Global water scarcity might worsen, if a new study is accurate.

The glaciers of the world seem to be containing significantly less ice than thought previously, according to the&nbsp;study. &nbsp;

The revelation was made with the help of advanced&nbsp;satellite technology. &nbsp;

The study was published in Nature Geoscience on Monday. &nbsp;

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If all glaciers melt, the global sea level will rise by 3 inches (7.62 centimetres), as per the revised estimate. &nbsp;

Romain Millan, glaciologist, Université Grenoble Alpes, said, “We’ve had quite a poor understanding of how much ice is actually stored in glaciers.” Millan is also the lead author of the study. &nbsp;

For example, the past analyses had double-counted glaciers along the peripheries of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, which led to overestimating ice volume. &nbsp;

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It assessed how quickly the glaciers are moving across the landscape, or their velocity. It helps scientists to measure volume more accurately as the flow of the glaciers&nbsp;indicates that ice is thick or thin.

In recent years, high-resolution satellites helped to conduct the analysis of how 98% of the world’s glaciers are moving, “from small glaciers in the Andes up to massive glaciers in Svalbard and Patagonia,” said Millan. &nbsp;

“Our study does not include the Greenland and the Antarctica, which in the long-term will be the major drivers of sea-level rise,” Millan told Al Jazeera from Grenoble. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Global water scarcity might worsen, if a new study is accurate. The glaciers of the world seem to be containing significantly less ice than thought previously, according to the study.

Global water scarcity might worsen, if a new study is accurate. The glaciers of the world seem to be containing significantly less ice than thought previously, according to the study. The revelation was made with the help of advanced satellite technology. The study was published in Nature Geoscience on Monday. Also Read: UK’s 1,200-year-old pub shutters over Covid-induced issues If all glaciers melt, the global sea level will rise by 3 inches (7.62 centimetres), as per the revised estimate. Romain Millan, glaciologist, Université Grenoble Alpes, said, “We’ve had quite a poor understanding of how much ice is actually stored in glaciers.” Millan is also the lead author of the study. For example, the past analyses had double-counted glaciers along the peripheries of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, which led to overestimating ice volume. Also Read | Watch: Implant helps paralysed man with severed spinal cord to walk again It assessed how quickly the glaciers are moving across the landscape, or their velocity. It helps scientists to measure volume more accurately as the flow of the glaciers indicates that ice is thick or thin. In recent years, high-resolution satellites helped to conduct the analysis of how 98% of the world’s glaciers are moving, “from small glaciers in the Andes up to massive glaciers in Svalbard and Patagonia,” said Millan. “Our study does not include the Greenland and the Antarctica, which in the long-term will be the major drivers of sea-level rise,” Millan told Al Jazeera from Grenoble. (With inputs from agencies)

World Glacier melting update: There's less ice in them than estimated earlier, says study

The rapid melting of glaciers is among one of the biggest threats of climate change worldwide. Scientists are now carrying out research to study this phenomenon and possibly slow down the impact. In a recent study, it was revealed that glaciers melt more quickly when they flow into a lake as compared to when they are on land.

Study: Glaciers melt more quickly when they flow into a lake as compared to when they are on land

Extreme weather became the new normal this year. There was hardly any country left from the impact of climate change. Take a look at this report.

Climate change worries humans in 2021

Scientists are worried about the rapid melting of glaciers as cold glacial-melt water enters the warmer ocean, slowing ocean currents and as ice on land melts, the sea levels continue to rise.&nbsp;

Overall climatic change, majorly fuelled by human activities are responsible for it as carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions have raised Earth's temperatures.&nbsp;

The temperatures are even higher in the poles and as a result, the glaciers are rapidly melting. An alarming crackup has begun at the foot of Antarctica's vulnerable Thwaites Glacier, whose meltwater is already responsible for about 4 per cent of global sea-level rise.

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In a report published in the American Geophysical Union (AGU) on December 16, scientists and exerts discussed the rapid melting of glaciers during this year's AGU fall meeting.&nbsp;

It is mentioned that a floating ice shelf is stabilised offshore by a marine shoal and acts as a dam to slow the flow of ice off the continent into the ocean.&nbsp;

However, if this floating ice shelf breaks apart, the Thwaites Glacier will accelerate and its contribution to sea-level rise will increase by as much as 25 per cent.&nbsp;

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"We have mapped out weaker and stronger areas of the ice shelf and suggest a "zig-zag" pathway the fractures might take through the ice, ultimately leading to break up of the shelf in as little as 5 years, which result in more ice flowing off the continent," a part of the report read.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the UN on Tuesday officially recognised the 38 degrees Celsius measured in Siberia last year as a new record high for the Arctic, sounding "alarm bells" over climate change.

The sweltering heat - equivalent to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit - was seen on June 20, 2020 in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk, marking the highest temperature ever recorded above the Arctic Circle, the World Meteorological Organization said.&nbsp;

"This new Arctic record is one of a series of observations reported to the WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes that sound the alarm bells about our changing climate," its chief Petteri Taalas said in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists are worried about the rapid melting of glaciers as cold glacial-melt water enters the warmer ocean, slowing ocean currents and as ice on land melts, the sea levels continue to rise.

