Study finds Zanskar Himalaya glacier speeds fell 16% from 1992 to 2023

A study published in The Cryosphere reports that glacier velocity in the Zanskar Himalayas (Ladakh) decreased by 16% between 1992 and 2023, based primarily on satellite imagery of 12 selected glaciers. The slowdown was accompanied by accelerated ice thinning, with average thinning reported at 0.22 m/year (2000–2005) rising to 0.57 m/year (2015–2020), and lower-elevation glaciers slowing faster than higher-elevation ones.