高山亞洲地區的水資源儲備正迅速消失
Water reserves in High Mountain Asia are rapidly disappearing
Updated at: August 21, 2026 at 02:45 AM
高山亞洲常被稱為「第三極」，擁有極地以外最大的冰川儲量。
High Mountain Asia, often called the 'Third Pole,' holds the largest reserve of glacier ice outside the polar regions.
它目前正面臨嚴重的水資源危機，威脅到近二十億人的生計。
It is now facing a severe water crisis that threatens the livelihoods of nearly two billion people.
研究顯示，該地區的冰川每年流失超過兩百二十億噸冰，同時地下水位每年下降數十億噸。
Research shows that glaciers here are losing over 22 gigatons of ice annually, while groundwater levels are dropping by billions of tonnes each year.
受全球氣溫上升和季風模式改變的驅動，這種快速融化正在改變該地區的水資源供應。
Driven by rising global temperatures and shifting monsoon patterns, this rapid melting is altering the region's water supply.
雖然冰川初期會增加河流徑流量，但這是一個不可持續的緩衝。
While glaciers initially provide an increase in river runoff, this is an unsustainable buffer.
一旦冰川顯著縮小，下游社區將面臨長期缺水、乾旱，以及洪水和土石流等自然災害風險增加。
Once glaciers shrink significantly, downstream communities will face long-term water shortages, droughts, and increased risks from natural disasters like floods and landslides.
這場危機因人類大量的農業用水而加劇。
The crisis is further worsened by intense human water usage for agriculture.
專家警告，未來的用水安全取決於氣候緩解和更好的水資源管理。
Experts warn that future water security depends on both climate mitigation and better water management.