Scientists are worried about the rapid melting of glaciers as cold glacial-melt water enters the warmer ocean, slowing ocean currents and as ice on land melts, the sea levels continue to rise. Overall climatic change, majorly fuelled by human activities are responsible for it as carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions have raised Earth's temperatures. The temperatures are even higher in the poles and as a result, the glaciers are rapidly melting. An alarming crackup has begun at the foot of Antarctica's vulnerable Thwaites Glacier, whose meltwater is already responsible for about 4 per cent of global sea-level rise. ALSO READ | Arctic region recorded highest temperature ever in 2020, says World Meteorological Organization In a report published in the American Geophysical Union (AGU) on December 16, scientists and exerts discussed the rapid melting of glaciers during this year's AGU fall meeting. It is mentioned that a floating ice shelf is stabilised offshore by a marine shoal and acts as a dam to slow the flow of ice off the continent into the ocean. However, if this floating ice shelf breaks apart, the Thwaites Glacier will accelerate and its contribution to sea-level rise will increase by as much as 25 per cent. ALSO READ | Fires, floods, flying insects: Climate-fuelled disasters that wreaked havoc across world "We have mapped out weaker and stronger areas of the ice shelf and suggest a "zig-zag" pathway the fractures might take through the ice, ultimately leading to break up of the shelf in as little as 5 years, which result in more ice flowing off the continent," a part of the report read. Meanwhile, the UN on Tuesday officially recognised the 38 degrees Celsius measured in Siberia last year as a new record high for the Arctic, sounding "alarm bells" over climate change. The sweltering heat - equivalent to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit - was seen on June 20, 2020 in the Russian town of Verkhoyansk, marking the highest temperature ever recorded above the Arctic Circle, the World Meteorological Organization said. "This new Arctic record is one of a series of observations reported to the WMO Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes that sound the alarm bells about our changing climate," its chief Petteri Taalas said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists analyse details of one of the fastest-changing glaciers in Antarctica

The Himalayas have one of the world's highest numbers of glaciers. But rising temperatures have been taking a toll on the snow capped mountains in northern India. The retreating glaciers have threatened agriculture, water supply, and tourism. Our next report tells you more.

Rising temperatures take a toll on Himalayas

Climate change is demonstrated most dramatically by the disappearance and dwindling of glaciers throughout the world.

Before it shrank and split into much-diminished glacierets, Italy's Calderone ice formation claimed to be the southernmost glacier in Europe.

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Following the melting of the Corral del Veleta in Spain in the early 20th century, it became Europe's southernmost glacier.

The Calderone glacier, which lies in the Gran Sasso d'Italia, an expanse in the Apennine Mountains, first split two decades ago.&nbsp;

However, due to climate change, global temperatures are rising at a faster rate than ever before, which is increasing the glacier's risk of melting away into the geological record books, a mere relic of the past.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Glaciology, since its split twenty years ago, the glacier has been in a headlong retreat: its volume decreased by around 90 per cent between 1916 and 1990.

"This was the southernmost glacier in Europe and that's why it was an icon and a symbol, but now it is shrinking more and more," says glaciologist Massimo Frezzotti while talking to AFP.

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According to Frezzotti, president of the Italian Glaciological Committee, the glacier could disappear completely within 10-20 years.

A period during which glaciers lose more mass than they gain known as the ablation season had effectively "disappeared" because the temperatures were too high.

"The duration of the ablation seasons became longer, the rainfall remained constant but there is a reduction in the snowfall and of course the mass balance of the glacier has shrunk more and more," he said.

The Calderone glacier in Italy has been the subject of research by Massimo Pecci, another member of the group for the past 25 years.

He says that "Since 2000 we have been witnessing a gradual reduction of the thickness, of the area and a further fragmentation into smaller glacierets,".

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In the last century, human activity, mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels, has contributed to global warming by 1.1 degrees Celsius (2.0 degrees Fahrenheit) over mid-19th century levels.&nbsp;The temperature has risen most dramatically over the last fifty years.&nbsp;

"We don't know yet how the story is going to end... let's hope it's not going to end," Pecci said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Climate change is demonstrated most dramatically by the disappearance and dwindling of glaciers throughout the world. Before it shrank and split into much-diminished glacierets, Italy's Calderone ice formation claimed to be the southernmost glacier in Europe.

Climate change is demonstrated most dramatically by the disappearance and dwindling of glaciers throughout the world. Before it shrank and split into much-diminished glacierets, Italy's Calderone ice formation claimed to be the southernmost glacier in Europe. Also read | Earth's 'vital signs' are worsening due to climate change, scientists warn Following the melting of the Corral del Veleta in Spain in the early 20th century, it became Europe's southernmost glacier. The Calderone glacier, which lies in the Gran Sasso d'Italia, an expanse in the Apennine Mountains, first split two decades ago. However, due to climate change, global temperatures are rising at a faster rate than ever before, which is increasing the glacier's risk of melting away into the geological record books, a mere relic of the past. According to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Glaciology, since its split twenty years ago, the glacier has been in a headlong retreat: its volume decreased by around 90 per cent between 1916 and 1990. "This was the southernmost glacier in Europe and that's why it was an icon and a symbol, but now it is shrinking more and more," says glaciologist Massimo Frezzotti while talking to AFP. Also read | Steps enough for two rounds of Earth: Scientists discover woolly mammoth's massive lifetime mileage According to Frezzotti, president of the Italian Glaciological Committee, the glacier could disappear completely within 10-20 years. A period during which glaciers lose more mass than they gain known as the ablation season had effectively "disappeared" because the temperatures were too high. "The duration of the ablation seasons became longer, the rainfall remained constant but there is a reduction in the snowfall and of course the mass balance of the glacier has shrunk more and more," he said. The Calderone glacier in Italy has been the subject of research by Massimo Pecci, another member of the group for the past 25 years. He says that "Since 2000 we have been witnessing a gradual reduction of the thickness, of the area and a further fragmentation into smaller glacierets,". × In the last century, human activity, mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels, has contributed to global warming by 1.1 degrees Celsius (2.0 degrees Fahrenheit) over mid-19th century levels. The temperature has risen most dramatically over the last fifty years. "We don't know yet how the story is going to end... let's hope it's not going to end," Pecci said. (With inputs from agencies)

