Yala Glacier

Yala glacier, one of Nepal’s most extensively studied glaciers, is expected to vanish by the 2040s.

According to WMO and UNESCO, there are more than 275,000 glaciers worldwide.
- It covers approximately 700,000 sq km and with ice sheets, storing about 70% of the global fresh water.

About Yala glacier

Global Glacier Casualty List Launch: The project was launched in 2024. Main Collaborators : Rice University, University of Iceland, Iceland Glaciological Society, and UNESCO. Purpose: To track the status of glaciers worldwide and raise awareness about their decline.

- It is a key representative of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region in the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) database.
- Critical Status : It’s the only glacier in the Himalayas on the Global Glacier Casualty List.
- It plays a vital role in studying the cryosphere.

About Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)

Glacier retreat refers to the shrinking of glaciers in size and mass due to melting, evaporation, and other environmental factors.
Retreat of Yala Glacier
- The glacier has lost 36% of its total area during the period between 1974 and 2021
Impact of Warming
- The Hindu Kush Himalayan cryosphere is warming twice as fast as the global average, leading to the accelerated melting and retreat of glaciers in the region.
Other Critically Endangered Glaciers
- Pico Humboldt Glacier: Disappeared in Venezuela in 2024.
- Sarenne Glacier: Disappeared in France in 2023.
- Dagu Glacier: In China, expected to disappear by 2030.
- Chinese Glacier Shrinkage: Chinese glaciers have shrunk by 12,442.4 sq km, losing 20.6% of their total area.

Disruption of Ecosystems and Livelihoods
- Glaciers and ice sheets store 70% of the world’s freshwater, essential for ecosystems and human survival.
- 240 million people in the Hindu Kush Himalayas depend on glaciers for water and livelihoods.
Increased Risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
- Rapid melting creates unstable glacial lakes.
- These lakes can breach, causing devastating floods in downstream areas.
Climate Feedback Loop
- Melting glaciers reduce the Earth’s albedo (reflectivity).
- Less reflectivity increases heat absorption, accelerating global warming.

The cryosphere refers to the frozen areas of the Earth, which include:
- Snow
- Ice (glaciers, ice caps, and sea ice)
- Frozen ground (permafrost).
It plays a critical role in maintaining the planet’s climate and water cycle.
Importance to the Cryosphere
- The glacier is essential for studying the cryosphere, which serves as a vital water resource for approximately 240 million people living in the Himalayan region.

Global Efforts
- UN Initiatives
  - 2025 is declared as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.
  - March 21 to be observed annually as World Day for Glaciers.
  - Other Global Efforts
    - Himalayan Adaptation Network by IUCN.
    - Living Himalayas Initiative by WWF.
India’s Efforts
- National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem: Focuses on preserving the Himalayan region.
- Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS): Monitors glacier-related events and issues GLOF alerts.
- Polar Missions:
  - IndARC (2014): India’s observatory in the Arctic for glacier and climate monitoring.

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