Glacial recession caused by slowly warming temperatures will have a substantial impact on the availability of freshwater for hundreds of thousands to millions of people in the coming decades. The meltwater provided by glaciers in the summer months is a vital resource to several regions of the world; some much more reliant than others. This presentation will highlight the role that glaciers play in the hydrology of glacially fed river systems, and attempt to understand the severity of changes to future water availability as a result of retreating glaciers. Freshwater shortage could have devastating effects on agricultural yield, drinking water availability, hydroelectric power generation, sanitation, industrial processing and dozens of other uses especially in the late summer of already water strained areas. Despite the amount of research being done on this subject, there is still significant evidence missing for drawing conclusions on the state of future freshwater output of glaciers. Further knowledge and understanding of the topic may prove critical in adapting to water scarcity for certain areas