'We don't know how the story is going to end': Melting glaciers, climate change alarm scientists

Iceland's glaciers have lost around 750 square kilometres (290 square miles), or seven per cent of their surface, since the turn of the millennium due to global warming, a study published on Monday showed.

The glaciers, which cover more than 10 per cent of the country's land mass, shrank in 2019 to 10,400 square kilometres, the study in the Icelandic scientific journal Jokull said.

Since 1890, the land covered by glaciers has decreased by almost 2,200 square kilometres, or 18 per cent.

But almost a third of this decline has occurred since 2000, according to the recent calculations by glaciologists, geologists and geophysicists.

Experts have previously warned that Iceland's glaciers are at risk of disappearing entirely by 2200.

The ice's retreat over the past two decades is almost equivalent to the total surface area of Hofsjokull, Iceland's third-biggest ice cap at 810 square kilometres.

"Glacier-area variations in Iceland since around 1890 show a clear response to variations in climate," the authors of the study wrote.

"They have been rather synchronous over the country, although surges and subglacial volcanic activity influence the position of some glacier margins," they added.

In 2014, glaciologists stripped the Okjokull glacier of its status as a glacier, a first for Iceland, after determining that it was made up of dead ice and was no longer moving as glaciers do.

Nearly all of the world's 220,000 glaciers are losing mass at an ever increasing pace, contributing to more than a fifth of global sea level rise this century, according to a study published in Nature in April.

Analysing images taken by NASA's Terra satellite, they found that between 2000-2019, the world's glaciers lost an average of 267 billion tonnes of ice each year.

The team also found that the rate of glacier melt had accelerated sharply during the same period.

Between 2000 and 2004, glaciers lost 227 billion tonnes of ice per year. But between 2015-2019, they lost an average of 298 billion tonnes each year.&nbsp;

The findings will be included in a forthcoming assessment report from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change due in 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)

Iceland's glaciers have lost around 750 square kilometres (290 square miles), or seven per cent of their surface, since the turn of the millennium due to global warming, a study published on Monday showed.

Iceland's glaciers have lost around 750 square kilometres (290 square miles), or seven per cent of their surface, since the turn of the millennium due to global warming, a study published on Monday showed. The glaciers, which cover more than 10 per cent of the country's land mass, shrank in 2019 to 10,400 square kilometres, the study in the Icelandic scientific journal Jokull said. Since 1890, the land covered by glaciers has decreased by almost 2,200 square kilometres, or 18 per cent. But almost a third of this decline has occurred since 2000, according to the recent calculations by glaciologists, geologists and geophysicists. Experts have previously warned that Iceland's glaciers are at risk of disappearing entirely by 2200. The ice's retreat over the past two decades is almost equivalent to the total surface area of Hofsjokull, Iceland's third-biggest ice cap at 810 square kilometres. "Glacier-area variations in Iceland since around 1890 show a clear response to variations in climate," the authors of the study wrote. "They have been rather synchronous over the country, although surges and subglacial volcanic activity influence the position of some glacier margins," they added. In 2014, glaciologists stripped the Okjokull glacier of its status as a glacier, a first for Iceland, after determining that it was made up of dead ice and was no longer moving as glaciers do. Nearly all of the world's 220,000 glaciers are losing mass at an ever increasing pace, contributing to more than a fifth of global sea level rise this century, according to a study published in Nature in April. Analysing images taken by NASA's Terra satellite, they found that between 2000-2019, the world's glaciers lost an average of 267 billion tonnes of ice each year. The team also found that the rate of glacier melt had accelerated sharply during the same period. Between 2000 and 2004, glaciers lost 227 billion tonnes of ice per year. But between 2015-2019, they lost an average of 298 billion tonnes each year. The findings will be included in a forthcoming assessment report from the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change due in 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

Iceland's glaciers lose 750 square kilometres in 20 years

Melting glaciers and barrier lakes could threaten China's plan to build the world's biggest hydroelectric dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Arunachal Pradesh border, a media report said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The proposed dam, which one Chinese official said has 'no parallel in history' will be built in Medog county, where the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon is located. Medog is the last county in Tibet, which is located close to the Arunachal Pradesh border.&nbsp;

The plan to build the mega-dam, which is part of China's 14th five-year plan beginning from this year, was approved by China's Parliament, the National People's Congress in March this year.&nbsp;

But the engineers are concerned about the threats posed by landslides and barrier lakes to the dam, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.&nbsp;

“But an icy obstacle could put a halt to much of the plan. In 2018, a landslide caused by a melting glacier blocked the Yarlung Tsangpo 'the upper stream of the Brahmaputra River' at the Sedongpu Basin in Milin county," it said.&nbsp;

It formed a lake containing about 600 million cubic metres of water. With the river spilling over the top at present, the dam could collapse at any time, it said.&nbsp;

The Sedongpu lake sits just a few dozen kilometres upstream from the planned construction site of the super hydropower plant. With so much water hanging overhead, no construction workers can move in to clear the ground, it said.&nbsp;

To build the big dam, they must get rid of the small dam formed by the landslide first, the report said.&nbsp;

India and Bangladesh, the lower riparian states, have raised concerns over China's plan to build the massive dam on Brahmaputra River. But China has downplayed such anxieties saying it would keep their interests in mind.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Melting glaciers and barrier lakes could threaten China's plan to build the world's biggest hydroelectric dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Arunachal Pradesh border, a media report said on Wednesday.

