Warming Temperatures in Himalayas Threaten Climbers’ Lives

Although climbing some of the world’s highest mountains comes with inherent risk, scientists have warned that the earth’s warming atmosphere will exacerbate the danger. In the Himalayas, the world’s highest mountain range, avalanches are becoming more common. The increasing frequency of these avalanches leads to a greater risk for those who choose to attempt to summit these mountains. 

Source: WION/YouTube

Avalanches are impossible to avoid in these high-altitude mountains. They have always, and will always, occur. However, an analysis published in the Natural Hazards and Earth Systems Sciences journal shows that deaths due to avalanches have increased in recent decades. Usually, the climbing season in the Central Himalayas occurs between March and May and from September to November. This is due to the clearer weather during these months, which bracket the monsoon season. However, the Indian Ocean has been affected by warming temperatures. These increasing temperatures make the monsoon season more unpredictable. 

Unpredictable monsoon seasons and warming temperatures are leading to an increase in avalanche risk. A 2018 study used tree rings to determine that when there are higher temperatures through the winter and early spring, there is a corresponding increase in avalanche activity. Additionally, a study published in 2021 showed that higher temperatures can also make avalanches more deadly. 

In the past five decades, an estimated 564 people died while attempting to summit Himalayan peaks over 14,770 feet. Although scientists cannot say the exact level to which Climate change is responsible for increasing avalanches and avalanche-related deaths, they are beginning to collect data in the hopes of understanding its role. The Himalayas are one of the places in the world most vulnerable to the effects of Climate change and are experiencing warming roughly twice as quickly as the global average. Scientists studying the avalanches warn that the trend of rising numbers of avalanche-related deaths is likely to continue. 

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