By Eddie Wrenn PUBLISHED: 11:47 EST, 13 September 2012 | UPDATED: 11:47 EST, 13 September 2012 Glaciers in the eastern and central regions of the Himalayas appear to be retreating at accelerating rates, similar to those in other areas of the world - while glaciers in the western Himalayas are more stable and could be growing, according to a new report. The report examines how changes to glaciers in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region, which covers eight countries across Asia, could affect the area's river systems, water supplies, and the South Asian population. The mountains in the region form the headwaters of several major river systems - including the Ganges, Mekong, Yangtze, and Yellow rivers - which serve as sources of drinking water and irrigation supplies for roughly 1.5 billion people.
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The entire Himalayan climate is changing, but how climate change will impact specific places 'remains unclear'
Water stored as glacial ice could serve as the @placeholder region's hydrologic "insurance," adding to streams and rivers when it is most needed.