Melting glaciers and barrier lakes could threaten China's plan to build the world's biggest hydroelectric dam over the Brahmaputra River in Tibet close to the Arunachal Pradesh border, a media report said on Wednesday. The proposed dam, which one Chinese official said has 'no parallel in history' will be built in Medog county, where the Brahmaputra Grand Canyon is located. Medog is the last county in Tibet, which is located close to the Arunachal Pradesh border. The plan to build the mega-dam, which is part of China's 14th five-year plan beginning from this year, was approved by China's Parliament, the National People's Congress in March this year. But the engineers are concerned about the threats posed by landslides and barrier lakes to the dam, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. “But an icy obstacle could put a halt to much of the plan. In 2018, a landslide caused by a melting glacier blocked the Yarlung Tsangpo 'the upper stream of the Brahmaputra River' at the Sedongpu Basin in Milin county," it said. It formed a lake containing about 600 million cubic metres of water. With the river spilling over the top at present, the dam could collapse at any time, it said. The Sedongpu lake sits just a few dozen kilometres upstream from the planned construction site of the super hydropower plant. With so much water hanging overhead, no construction workers can move in to clear the ground, it said. To build the big dam, they must get rid of the small dam formed by the landslide first, the report said. India and Bangladesh, the lower riparian states, have raised concerns over China's plan to build the massive dam on Brahmaputra River. But China has downplayed such anxieties saying it would keep their interests in mind. (With inputs from agencies)

Melting glaciers threaten China's plan to build massive dam over Brahmaputra in Tibet: Report  

Inside the world's biggest natural laboratory Journey to the white continent Antarctic ice melting faster than ever Antarctica is melting: why we should care How ocean warming threatens antarctic wildlife

Amazing Antarctica: World's natural laboratory | WION Wideangle

Prevented from traveling abroad by the pandemic, Kazakhs are flocking to the magnificent glaciers of the Tian Shan mountain range near their country's biggest city, Almaty.

Pandemic curbs draw eager locals to Kazakhstan's glaciers

COVID-19 pandemic curbs draw eager locals to Kazakhstan's glaciers

A new study on glaciers has said that Mars has been hit by six and 20 ice ages in the past 300 to 800 million years.&nbsp;

In the last ice age that arrived on Earth about 2,000 years ago, our planet got covered in glaciers, but gradually these glaciers retreated to the poles.&nbsp;

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However, the glaciers on Mars never left as they remained frozen on the red planet's surface with an average temperature of minus 81 degrees Fahrenheit for over 300 years covered in debris.&nbsp;

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"All the rocks and sand carried on that ice have remained on the surface," said research's author Joe Levy, a planetary geologist and assistant professor of geology at Colgate University in New York, in a statement.&nbsp;

"It's like putting the ice in a cooler under all those sediments."

The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences on Monday, reported CNN.&nbsp;

Researchers have long tried to work out how glaciers have been formed in Mars and this research could provide an answer to these questions.&nbsp;

Levy found out that since the rocks erode with time, the discovery of rocks that moved from larger to smaller in sizes downhill would suggest one ice age.

He also said that he and 10 students at Colgate University studied Mars' surface by images of 45 glaciers taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The images with high resolution helped the researchers count the rocks and determine their size.&nbsp;

The magnification of the photographs let the team "see things the size of a dinner table" on the red planet's surface, the lead author said. 
&nbsp;

A new study on glaciers has said that Mars has been hit by six and 20 ice ages in the past 300 to 800 million years. In the last ice age that arrived on Earth about 2,000 years ago, our planet got covered in glaciers, but gradually these glaciers retreated to the poles.

A new study on glaciers has said that Mars has been hit by six and 20 ice ages in the past 300 to 800 million years. In the last ice age that arrived on Earth about 2,000 years ago, our planet got covered in glaciers, but gradually these glaciers retreated to the poles. Also read | Scientists want to turn Mars green. How will they do it? However, the glaciers on Mars never left as they remained frozen on the red planet's surface with an average temperature of minus 81 degrees Fahrenheit for over 300 years covered in debris. Also read | 'Astronomical breakthrough': Scientists record humming sound of the Universe "All the rocks and sand carried on that ice have remained on the surface," said research's author Joe Levy, a planetary geologist and assistant professor of geology at Colgate University in New York, in a statement. "It's like putting the ice in a cooler under all those sediments." The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences on Monday, reported CNN. Researchers have long tried to work out how glaciers have been formed in Mars and this research could provide an answer to these questions. Levy found out that since the rocks erode with time, the discovery of rocks that moved from larger to smaller in sizes downhill would suggest one ice age. He also said that he and 10 students at Colgate University studied Mars' surface by images of 45 glaciers taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The images with high resolution helped the researchers count the rocks and determine their size. The magnification of the photographs let the team "see things the size of a dinner table" on the red planet's surface, the lead author said.

