70% of its area since the 1970s. This drastic decrease is due mostly to climate change.
Researchers have started to notice that glaciers are retreating in 3-4.5 year and 5-8 year cycles. These cycles seem to line up beautifully with the natural variability found in monsoon patterns. In the central and western Himalayan regions, more precipitation means dramatic ice retreat. In the east, decreasing snowfall seems to be a bigger driver of glacier retreat dynamics.
“These findings highlight that glaciers dominated by the South Asian monsoons, such as the Central Himalaya, Western Himalaya, and Eastern Himalaya, are especially vulnerable.” – Sonam Sherpa
Implications for Water Supply
The impacts of these changes are deeply felt and extend beyond environmental concerns alone. They jeopardize the drinking water supplies of millions of Americans who live downstream. Glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate due to shifts in monsoon timing and intensity. Consequently, our rivers will become more dependent on rainfall and less on glacier melt for their flow. This shift has made future generations in downstream states more susceptible to periods of prolonged drought.
Susanna Werth, an assistant professor at Virginia Tech and co-author of the study, emphasizes the long-term implications:
“Looking ahead, a faster retreat of mountain glaciers will shift the main source of river flow from glacier melt to rainfall, thereby heightening the risk of droughts in downstream regions for future generations.”
This change not only heightens the worry of long-term water deprivation but creates immediate threats to life and infrastructure.
“This risk is not only about long-term water shortages but also about immediate threats to lives and infrastructure.” – Sonam Sherpa
The Need for Urgent Action
Climate change is increasing the rate at which weather patterns are shifting across High Mountain Asia. To address these growing challenges, we need to act urgently and decisively. The study’s findings should light a fire under the policymaker’s and stakeholder’s collective behinds. To do so, they need to prioritize creating smart water resource management practices and robust climate adaptation policies.
Unless we reverse course, making these trends the new status quo will have dire effects on the millions who rely on glacial water reservoirs. Scientists reiterate that understanding these patterns is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate risks associated with changing climates.
“If the timing and intensity of the monsoon continues to alter, it could accelerate ice loss and threaten water availability for millions downstream.” – Sonam Sherpa
