KU, ISRO satellite study reveals one-third of Valley’s glacier cover gone in 40 years
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, May 13: For centuries, the glaciers perched high above Kashmir’s valleys acted like frozen guardians — silently storing winter snow and releasing water through rivers and streams that sustained life below. However, a landmark satellite-based study by researchers from the University of Kashmir and Indian Space Research Organisation now paints a troubling picture—Kashmir’s snow kingdom is facing a slow collapse.
Using nearly four decades of satellite imagery from 1980 to 2018, scientists mapped 147 glaciers spread across the Kashmir Himalaya and found that the region lost almost one-third of its glacier area during the period. The glaciers reduced from nearly 102 square kilometres in 1980 to just over 72 square kilometres in 2018 — a loss of about 29 square kilometres of ice.
The findings, available with the Rising Kashmir, reveal that glacier recession in Kashmir is occurring at a faster rate than in many other Himalayan regions, making the Valley one of the most climate-sensitive mountain ecosystems in South Asia.
Nearly 72 per cent of glaciers in Kashmir are smaller than three square kilometres, and scientists found these smaller glaciers are disappearing the fastest. Glaciers under one square kilometre lost more than 41 per cent of their area during the study period, almost three times more than larger glaciers.
Researchers identified rising temperatures and declining winter snowfall as the primary drivers behind the glacier retreat. The study notes that annual temperatures across Kashmir have increased significantly over recent decades, while snowfall that replenishes glaciers has steadily declined.
Climate projections cited in the research suggest temperatures in the Valley could rise by as much as 6.9 degrees Celsius by the end of the century under high-emission scenarios — a change scientists warn could drastically alter the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
The research further found that glaciers located between 4,200 and 4,400 metres in altitude witnessed the highest retreat, losing nearly 55 per cent of their area, while glaciers at higher elevations showed comparatively lower losses.
South-facing glaciers, exposed to greater sunlight, melted significantly faster than north-facing glaciers. Likewise, glaciers lying on gentler slopes experienced more rapid recession compared to those on steeper terrain.
The iconic Kolahoi Glacier, often described as Kashmir’s largest glacier, has become one of the strongest symbols of this transformation unfolding across the Valley’s mountains.
The glaciers of Kashmir feed rivers such as the Lidder, Sindh, Vishav and Doodhganga, which support irrigation, hydropower generation, tourism and drinking water supplies across the region. Scientists warn that while accelerated melting may temporarily increase river discharge, the long-term depletion of glaciers could severely reduce streamflows in the future.
Researchers used decades of satellite observations, including Landsat imagery and digital elevation models, to map glacier boundaries across all 24 sub-basins of the Jhelum basin, making the study one of the most comprehensive glacier assessments conducted in Kashmir.
The study ultimately warns that Kashmir’s glaciers are no longer just remote ice masses in the mountains. They are rapidly becoming some of the clearest indicators of a changing Himalayan climate — and a warning sign for the Valley’s environmental and water security future.