Mars' glaciers give insights on the planet's many ice ages

Remotely located glaciers in China's bleak Qilian mountains are disappearing at a shocking rate -- blame it on the global warming that's bringing unpredictable change and raising the prospect of crippling, long-term water shortages.

The largest glacier in the 800-km (500-mile) mountain chain on the arid northeastern edge of the Tibetan plateau has retreated about 450 metres since the 1950s. The 20-square kilometre glacier, known as Laohugou No. 12, has shrunk by about 7% since measurements began.

The melting has only accelerated in recent years.

Equally alarming is the loss of thickness, with about 13 metres (42 feet) of ice disappearing as temperatures have risen, said Qin Xiang, the director at the monitoring station.

The Tibetan plateau is known as the world's Third Pole for the amount of ice long locked in the high-altitude wilderness.

But since the 1950s, average temperatures in the area have risen about 1.5 Celsius, Qin said, and with no sign of an end to warming, the outlook is grim for the 2,684 glaciers in the Qilian range.

Across the mountains, glacier retreat was 50% faster in 1990-2010 than it was from 1956 to 1990, data from the China Academy of Sciences shows.

Global warming is also blamed for changes in the weather that have brought other unpredictable conditions.

Large sections of the Shule river, on the outskirts of Dunhuang, were either dry or reduced to murky patches of pool, isolated in desert scrub when Reuters visited in September. 
The new fluctuations also bring danger.

Remotely located glaciers in China's bleak Qilian mountains are disappearing at a shocking rate -- blame it on the global warming that's bringing unpredictable change and raising the prospect of crippling, long-term water shortages.

Remotely located glaciers in China's bleak Qilian mountains are disappearing at a shocking rate -- blame it on the global warming that's bringing unpredictable change and raising the prospect of crippling, long-term water shortages. The largest glacier in the 800-km (500-mile) mountain chain on the arid northeastern edge of the Tibetan plateau has retreated about 450 metres since the 1950s. The 20-square kilometre glacier, known as Laohugou No. 12, has shrunk by about 7% since measurements began. The melting has only accelerated in recent years. Equally alarming is the loss of thickness, with about 13 metres (42 feet) of ice disappearing as temperatures have risen, said Qin Xiang, the director at the monitoring station. The Tibetan plateau is known as the world's Third Pole for the amount of ice long locked in the high-altitude wilderness. But since the 1950s, average temperatures in the area have risen about 1.5 Celsius, Qin said, and with no sign of an end to warming, the outlook is grim for the 2,684 glaciers in the Qilian range. Across the mountains, glacier retreat was 50% faster in 1990-2010 than it was from 1956 to 1990, data from the China Academy of Sciences shows. Global warming is also blamed for changes in the weather that have brought other unpredictable conditions. Large sections of the Shule river, on the outskirts of Dunhuang, were either dry or reduced to murky patches of pool, isolated in desert scrub when Reuters visited in September. The new fluctuations also bring danger.

China's remote glaciers are melting at a shocking pace

With climate change driving up Arctic temperatures, the once-solid sea ice cover has been shrinking to stark, new lows in recent years.

Climate Change: Big chunk of ice breaks away from Spalte glacier

A new study has revealed that nearly 47 glacier lakes in the Himalayas are at risk of flooding due to rising temperatures and excessive melting of snow. Watch report.

Danger looms over snow-capped mountains: Melting of snow expanding glacier lakes

Climate activists staged a protest near one of the melting glaciers in Europe's Alps mountain range on Sunday (September 6).

Climate activists mourn receding glaciers in the Alps

In a series of appalling news during the COVID-19 pandemic, Antarctica witnessed its first-ever heatwave in late January. Temperatures spiked, and if this continues for long, the flora and fauna on the continent could suffer extensively.

Even though pollution levels have dropped as countries are forced into lockdown, a pushback effect is expected once industries reopen, for they’ll attempt to make up for the losses incurred during the shutdown. 
 
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/world/antarctic-ice-loss-triples-boosting-sea-levels-144232" hreflang="en">Antarctica ice melting three times faster than earlier, could redraw Earth's coastlines</a>

Recorded by the Australian Antarctic Programme at the Casey Research Centre in Eastern Antarctica, the findings were published in the Global Change Biology on Tuesday.

Recorded over the 2019-2020 southern hemisphere summer, such patterns could have long-term effects on the global weather patterns.

The Casey Research Centre is located in Western Australia, where the highest maximum and minimum temperatures ever were recorded between January 23-26.

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Minimum temperatures reached zero degree Celsius while the maximum surged to over 7.5 degrees. However, the record high temperature of 9.2 degree Celsius&nbsp;was recorded on January 24.

Scientifically, heat waves refer to three consecutive days of very high maximum and lowest minimum temperatures recorded at a particular place.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://wionews.com/world/in-first-american-adventurer-completes-solo-trek-across-antarctica-186922" hreflang="en">In first, American adventurer completes solo trek across Antarctica</a>

Even on the other side, at the Antarctic Peninsula, record high temperatures were recorded.

Just last month, a record high temperature of 18.3 degrees was lodged at Esperanza Base in Argentina.

