SCI/TECH: Chinese Scientists Discover Glacial Melting In Everest Region., page 1

posted on May, 17 2005 @ 10:20 AM

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The Xinhua news agency reported Tuesday that chinese scientists have discovered clear evidence of accelerated glacial melting on the Tibetan side of Mt. Everest giving rise to concerns over the global supply of fresh water.

A large portion of the worlds water supply is stored in glacial ice that is gradually released as melt water in the warmer and drier summer months.

today.reuters.com

"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 ft) 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.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

While this development is not surprising, given other reports of the effects of global warming on the environment in the past several years, it does serve to verify what some scientists have been warning about for nearly a decade.

Computer models are one thing but observable effects are quite another. It is high time that those in a position to do so to take a serious look at emerging alternative energy sources and methods including so called 'free energy'.

[edit on 5/17/05 by Divergence]

[edit on 5/17/05 by Divergence]

[edit on 5/17/05 by Divergence]

sanctum

posted on May, 17 2005 @ 10:44 AM

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An interesting article from March, 2004.

China is all set to build the world’s highest weather station at an altitude of 5,300 metres on Mount Everest, state media reported today.

The unmanned station will be completed within a year and will record temperature, humidity, air pressure, rainfall and wind speed, said Wang—Jianshe, from the Tibet Weather Bureau in Lhasa.

The unpredictable weather on Everest, the world’s highest peak, is currently monitored by a meteorological station 90 km away, raising the possibility of errors in forecasting for the mountain. Temporary stations would be set up on climbing expeditions to supply more precise data.

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Perhaps the data from these weather stations is reaping some disturbing trends.

Aelita

posted on May, 17 2005 @ 11:04 AM

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One doesn't need sophisticated equipment to detect the disaster. I did a lot of moutain climbing in late 1980s and early 1990, and the glaciers were already receding everywhere. You just had to visit same spot a few times, a few years apart, to see that.

Now, the water supply in some areas is in danger, simply because the glaciers are drying up. There is not enough accumulation.

It will be a huge problem going forward. Entire regions depend on water stored in form of ice. With it gone, danger of famine is imminent.

[edit on 17-5-2005 by Aelita]