Central Asia is considered a global hotspot with respect to impacts of climate change on the mountain cryosphere and downstream societies, most notably for water resource shortages and timing, and risks from natural hazards.
The three components of the cryosphere – glaciers, snow and permafrost – are all affected by climate change.
Glaciers of Central Asia are essentially natural reservoirs that accumulate and store water from winter and spring precipitation and release it in summer, when rainfall is low and water demand is high. In the face of ongoing climate change, the challenges related to water management and disaster risk reduction may recur and persist.