Even though hotter temperatures could provide more fresh water to the ecosystems, it could cause long-term harm to plants and totally alter the composition of microbes.

In a series of appalling news during the COVID-19 pandemic, Antarctica witnessed its first-ever heatwave in late January. Temperatures spiked, and if this continues for long, the flora and fauna on the continent could suffer extensively.

In a series of appalling news during the COVID-19 pandemic, Antarctica witnessed its first-ever heatwave in late January. Temperatures spiked, and if this continues for long, the flora and fauna on the continent could suffer extensively. Even though pollution levels have dropped as countries are forced into lockdown, a pushback effect is expected once industries reopen, for they’ll attempt to make up for the losses incurred during the shutdown. Also read: Antarctica ice melting three times faster than earlier, could redraw Earth's coastlines Recorded by the Australian Antarctic Programme at the Casey Research Centre in Eastern Antarctica, the findings were published in the Global Change Biology on Tuesday. Recorded over the 2019-2020 southern hemisphere summer, such patterns could have long-term effects on the global weather patterns. The Casey Research Centre is located in Western Australia, where the highest maximum and minimum temperatures ever were recorded between January 23-26. Minimum temperatures reached zero degree Celsius while the maximum surged to over 7.5 degrees. However, the record high temperature of 9.2 degree Celsius was recorded on January 24. Scientifically, heat waves refer to three consecutive days of very high maximum and lowest minimum temperatures recorded at a particular place. Also read: In first, American adventurer completes solo trek across Antarctica Even on the other side, at the Antarctic Peninsula, record high temperatures were recorded. Just last month, a record high temperature of 18.3 degrees was lodged at Esperanza Base in Argentina. Even though hotter temperatures could provide more fresh water to the ecosystems, it could cause long-term harm to plants and totally alter the composition of microbes.

Antarctica records its first-ever heatwave!

Alaska will soon close a year that is shaping up as its hottest on record, with glaciers in the "Frontier State" melting at record or near-record levels, pouring waters into rising global seas, scientists said after taking fall measurements.

Lemon Creek Glacier in Juneau, where records go back to the 1940s, had its second consecutive year of record mass loss, with 3 meters erased from the surface, U.S. Geological Survey glaciologist Louis Sass told Reuters.

Melt went all the way up to the summit, said Sass, one of the experts who travel to benchmark glaciers to take measurements in the fall.

“That’s a really bad sign for a glacier,” he said, noting that high-altitude melt means there is no accumulation of snow to compact into ice and help offset lower-elevation losses.

At Wolverine Glacier on the Kenai Peninsula south of Anchorage, loss was the second highest in a record that goes back to the 1960s. Sass said it failed to match the record set in 2004 only because so much of the glacier had already melted.

“The lower part’s completely gone now,” he said.

Drastic melting was also reported at Kenai Fjords National Park, which former President Barack Obama once visited to call attention to climate change. There, Bear Glacier, a popular tourist spot, retreated by nearly a kilometer in just 11 months, according to August measurements by the National Park Service.

“It’s almost like you popped it and it started to deflate,” said Nate Lewis, a Seward-based wilderness guide who takes travelers into the new lake that has formed at the foot of the shrinking glacier.

Even one of the few Alaska glaciers that had been advancing, Taku just southeast of the city of Juneau, is now losing ice at a fast clip.

Particularly ominous is the high altitude at which Taku is melting, said Mauri Pelto, who heads the North Cascades Glacier Climate Project. This year, the summer melt reached as high as 1,450 meters, 25 meters above the previous high-altitude record set just last year, he said.

Casting off chunks

Now that it is retreating, Taku is expected to start casting off big ice chunks, increasing Alaska’s already significant contribution to rising sea levels, according to a study co-authored by Sass and Shad O’Neel, a glaciologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. The study is scheduled to be presented at the annual conference of the American Geologic Union next week in San Francisco.

Alaska recorded its warmest month ever in July and the trend has continued.

"Alaska is on pace to break their record for warmest year unless December is dramatically cooler than forecasted," Brian Brettschneider, a climatologist with the University of Alaska Fairbanks' International Arctic Research Center, said in a Dec. 1 tweet.

Alaska’s glaciers account for far less than 1 percent of the world’s land ice. But their melt contributes roughly 7 percent of the water that is raising the world’s sea levels, according a 2018 study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters and co-authored by O’Neel.

There are also local impacts. Scientists say glacial melt affects salmon-spawning streams and harms marine fish and animal habitats. It is creating new lakes in the voids where ice used to be, and outburst floods from those lakes are happening more frequently, scientists say.

Changes in the glaciers and the ecosystems they feed has been so fast that they are hard to track, said O' Neel at USGS, who measured the melt at Wolverine Glacier last month. “Everything’s been pretty haywire lately.”

Alaska will soon close a year that is shaping up as its hottest on record, with glaciers in the "Frontier State" melting at record or near-record levels, pouring waters into rising global seas, scientists said after taking fall measurements.

