1.1 The Indus (Left), Ganges (Center), and Brahmaputra (Right) Basins in South Asia

MAP 1.1 The Indus (Left), Ganges (Center), and Brahmaputra (Right) Basins in South Asia

Sources: Based on data from the food and agriculture organization; national aeronautics and space administration, shuttle radar topography mission; and national snow and ice data center 2012.

The report is organized as follows. Chapter 2 sets the context by describing the glaciers of the South Asia region, including their economic and environmental benefits and threats that may hasten glacial retreat and melt. Chapter 3 provides detail on the current state of knowledge of two major drivers of glacier melt and retreat in the region: climate change and BC emissions. Chapter 4 details the methodology employed in the research with a focus on closing some of the gaps identified in chapter 3. Chapter 5 looks specifically at the role that BC deposition on snow and ice surfaces plays in altering precipitation patterns and melt rates. Chapter 6 presents the key findings on the potential impacts that aerosol reduction policies of South Asian countries can have on the availability of water resources in the region. Chapter 7 discusses the policy implications of the findings for South Asian countries and the broader global development community. Three appendixes detail the comprehensive analytical work that has informed the research. Appendix A provides