Poles Apart, Yet Melting Together: The Cryospheric Crossroads of the Hindukush and the Arctic

When the world envisions Earth's icy extremes, attention often turns to the vast, frozen frontiers of the Arctic in the north and the Antarctic in the south. Yet, nestled between these poles, the formidable expanse of the Hindu Kush Himalayas, often termed as the "third pole", commands a critical role in our planet's cryosphere. 

Illustration by The Geostrata

However, these distant domains are not just poles apart geographically but are thermally, geopolitically, and ecologically entwined in the climate crisis. One stands as Earth’s primordial ice realm, and the other as a high-altitude reservoir of frozen water; both are bleeding ice and brimming with consequences.

The cryospheric implications of both the Hindukush Himalayas and the Arctic region form silent yet intense drivers of planetary health. From the methane-laden permafrost of the Arctic to the glacier-fed rivers of the Hindukush Himalaya, these regions support almost 2 billion lives. As they melt, not only do they seep into rivers and oceans, but they also permeate our food systems, geopolitics, and the very framework of global climate governance.

The stark message that what melts in the mountains doesn't stay in the mountains and what thaws in the tundra doesn't only affect the north is contained in this unlikely consociation of frozen frontiers. Welcome to the cryospheric intersection where survival, security, and science all urgently and irrevocably converge.

HINDUKUSH HIMALAYAS, THE “THIRD POLE”

The Hindukush Himalayas, which span eight countries and cover an area of more than 4.2 million square kilometres, are known as the "Third Pole" since they comprise the largest concentration of glaciers and snowfields outside of the Arctic and Antarctic.

It has become known as the "Water Tower of Asia" due to these enormous ice reserves, which supply water to ten major river systems in Asia, including the Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, Mekong, and Yangtze.

By supplying essential resources for consumption, agriculture, hydropower, and ensuring the survival of delicate ecosystem balances, this cryospheric engine directly supports billions of people throughout Asia.

The Hindukush Himalayan region holds significance in shaping monsoon patterns and for sustaining regional climate stability in addition to its function as a freshwater reservoir.

In order to correspond with agricultural cycles, its glaciers act as seasonal buffers, releasing meltwater gradually. Nevertheless, increasing temperatures have accelerated glacier retreat, changed flow patterns, and increased the likelihood of flash floods, glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and water stress. The region is especially vulnerable to climate-related disasters because of its topography, dense population, and lack of adaptive infrastructure.

THE PROBLEM OF THAWING PERMAFROST

Due to the release of long-trapped greenhouse gases, thawing permafrost, and glacial retreat in the Arctic and the Hindukush have significant effects of global warming. The largest permafrost reserves are found in the Arctic, which also comprises enormous amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄), which, when released, intensify a feedback loop that causes global warming. 

Depending on future warming scenarios and whether abrupt thaw and wildfire are taken into account, emissions from the thawing of Arctic permafrost alone could range from 22 to 550 gigatonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2100.

These emissions are significant enough to compete with the yearly emissions of developed nations like China, the United States, and Russia.

Methane only makes up a small portion of the released greenhouse gas, yet even in smaller amounts, it has a significant impact because it has the potential to cause up to 80 times more global warming over the course of twenty years than CO₂. The Third Pole releases CO₂ and CH₄ at a much slower rate than the Arctic because of warming permafrost and retreating glaciers.

Permafrost's emissions are significant in the region but insignificant globally due to its thinner, patchier distribution and lower organic carbon content.

Despite having low emissions, the third pole nevertheless affects regional climate patterns and local atmospheric chemistry, especially affecting communities downstream. 

LONG-TERM CLIMATE IMPLICATIONS

As glaciers and sea ice melt in the Arctic and the Hindukush Himalayas, reflective ice surfaces give way to darker land and ocean. As a result of this alteration, a smaller portion of sunlight is reflected, increasing absorption and contributing to additional warming. This process is called ice-albedo feedback.