Alaska will soon close a year that is shaping up as its hottest on record, with glaciers in the "Frontier State" melting at record or near-record levels, pouring waters into rising global seas, scientists said after taking fall measurements. Lemon Creek Glacier in Juneau, where records go back to the 1940s, had its second consecutive year of record mass loss, with 3 meters erased from the surface, U.S. Geological Survey glaciologist Louis Sass told Reuters. Melt went all the way up to the summit, said Sass, one of the experts who travel to benchmark glaciers to take measurements in the fall. “That’s a really bad sign for a glacier,” he said, noting that high-altitude melt means there is no accumulation of snow to compact into ice and help offset lower-elevation losses. At Wolverine Glacier on the Kenai Peninsula south of Anchorage, loss was the second highest in a record that goes back to the 1960s. Sass said it failed to match the record set in 2004 only because so much of the glacier had already melted. “The lower part’s completely gone now,” he said. Drastic melting was also reported at Kenai Fjords National Park, which former President Barack Obama once visited to call attention to climate change. There, Bear Glacier, a popular tourist spot, retreated by nearly a kilometer in just 11 months, according to August measurements by the National Park Service. “It’s almost like you popped it and it started to deflate,” said Nate Lewis, a Seward-based wilderness guide who takes travelers into the new lake that has formed at the foot of the shrinking glacier. Even one of the few Alaska glaciers that had been advancing, Taku just southeast of the city of Juneau, is now losing ice at a fast clip. Particularly ominous is the high altitude at which Taku is melting, said Mauri Pelto, who heads the North Cascades Glacier Climate Project. This year, the summer melt reached as high as 1,450 meters, 25 meters above the previous high-altitude record set just last year, he said. Casting off chunks Now that it is retreating, Taku is expected to start casting off big ice chunks, increasing Alaska’s already significant contribution to rising sea levels, according to a study co-authored by Sass and Shad O’Neel, a glaciologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. The study is scheduled to be presented at the annual conference of the American Geologic Union next week in San Francisco. Alaska recorded its warmest month ever in July and the trend has continued. "Alaska is on pace to break their record for warmest year unless December is dramatically cooler than forecasted," Brian Brettschneider, a climatologist with the University of Alaska Fairbanks' International Arctic Research Center, said in a Dec. 1 tweet. Alaska’s glaciers account for far less than 1 percent of the world’s land ice. But their melt contributes roughly 7 percent of the water that is raising the world’s sea levels, according a 2018 study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters and co-authored by O’Neel. There are also local impacts. Scientists say glacial melt affects salmon-spawning streams and harms marine fish and animal habitats. It is creating new lakes in the voids where ice used to be, and outburst floods from those lakes are happening more frequently, scientists say. Changes in the glaciers and the ecosystems they feed has been so fast that they are hard to track, said O' Neel at USGS, who measured the melt at Wolverine Glacier last month. “Everything’s been pretty haywire lately.”

Disappearing frontier: Alaska's glaciers retreating at record pace

Venezuela will become the first self American Nation to loose all its Glaciers

Scientists: 'We can't save the last Glacier in Venezuala'

Iceland unveils memorial plaque for lost glacier

Alaska's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/paris-no-more-under-heatwave-alert-231966">heat wave</a> is driving <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/wildfires-and-power-cuts-plague-europe-as-heatwave-breaks-records-231553">wildfires</a> and melting glaciers, choking the state’s biggest cities with smoke and bloating rivers with meltwater.

In Anchorage, home to about 40 per cent of Alaskans, the National Weather Service issued a dense smoke advisory on Sunday warning against the prolonged outdoor activity, along with advisories for the elderly and the sick to stay indoors.

The culprit is the Swan Lake wildfire to the south in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, which has burned since a June 5 lightning strike and consumed more than 68,000 acres, fire managers said.

To the north, in Fairbanks, fire officials ordered evacuations in two areas and told residents in a third to be prepared to leave because of the Shovel Creek Fire, which had grown to 5,568 acres by Sunday.

"People should GO, evacuate NOW. Leave immediately. DO NOT delay leaving," the evacuation order said.

Watch: Massive heatwave hits Europe

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In all, there were 354 wildfires covering 443,211 acres in Alaska as of Sunday morning, according to state and federal fire managers.

Along with the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, which had multiple active fires, iconic spots with fires burning include Denali National Park and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Record warmth and near-record warmth in most of the state has created flammable conditions from the Canadian border in the east to the Bering Sea coast in the west.

Anchorage was one of the areas that saw <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/europes-heatwave-burns-on-but-eases-from-record-highs-231887">record-breaking heat</a> in June, which followed a record-warm spring for Alaska as a whole, said Rick Thoman, a Fairbanks-based climate scientist with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy.

"This very warm weather, on top of the warm May, the very early snowmelt, then we had those two weeks of lightning strikes -- it’s the classic setup," Thoman said.

Melting glaciers and mountain snowfields are bloating rivers and streams across a large swath of south-central Alaska, the NWS said.

The melt has brought water levels to flood stage at the Yentna River northwest of Anchorage on Sunday, said NWS forecaster Bob Clay.

Alaska's heat wave is driving wildfires and melting glaciers, choking the state’s biggest cities with smoke and bloating rivers with meltwater. In Anchorage, home to about 40 per cent of Alaskans, the National Weather Service issued a dense smoke advisory on Sunday warning against the prolonged outdoor activity, along with advisories for the elderly and the sick to stay indoors.

