Himalayan glacier melting threatens water security for millions of people

Large bodies of ice are losing mass faster than they are accumulating it

Zanskar River in Himalayan mountains

MOUNTAIN MELT  Melting glacier water feeds the Indus River, shown in this photo at its confluence with the Zanskar River in the Himalayan region of Ladakh.

Koonyongyut/istock/Getty Images Plus

Meltwater from glaciers in Asia’s high mountain ranges, including the Himalayas, meets the basic water needs of about 221 million people each year.