What percentage of people depend on glacial melt for their drinking water?

Question

What percentage of people depend on glacial melt for their drinking water?

Answer 1

Not one single person.

Nobody relies on water remaining frozen in winter so they can get it in spring, that is a completely illogical claim that Al Gore has come up with.

Pao,

Are you suggesting that 500 million people go thirsty for 3 seasons and drink water in the spring?  Your faith exceedes your logic.

Answer 2

It's hard to say, but probably around 750 million people rely on the Himalayan glaciers as drinking water and could become seriously affected if the glaciers continues to shrink. Some people in Africa uses glacial melt water as well and probably people else where too, but I don't know the numbers (and it's likely not close to the numbers dependent on the Himalayan melt water).

This future lack of water is also probable to lead to severe consequences for the world peace.

Recommended reading: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/200...

Answer 3

I don't have that general statistic right at hand, but global climate change is expected to reduce the snow melt that California relies on so heavily for the millions that live here.  Irregular rainfall patterns could lead to depleted reservoirs and over-drafting of the underground water supply.

And from the 2nd link below:

"70 per cent of Peru’s population live along the Pacific coast, which is also where much of the country’s economic activity is based. Yet it is one of the most arid regions in the world. It is almost totally dependent on water flowing down from the Andes via 50 or so rivers fed by snow melt, precipitation or glacial melt. Without that water the coastal area would be a virtual desert as it has less than 2 per cent of the country’s water resources."

Answer 4

Hey, I'm always up for a frosty beverage, non-alcoholic of course.

Answer 5

see this link

http://www.commondreams.org/news2000/030...

it says 500 million depend on it. (Indus and Ganges rivers)

EDIT

Ben O, read the article. besides, melting of glaciers is not just happening in a single season.