Weather & Science

Even the Most-Resilient Glaciers Are Falling Victim to Climate Change

Researchers studying the health of glaciers say that one in Tajikistan likely reached its tipping point in 2018.

A time-lapse photo near pluviometer station.Photographer: Time-Lapse Camera/ISTA

Glaciers in Central Asia have long managed to withstand rising temperatures and changing weather patterns. But now, the outlook is worsening.

A study published Tuesday in the journal Communications Earth and Environment finds that a glacier in Tajikistan probably reached its tipping point in 2018, with conditions deteriorating since then. It’s a development that may threaten the long-term water security for tens of millions of people.