'75% of Himalayan glaciers retreating'

A study by Isro satellite images reveals 75% of Himalayan glaciers are on the retreat, with the average shrinkage being 3.75km during the 15 years under study.

The shocking findings come after raging controversy over claims in the 2007 IPCC report of Himalayan glaciers disappearing by 2035, which were later retracted.

The project, which studied 2,190 glaciers, was commissioned by the Indian ministry of environment and forests and department of space to break myths about the disappearance of Himalayan glaciers. The study used satellite images taken by Resourcesat-1 over a period of 15 years (1989-2004). Around 50 experts and 14 organizations were involved in the project which included field trips.

Organisations that were part of a comprehensive study on Himalayan glaciers included G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kashmir University and Jawaharlal Nehru University. The experts also physically visited the glaciers to compare the study results.

This is the second report on glaciers released by Isro. In March 2010, the space organization released a study involving 1,317 Himalayan glaciers which said these glaciers had retreated by 16% since 1962.