Dust amplified Glacier Mass Loss in High Mountain Asia

Dust aerosols impact High Mountain Asia (HMA) glacier mass balance through reducing albedo (direct effect) and affecting the accumulation of glacial materials by disturbing precipitation (indirect effect), but the mechanism remains unclear.  Using a regional climate model and coupling it to a glacier energy-mass balance model for the period 2016-2022, we demonstrate that dust amplifies glacier mass loss by 6%, primarily by reducing solid precipitation (46%) and albedo (41%). This dust-induced glacier retreat leads to significant declines in water storage, particularly in the Tarim Basin (-13%). As dust emissions are projected to rise, transboundary mitigation is urgently needed to preserve regional water security.