The state and fate of Himalayan glaciers (2012) is a study that examines the current status and future projections of glaciers in the Himalayas and Karakoram regions. The study uses satellite data and glacier inventories to estimate the area, volume, and debris cover of glaciers. The research highlights the variability in glacier area and volume estimates due to differing definitions of the region and data sources. The study presents a new glacier inventory based on satellite data from 2008, which estimates the total glacier area in the Himalayas and Karakoram at approximately 40,800 km². It also estimates that about 10% of the glacier area is covered by debris, with higher percentages in the Ganges and Indus basins. Glacier volume estimates are derived from two methods: one based on mean slope, elevation range, and basal shear stress, and another using volume-area scaling. The first method suggests a total volume of around 2330 km³, while the second method, which uses scaling parameters, yields a range of 3600 to 6500 km³. These estimates are significantly lower than the 12,000 Gt (13,300 km³) estimate from the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report. The study emphasizes the need for improved modeling approaches and more in-situ measurements to better understand glacier changes. The study also discusses the impact of climate change on glaciers, noting that up to 20% of inventoried glaciers may have disappeared by 2010. It highlights the importance of monitoring glacier changes for water resource management and understanding the effects of climate change on the region. The research provides detailed information on glacier area, volume, and debris cover, as well as the distribution of glaciers across different regions of the Himalayas and Karakoram. The study is supported by various references to previous research and data sources, including satellite imagery, glacier inventories, and field measurements.The state and fate of Himalayan glaciers (2012) is a study that examines the current status and future projections of glaciers in the Himalayas and Karakoram regions. The study uses satellite data and glacier inventories to estimate the area, volume, and debris cover of glaciers. The research highlights the variability in glacier area and volume estimates due to differing definitions of the region and data sources. The study presents a new glacier inventory based on satellite data from 2008, which estimates the total glacier area in the Himalayas and Karakoram at approximately 40,800 km². It also estimates that about 10% of the glacier area is covered by debris, with higher percentages in the Ganges and Indus basins. Glacier volume estimates are derived from two methods: one based on mean slope, elevation range, and basal shear stress, and another using volume-area scaling. The first method suggests a total volume of around 2330 km³, while the second method, which uses scaling parameters, yields a range of 3600 to 6500 km³. These estimates are significantly lower than the 12,000 Gt (13,300 km³) estimate from the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report. The study emphasizes the need for improved modeling approaches and more in-situ measurements to better understand glacier changes. The study also discusses the impact of climate change on glaciers, noting that up to 20% of inventoried glaciers may have disappeared by 2010. It highlights the importance of monitoring glacier changes for water resource management and understanding the effects of climate change on the region. The research provides detailed information on glacier area, volume, and debris cover, as well as the distribution of glaciers across different regions of the Himalayas and Karakoram. The study is supported by various references to previous research and data sources, including satellite imagery, glacier inventories, and field measurements.