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Abstract
Glaciers in High Mountain Asia (HMA) provide meltwater crucial for 250 million people. This study uses altitudinally-resolved specific mass balances (SMB) for 5527 glaciers (2000–2016) to assess their health and sustainability. Results show that only 60% of annual ablation was compensated by accumulation. Even without 21st-century warming, 21% of ice volume will be lost by 2100 due to current imbalance, reducing river ablation by 28%. Himalayan and Tien Shan glaciers are largely unsustainable, facing at least 30% ice volume reduction by 2100. Major glacier-fed river basins will see long-term meltwater supply reductions, despite the Karakoram Anomaly.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
May 17, 2021
Authors
Evan Miles, Michael McCarthy, Amaury Dehecq, Marin Kneib, Stefan Fugger, Francesca Pellicciotti
Tags
glaciers
Himalayan glaciers
High Mountain Asia
mass balance
meltwater
ice volume reduction
sustainability
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