9 million Olympic pools of glacier melting each year, new study finds

A new study using NASA satellite data reveals that glaciers across High Mountain Asia are losing ice at an alarming rate of over 22 gigatons annually—equivalent to nine million Olympic-sized swimming pools. While rising global temperatures have long been known to drive glacier melt, this research from the University of Utah and Virginia Tech highlights how shifting monsoon patterns are significantly accelerating ice loss. In particular, changes in the timing and intensity of monsoon precipitation are converting snowfall, which sustains glaciers, into rain, especially in the Central, Western, and Eastern Himalayas. This disruption reduces glacier accumulation, shortens the precipitation season, and intensifies melting, threatening the water security of approximately 1.4 billion people who rely on these glaciers for freshwater, agriculture, and hydropower. The study further identifies natural 3–8 year melt cycles linked to monsoon variability, raising concerns about future glacier stability amid ongoing climate shifts. Beyond long-term water shortages, the accelerated glacier retreat increases the risk of gl