Sentinel Digital Desk
According to scientists, the snow line near Mt. Everest rose 490 feet in less than two months, from 20,000 feet on December 11 of last year to 19,510 feet on January 28, due to sublimation caused by strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures.
Glaciologist Mauri Pelto, a NASA Earth Observatory science advisor, detected the change while analyzing Everest-region glaciers using satellite imagery and local weather data.
Scientists report that warmer, drier conditions are raising the winter snow line, leaving snow only at higher elevations. NASA's Landsat 9 imagery recorded on Jan 20 confirmed this rise, contrasting with the snow pattern in Jan 2022.
Experts noted that sparse lower-elevation snow, seen this January, has become common in recent winters. Pelto observed that this trend has continued, indicating a "new normal" for the region.
He emphasized that the change was caused by sublimation, not melting. The snow line was already higher than average at winter’s start, following a dry early 2024 and an unusually warm, wet post-monsoon season.
About 75% of annual precipitation falls during the June-September monsoon, when glaciers gain most of their snow. If the snow remains for a long time, it eventually turns into glacial ice.
Experts warn that the rising winter snow line in the Himalayas could threaten water security for downstream communities and raise wildfire risks, as seen in Nepal's early 2025 fire season.