What are the findings of the 2024 Hindu Kush Himalayas snow update? | Explained

The story so far: The Ganga river basin — India’s largest — reached a record low snow persistence in 2024, the Hindu Kush Himalaya snow update of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has reported. The Brahmaputra and the Indus basins have suffered similarly, threatening water supply to millions of people. “Tragically this is yet another postcard from the frontlines of a climate crisis that is accelerating even beyond scientists’ projections and causing huge challenges in one of the most populated regions of the world,” Miriam Jackson, Cryosphere Lead at ICIMOD and a contributor to reports of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, told The Hindu.

What is snow persistence? Snow persistence is the fraction of time snow is on the ground. When this snow melts, it provides water to people and ecosystems.

In the river basins of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), snowmelt is the biggest source of water in the streams. Overall, it contributes 23% of the runoff to the region’s 12 major river basins every year.