Cutting pollution to Covid pandemic level may prevent Himalayan glaciers from disappearing: Study

Reducing air pollution to Covid-19 pandemic levels could protect Himalayan glaciers and prevent their disappearance by the end of the century, according to a study. The research team found that cleaner air during the lockdown resulted in less soot deposition on the glaciers, reducing daily snow melting. Glacial retreat and loss of snow cover already threaten the water supply of billions of people in Asia. Lowering air pollution levels to those during lockdowns could reduce snowmelt by half, benefiting water supplies, agriculture, and ecosystems in Asia.