Glaciers as Water Reservoirs
Glaciers store nearly 69% of the Earth’s freshwater, making them crucial natural reservoirs. In Pakistan alone, the Karakoram range contains more than 7,000 glaciers, feeding rivers such as the Indus and sustaining millions of people with seasonal meltwater. Similarly, in the Andes, glaciers in Chile and Argentina regulate river flows for agriculture and hydroelectric power, buffering communities against seasonal droughts.
Main article: Glacier
These ice reservoirs operate on a precise seasonal rhythm. Winter snowfall accumulates, compressing into ice, while summer warmth releases controlled streams of meltwater. For example, in the European Alps, glaciers like Aletsch and Mer de Glace release hundreds of millions of cubic meters of water annually, ensuring stable river levels even in dry years. However, in high-altitude regions like Antarctica or Greenland, the extremely cold temperatures mean meltwater is released slowly or not at all, highlighting the diversity of glacier-driven hydrological systems.
The reliance on glaciers for freshwater is increasing as climate change accelerates. Researchers warn that regions such as the Himalayas, often called the “Third Pole,” could see dramatic reductions in glacier mass within decades, threatening the water supply of over a billion people who depend on the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers.