Large volumes of gases that were previously trapped in frozen soils are released by the melting of Arctic permafrost and the retreating Third Pole glaciers. These greenhouse gases exacerbate a vicious cycle of global warming. 

Sea level rise is directly caused by the ongoing loss of land ice from mountain glaciers, such as the Himalayas, Greenland, and Antarctica.

An increase of 1 metre or more is predicted by the year 2100, endangering coastal populations all over the world. Complete melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet would raise sea levels by about 7 meters, and the Antarctic by about 60 meters, which could inundate islands and low-lying areas globally. 

Ocean salinity and density are affected by the freshwater inflow from melting ice, which may reduce or interfere with important ocean currents such as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).

Significant changes in regional and global climates, such as modified precipitation patterns and stronger hurricanes, can result from such changes. Food webs undergo disruption, and extinction risks are raised as a result of melting glaciers and melting sea ice, which destroy habitats vital to polar bears, walruses, alpine plants, and many other species. 

HUMANITARIAN VULNERABILITIES IN THE CRYOSPHERE

Particularly in regions that depend on meltwater from the Third Pole, sea level rise and changes in water resources can lead to population displacement, intensify conflicts over diminishing resources, and create new geopolitical tensions. Thousands of glacial lakes have formed and grown as a result of glacial melt in the Hindukush Himalayan region.

Image Credits: Rightful Owner

Communities downstream suffer catastrophic flooding when these lakes suddenly burst, which is frequently caused by avalanches or earthquakes.

Due in part to severe glacial melt and record rainfall, the 2013 Kedarnath floods in India destroyed homes, bridges, and transportation networks, causing extensive long-term displacement and an estimated 2662.6 million INR in recovery costs.

As the Arctic sea ice melts, the Alaskan village of Shishmaref has experienced significant coastal erosion and lost barriers against storm surges. In 2016, the Iñupiat community decided to move, but the process was hampered by the high expenses and insufficient funding. Similar pressures are experienced by other Siberian and Alaskan communities, making climate migration an ugly reality today.

CLIMATE GOVERNANCE AND STRATEGIC STEWARDSHIP

At platforms like the UNFCCC, the Arctic and the Hindukush are prominent symbols of climate urgency and are at the forefront of international climate negotiations. Their abundant natural resources, like oil, gas, and minerals in the Arctic, and hydropower and biodiversity in the Hindukush, highlight the necessity of strong, transboundary management and evidence-based negotiation.

Transboundary collaboration, science-driven governance, community involvement, and creative policymaking are all necessary for effective strategic stewardship in the Arctic and the Hindu Kush Himalayas. Both areas require specialised strategies to guarantee long-term stewardship because they are not only politically complex but ecologically vital and climate-sensitive at the same time.

The Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KSLCDI), which spans China, Nepal, and India, is an example of transboundary governance that exemplifies regional collaboration between organisations, communities, and governments. Its main objectives are biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihood promotion, and cross-border respect for cultural values.

In a similar vein, the Arctic Council as a Model of Regional Governance promotes coordinated monitoring, consensus-driven decision-making, and group stewardship of the Arctic environment. 

It takes more than one person to practice sustained stewardship. It is crucial to share governance, resources, and knowledge across national boundaries and cultural boundaries, particularly in areas as politically and ecologically complex as the Arctic and the Hindukush. These illustrations show that even though there are many obstacles to overcome, strategic stewardship can result in real advantages for people, the environment, and future generations.

In a world increasingly defined by rising temperatures and melting certainties, the Arctic and the Hindukush Himalayas remind us that climate change knows no borders, neither geographic nor political. What melts in silence speaks volumes for humanity. These frozen frontiers are not just remote anomalies but core indicators of planetary health. The challenge before us is not just to observe their decline but to urgently act collaboratively, equitably, and wisely. Because when the poles weep, the world floods. And in their thaw lies not just water, but a warning.

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