The water towers of Asia While mountains traditionally have been considered the major
water sources of the region, there is great diversity in the hydro-
The Himalayas–Hindu Kush, Kunlun Shan, Pamir and Tien Shan logical significance of mountains and glaciers for downstream
mountain ranges (Figure 6B.10) function as water towers, provid- water supply, particularly between the dry north-western region
ing water to people through much of Asia. The glacier-fed rivers and the monsoon-influenced south-eastern regions
76
. In spite of
originating from the mountain ranges surrounding the Tibetan the vast water supply, seasonal water scarcity is a major issue
77
.
Plateau comprise the largest river run-off from any single location
in the world
74,75
. While the mountains are homes to some 170 Projections of glacier retreat in the region (based on IPCC sce-
million people, the rivers that drain these mountains influence narios) suggest that increases in the mean annual temperature
the lives of about 40 per cent of the world’s population
74
. The riv- for High Asia in the range of 1.0°C to 6.0°C (low to high estimate)
ers provide household water, food, fisheries, power, jobs and are by 2100 are likely to result in a decline in the current coverage of
at the heart of cultural traditions. The rivers shape the landscape glaciers by 43 to 81 per cent
78
. The Tien Shan and Qinling Shan
and ecosystems and are important in terms of biodiversity. are likely to become entirely devoid of glaciers, and glacial cover-
Uzbekistan
S
y
A
r
L
Turkmenistan

D
T
Glaciers
A
a
Y
y
r Kazakhstan

M
a O
U
N
T
A
I
N
S
Kyrgyzstan Mongolia
A
TI
EN
SH
AN
m
Tajikistan
u

D
a
ry
a
Ta
rim
Afghanistan
P
A
M
I
H
R
S
K
U
N
L

K
U
S
UN
SHAN
China
H
IN
D
U
K
A
R
A
H
u
a
n
g

h
e
K
O
R TIBETAN
Pakistan
A
M PLATEAU

R
In
d
u
s A
H
N
E
G
N
E
G
S
a
lw
e
M D
e
n
e
k
U
Y
a
n
g
tz
e
Br
ah
o
A
ma
p
n N
Nepal
H
u
I
tra g

M
S
A
L
H
A
Y
A
S
A
N
Bhutan
G
a
n
g
e
d
y

s
a
w
a
d
I
r
r
Bangladesh
Myanmar
India
Figure 6B.10: The Himalayas-Hindu Kush-Tien Shan-Tibet region.
130 GLOBAL OUTLOOK FOR ICE AND SNOW