Himalayan glaciers

Himalayan snow and glaciers are apex natural water resource reservoirs and release large quantity of freshwater year round. Their ultrahigh altitudes attract moisture from Indian, Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. The uplift of the mountains have given birth to Indian Monsoon. Their rugged topographic features modify weather systems at all scales of space and time. Meltwater releases moderate drought and flood conditions and coldwater discharges to Indian ocean modifies its circulations. Himalayan mountains are the youngest and most active and coupled atmosphere - snow - land - ocean systems. As the mountain system is bestowed with all microclimates (from dry-cold to wet-hot), it is one of the mega biodiversity region for flora and fauna, supporting a huge human population. This sensitive and fragile region needs continuous monitoring to understand the physical processes for effective utilisation of its natural resources and timely corrective measures to reduce the occurrence of natural disasters
for harmonious environmental conditions.