Learn about Glaciers
One of the most valuable components of nature
Introduction
“When the ice melts, it's not just water that disappears—it's memory, balance, and the future.”
The cryosphere includes all components of the Earth System that are frozen—such as snow cover, glaciers, ice sheets, ice shelves, icebergs, sea ice, lake ice, river ice, permafrost, and seasonally frozen ground.
It plays a critical role in regulating Earth's climate, supporting ecosystems, and providing water to billions of people.
Alarming Changes
According to the IPCC Special Report, the cryosphere is undergoing rapid shifts:
- 70% of Earth's freshwater is locked in snow and ice
- 10% of Earth's land area is covered by glaciers or ice sheets
- Sea level rise (2006-2015) was 2.5x faster than 1901-1990
- Arctic snow cover in June dropped 13.4% per decade since 1967
- Ice sheets are up to 4 km thick in East Antarctica
- Antarctica holds ice that could raise sea levels by 58 meters
Explore Further
Dive into curated resources and global repositories to deepen your understanding of the cryosphere.
Glacier Changes Over Time
Visual evidence of glacial retreat across significant Himalayan and Karakoram ranges.
🧊 Gangotri Glacier (Uttarakhand)
Location: Garhwal Himalayas, source of the Ganga River
Retreat: ~1 km in the last 70 years (~15-20 meters/year)
Concern: Significant mass & length loss; freshwater source for millions.
🧊 Siachen Glacier (Ladakh)
Location: Eastern Karakoram Range
Retreat: ~1,000 meters over 30 years
Concern: Military activity accelerates melt; climate sensitive.
🧊 Pindari Glacier (Uttarakhand)
Location: Kumaon region
Retreat: ~135 meters from 1958 to 2020 (~2 meters/year recently)
Concern: Moraine shift observed; high scientific attention.
🧊 Zemu Glacier (Sikkim)
Location: Near Kanchenjunga, Eastern Himalayas
Retreat: ~27% area loss in recent decades
Concern: Vital for Teesta River; rapid satellite-observed retreat.
🧊 Dokriani Glacier (Uttarakhand)
Location: Bhagirathi Valley
Retreat: ~20 meters/year
Concern: Volume loss confirmed by Wadia Institute studies.
🧊 Chhota Shigri Glacier (Himachal Pradesh)
Location: Lahaul-Spiti region
Retreat: ~15-20 meters/year
Concern: One of India's benchmark glaciers with detailed data.
