Pace of melting snow sparks water worry

The snow persistence in the Ganga basin was 24.1% below normal, the lowest in 23 years, said the ICIMOD annual snow update.

Snow melted in the Ganga basin at the fastest rate in more than two decades this year, data from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) showed on Monday, raising the spectre of heat stress and water shortages in summer months and adverse impact on agriculture.

Pace of melting snow sparks water worry

The snow persistence – the fraction of time snow remains on the ground after snowfall and measured using data from Terra and Aqua satellites – in the Ganga basin was 24.1% below normal,