Climate change may be baring Mt. Everest
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-everest-climate-20130514,0,7957473.story
Author: By Geoffrey Mohan
Source: Los Angeles Times
Topic: climate change, glacier, Himalaya
"Excerpt: A warming climate is melting the glaciers of Mount Everest, shrinking the frozen cloak of Earth’s highest peak by 13% in the last 50 years, researchers have found. Rocks and natural debris previously covered by snow are appearing now as the snow line has retreated 590 feet, according to Sudeep Thakuri, a University of Milan scientist who led the research. ...Researchers said they believe the observed changes could be due to human-generated greenhouse gases altering global climate, although their research has not established a firm connection. ...Small glaciers of less than a square kilometer (about 247 acres), are vanishing fastest, registering a 43% decline in surface area since the 1960s. ...“The Himalayan glaciers and ice caps are considered a water tower for Asia since they store and supply water downstream during the dry season,” said Thakuri. “Downstream populations are dependent on the melt water for agriculture, drinking and power production.” ...The plateau is of concern because it is the ultimate source of drinking and irrigation water for more than 1 billion people in Asia. See also "Warm Springs Linked to Dwindling Snow in Rockies" - http://www.livescience.com/32002-rocky-mountains-snow-cover-declines.html and "NASA Satellite Data Help Pinpoint Glaciers' Role in Sea Level Rise" - http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/may/HQ_13-141_Glaciers_Sea_Level.html
For Investigation: 10.3
Author: By Geoffrey Mohan
Source: Los Angeles Times
Topic: climate change, glacier, Himalaya
"Excerpt: A warming climate is melting the glaciers of Mount Everest, shrinking the frozen cloak of Earth’s highest peak by 13% in the last 50 years, researchers have found. Rocks and natural debris previously covered by snow are appearing now as the snow line has retreated 590 feet, according to Sudeep Thakuri, a University of Milan scientist who led the research. ...Researchers said they believe the observed changes could be due to human-generated greenhouse gases altering global climate, although their research has not established a firm connection. ...Small glaciers of less than a square kilometer (about 247 acres), are vanishing fastest, registering a 43% decline in surface area since the 1960s. ...“The Himalayan glaciers and ice caps are considered a water tower for Asia since they store and supply water downstream during the dry season,” said Thakuri. “Downstream populations are dependent on the melt water for agriculture, drinking and power production.” ...The plateau is of concern because it is the ultimate source of drinking and irrigation water for more than 1 billion people in Asia. See also "Warm Springs Linked to Dwindling Snow in Rockies" - http://www.livescience.com/32002-rocky-mountains-snow-cover-declines.html and "NASA Satellite Data Help Pinpoint Glaciers' Role in Sea Level Rise" - http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2013/may/HQ_13-141_Glaciers_Sea_Level.html
For Investigation: 10.3