The massive and deadly floods on the Nepal-Tibet border are a stark reminder of why the world needs to constantly update its understanding of the fragile ecosystem in the Himalayas.

These towering mountains contain nearly 90,000 glaciers, which sustain ten major river systems. Countries nearby, including India, Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bhutan, are reliant on water resources that cross borders here. As major river-based hydro economies, their agricultural production, energy security and wider economic stability depend on the availability and the timing of river flows.

Changes in snowmelt, glacier retreat and water availability can cause untold hardship for millions of people relying on it. It can also create incredible danger as seen in August 2026, when a flash flood caused by a collapsed glacier washed away villages, bridges and roads on both sides of the Tibet-Nepal border, killing more than 1,000 people.

Understanding and measuring winter snowfall in these regions is exceptionally important. It is the main source of freshwater when it is released by snow melting during the region’s warm and early-summer crop growing seasons, when local communities need it most.

Read more: Nepal-Tibet disaster linked to climate change – a glaciologist explains

Understanding future Himalayan hazards

No one knows precisely how much water the mountains currently provide, and how this will change. This knowledge gap also hinders our understanding of the occurrence of geo-hazards including avalanches triggered by extreme snowfall events and flooding caused by the rapid melting of snow.

The recent Nepal disaster........

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