Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, Feb 21: Mount Everest has witnessed a significant reduction in snow cover this winter, with satellite images revealing a retreat of 150 metres. Researchers attribute this decline to warmer temperatures and drier conditions in the Himalayan region.
Glaciologist Mauri Pelto, a professor of environmental science at Nichols College, USA, analysed NASA satellite images from October 2023 to early January 2025 and noted a continuous rise in the snow line through January for both 2024 and 2025. In a blog post dated February 2, Pelto highlighted the impact of changing climatic patterns on the world’s tallest peak.
Situated at an elevation of 8,849 metres, Mount Everest straddles the border between Nepal and Tibet. The snow line, which marks the permanent boundary of snow accumulation, has been shifting upward, indicating a warming climate.
According to Pelto, recent winters—especially those of 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025—have been marked by reduced snowfall, higher snow lines, and increased forest fires. While some minor snow events were recorded, the snow failed to persist, leading to continued glacial retreat even at elevations above 6,000 metres.
The primary cause of snow cover loss at such altitudes is sublimation, where ice directly evaporates without melting. Daily losses due to sublimation have been observed at up to 2.5 millimetres, significantly affecting glacier mass and contributing to its retreat.
December 2024 saw only 20-25% of normal precipitation in Nepal, with drier conditions reported in the eastern region and above-average temperatures. This led to extreme drought in several provinces, including Koshi Province. January 2025 has continued to be dry, with persistently warm temperatures allowing the snow line to remain high and rise further into February.
“The average snow line on Mount Everest region glaciers was recorded at 6,100 metres on January 28, 2025—150 metres higher than on December 11, 2024,” Pelto stated.
His latest observations build upon findings from May 2024, which had already noted limited snow cover since November 2023. Unlike the extreme January heat wave of 2020-21, the current situation is driven by consistently above-normal temperatures and a lack of significant precipitation. From January to March 2024, Everest Base Camp received less than 25 millimetres of precipitation, further intensifying the snow loss.
Experts warn that continued warming trends and reduced snowfall could accelerate glacial retreat in the region, impacting water resources and ecosystems dependent on Himalayan ice reserves.