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China: Danger of melting Everest glaciers (Reuters)
BEIJING, China, May 17, (Reuters) -- Global warming is shrinking glaciers on the Tibet side of
Mount Everest faster than ever, putting world water supplies at risk, Xinhua news agency said on
Tuesday.
Chinese scientists researching the world's tallest peak, which China refers to by its Tibetan
name, "Qomolangma", had found clear evidence of increasing glacial melting, Xinhua said.
"Global warming has resulted in glaciers melting fast in the Mount Qomolangma area ... threatening
the balance of global water resources," it said.
Around 75 percent of the world's fresh water is stored in glacial ice, much of it in mountain
areas, allowing for heavy winter rain and snowfall to be released gradually into river networks
throughout the summer or dry months.
"The growing melting area means less fresh water reserves for the world in the future," Xinhua
said.
The Chinese scientists had found the melting point of one Everest glacier had risen around 50
meters (165 feet) in just two years, more than twice as fast as normal, while a huge,
high-altitude ice cliff seen in 2002 had apparently disappeared, it said.
Similar melting has been reported on Nepal's side of the mountain. The United Nations warned in
2002 that more than 40 Himalayan glacial lakes were dangerously close to bursting, endangering
thousands of people, because of global warming.
Scientists say global warming could drive the average global temperature up by 1.4-5.8 Celsius
(2.5-10.5 Fahrenheit) over the next 100 years, which would cause glaciers to retreat and oceans to
rise and swamp low-lying areas around the world.
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World Tibet Network NewsPublished by the Canada Tibet CommitteeWednesday, May 18, 2005 |
8. China: Danger of melting Everest glaciers (Reuters)
BEIJING, China, May 17, (Reuters) -- Global warming is shrinking glaciers on the Tibet side of
Mount Everest faster than ever, putting world water supplies at risk, Xinhua news agency said on
Tuesday.
Chinese scientists researching the world's tallest peak, which China refers to by its Tibetan
name, "Qomolangma", had found clear evidence of increasing glacial melting, Xinhua said.
"Global warming has resulted in glaciers melting fast in the Mount Qomolangma area ... threatening
the balance of global water resources," it said.
Around 75 percent of the world's fresh water is stored in glacial ice, much of it in mountain
areas, allowing for heavy winter rain and snowfall to be released gradually into river networks
throughout the summer or dry months.
"The growing melting area means less fresh water reserves for the world in the future," Xinhua
said.
The Chinese scientists had found the melting point of one Everest glacier had risen around 50
meters (165 feet) in just two years, more than twice as fast as normal, while a huge,
high-altitude ice cliff seen in 2002 had apparently disappeared, it said.
Similar melting has been reported on Nepal's side of the mountain. The United Nations warned in
2002 that more than 40 Himalayan glacial lakes were dangerously close to bursting, endangering
thousands of people, because of global warming.
Scientists say global warming could drive the average global temperature up by 1.4-5.8 Celsius
(2.5-10.5 Fahrenheit) over the next 100 years, which would cause glaciers to retreat and oceans to
rise and swamp low-lying areas around the world.
Articles in this Issue:
- Thousands Rally for Panchen Lama's Release in Dharamsala (TWA)
- Tibetans mark 10 years of Panchen Lama's disappearance (IANS)
- A Joint Vigil on 17th May 2005 in Berlin
- ITIM Vigil for Panchen Lama
- His Holiness to Attend Nobel Laureates’ Conference in Jordan (TibetNet)
- King Abdullah II of Jordan and Elie Wiesel Host Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates
- School Heads Meet, Finance Department to Hold Workshop for Accountants (TibetNet)
- China: Danger of melting Everest glaciers (Reuters)
- Harper announces candidacy in Brossard - La Prairie
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