Suhora Highlights Alarming Glacial Melt Trends on 1st UN World Day for Glaciers

As the first-ever UN World Day for Glaciers approaches on March 21, Suhora Technologies, a leading Earth observation and analytics company based in India specializing in downstream space analytics today highlights an alarming trend on how some glacial lakes in the Himalayas are expanding, posing a growing threat to the communities in the region.

The blue colour indicates the presence of glacial lakes in the Himalayan region.

The World Day for Glaciers, being organized by United Nations, aims to raise global awareness about the critical role of glaciers, snow, and ice in the climate system and global water security. The day encourages us all to act to preserve the vital role of glaciers in sustaining life on Earth for generations to come.

Through its research, Suhora maintains an extensive inventory of around 33,000 glacial & non-glacial lakes and some supraglacial lakes spread across 630 Glaciers in the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra basins of the Himalayan range in India and neighboring regions, which helps assess and identify potential threats.

The data reveals that while not all of these lakes are expanding, some are showing alarming growth, underscoring the need for proactive monitoring and mitigation efforts. With increasing glacial melt driven by climate change, several high-altitude lakes have shown significant expansion in recent years. According to analyses done by Suhora, certain glacial lakes in the Indian and neighbouring Himalayan regions have grown notably in size, increasing the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). As per the analysis, glacial lakes are not the only concern—glaciers themselves are retreating at a rapid pace.

Receding Glacier at Nepal-China Border identified by Suhora

One particular glacier, on Nepal – China border identified through Suhora’s continuous monitoring, has significantly altered its shape, showcasing a clear pattern of ice loss over time.

GLOFs occur when the natural dams holding these glacial lakes fail, leading to sudden, devastating floods. The 2023 South Lhonak Lake outburst in Sikkim serves as a recent example of such disasters, which can wipe out infrastructure, disrupt livelihoods, and cause significant loss of life.

Figure showing expansion of South Lhonak lake from 12 HA in 1967 to 768 Ha in 2024

With glacial changes accelerating, a combination of early warning systems, controlled drainage techniques, and community preparedness programs is essential to reducing disaster risks. Suhora is actively working on refining downstream solutions by combining satellite intelligence, sensor-based monitoring, and predictive analytics, to mitigate the threats posed by these changes.

Below are some additional pictures of other mapped regions which are showing a similar trend.