In the high altitude region of Ladakh where farming depends on a short growing season and melting glaciers a new technology is helping communities cope with climate change and shrinking water supplies.
For generations, villages such as Sakti relied on small Himalayan glaciers that stored winter snow and released meltwater during spring. However, rising temperatures have caused many low altitude glaciers to disappear, leaving farmers without enough water when crops need it most.
To address this problem, local communities began creating artificial glaciers known as “ice stupas” in the early 2010s. Water from mountain streams was piped downhill during winter and sprayed into freezing air, forming towering cones of ice. These structures slowly melted in spring, supplying water for crops.
While effective, the original system had major drawbacks. Temperatures in Ladakh can fall below -20°C and even -30°C, causing pipes to freeze and crack. Farmers often had to spend winter nights monitoring the system and clearing blockages.
A new generation of artificial glaciers is now improving the process.
How the AIR System Works
Developed by the company Acres of Ice in partnership with local authorities, the new technology is called an Automated Ice Reservoir (AIR).
The system uses:
• Water piped from higher elevations.
• Solar-powered control units.
• Weather stations and temperature sensors.
• Automated valves that regulate water flow.
Instead of continuously spraying water, AIR releases carefully timed bursts of mist. Each layer freezes before the next is added, maximizing ice production and reducing water waste.
Sensors monitor air and water temperatures. If freezing conditions threaten the pipes, the system automatically drains them, preventing damage that plagued earlier ice stupa projects.
The artificial ice reservoirs act as seasonal water banks:
• Water is stored naturally as ice during winter.
• Meltwater becomes available during the crucial spring planting season.
• Groundwater recharge improves.
• Springs that had dried up are beginning to recover.
• Farmers can plant crops more reliably.
For communities where agriculture is often the only source of income, dependable spring water can mean the difference between a successful harvest and complete crop failure.
The project highlights how local engineering solutions can help communities adapt to climate change. The Himalayas, sometimes called the “Third Pole,” are experiencing rapid glacier retreat, threatening water supplies for millions of people.
During the winter of 2025, ten AIR systems were operated across Ladakh. Engineers are now exploring ways to scale up the technology so that a single infrastructure network can create multiple artificial glaciers simultaneously.
For farmers in villages like Sakti, the technology offers more than water security. It may help preserve agriculture, livelihoods, and rural communities that might otherwise be forced to migrate as climate pressures intensify.