Alaska's heat wave is driving wildfires and melting glaciers, choking the state’s biggest cities with smoke and bloating rivers with meltwater. In Anchorage, home to about 40 per cent of Alaskans, the National Weather Service issued a dense smoke advisory on Sunday warning against the prolonged outdoor activity, along with advisories for the elderly and the sick to stay indoors. The culprit is the Swan Lake wildfire to the south in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, which has burned since a June 5 lightning strike and consumed more than 68,000 acres, fire managers said. To the north, in Fairbanks, fire officials ordered evacuations in two areas and told residents in a third to be prepared to leave because of the Shovel Creek Fire, which had grown to 5,568 acres by Sunday. "People should GO, evacuate NOW. Leave immediately. DO NOT delay leaving," the evacuation order said. Watch: Massive heatwave hits Europe In all, there were 354 wildfires covering 443,211 acres in Alaska as of Sunday morning, according to state and federal fire managers. Along with the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, which had multiple active fires, iconic spots with fires burning include Denali National Park and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Record warmth and near-record warmth in most of the state has created flammable conditions from the Canadian border in the east to the Bering Sea coast in the west. Anchorage was one of the areas that saw record-breaking heat in June, which followed a record-warm spring for Alaska as a whole, said Rick Thoman, a Fairbanks-based climate scientist with the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy. "This very warm weather, on top of the warm May, the very early snowmelt, then we had those two weeks of lightning strikes -- it’s the classic setup," Thoman said. Melting glaciers and mountain snowfields are bloating rivers and streams across a large swath of south-central Alaska, the NWS said. The melt has brought water levels to flood stage at the Yentna River northwest of Anchorage on Sunday, said NWS forecaster Bob Clay.

Alaska’s heat wave fuels dangerous smoke, melts glaciers

Melting of Himalayan glaciers has doubled since the start of the 21st century due to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/limiting-global-warming-to-15-will-require-a-social-transformation-170375">rising temperatures</a>, losing over a vertical foot and half of ice each year and potentially threatening water supply for hundreds of millions of people in countries including India, a study has found.

The analysis, spanning 40 years of satellite observations across India, China, Nepal and Bhutan, is the latest and perhaps most convincing indication that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/opinion-why-its-so-hard-to-detect-the-fingerprints-of-global-warming-on-monsoon-rains-161838">climate change </a>is eating the Himalayas' glaciers, researchers said.

It indicates that glaciers have been losing the equivalent of more than a vertical foot and half of ice each year since 2000 -- double the amount of melting that took place from 1975 to 2000.&nbsp;

"This is the clearest picture yet of how fast Himalayan glaciers are melting over this time interval, and why," said Joshua Maurer, a PhD candidate at Columbia University in the US.

While not specifically calculated in the study, the glaciers may have lost as much as a quarter of their enormous mass over the last four decades, said Maurer, lead author of the study published in the journal Science Advances.

Currently harbouring some 600 billion tonnes of ice, the Himalayas are sometimes called the earth's "Third Pole."&nbsp;

The study synthesises data from across the region, stretching from early satellite observations to the present. The synthesis indicates that the melting is consistent in time and space, and that rising temperatures are to blame.

Temperatures vary from place to place, but from 2000 to 2016 they have averaged one degree Celsius higher than those from 1975 to 2000.

Researchers analysed repeat satellite images of some 650 glaciers spanning 2,000 kilometers from west to east. Many of the 20th-century observations came from recently declassified photographic images taken by US spy satellites.&nbsp;

They created an automated system to turn these into 3D models that could show the changing elevations of glaciers over time. They then compared these images with post-2000 optical data from more sophisticated satellites, which more directly convey elevation changes.

They found that from 1975 to 2000, glaciers across the region lost an average of about 0.25 metres of ice each year in the face of slight warming. 
Following a more pronounced warming trend starting in the 1990s, starting in 2000 the loss accelerated to about half a metre annually.&nbsp;

Recent yearly losses have averaged about 8 billion tonnes of water, or the equivalent 3.2 million Olympic-size swimming pools, said Maurer.&nbsp;

Asian nations are burning ever-greater loads of fossil fuels and biomass, sending soot into the sky, researchers said. Much of it eventually lands on snowy glacier surfaces, where it absorbs solar energy and hastens melting.

Researchers compiled temperature data during the study period from ground stations and then calculated the amount of melting that observed temperature increases would be expected to produce.&nbsp;

They then compared those figures with what actually happened. They matched.&nbsp;

"It looks just like what we would expect if warming were the dominant driver of ice loss," Maurer said.

The Himalayas are generally not melting as fast as the Alps, but the general progression is similar, say the researchers.&nbsp;

The study does not include the huge adjoining ranges of high-mountain Asia such as the Pamir, Hindu Kush or Tian Shan, but other studies suggest similar melting is underway there as well.

Some 800 million people depend in part on seasonal runoff from Himalayan glaciers for irrigation, hydropower and drinking water.&nbsp;

The accelerated melting appears so far to be swelling runoff during warm seasons, but scientists project that this will taper off within decades as the glaciers lose mass. This will eventually lead to water shortages.&nbsp;

Even on Mount Everest, long-lost corpses of climbers who failed to return are emerging from melting ice and snow along trails.

The study shows that "even glaciers in the highest mountains of the world are responding to global air temperature increases driven by the combustion of fossil fuels," said Joseph Shea, a glacial geographer at the University of Northern British Columbia in Canadia who was not involved in the study.

"In the long term, this will lead to changes in the timing and magnitude of streamflow in a heavily populated region," said Shea.

Melting of Himalayan glaciers has doubled since the start of the 21st century due to rising temperatures, losing over a vertical foot and half of ice each year and potentially threatening water supply for hundreds of millions of people in countries including India, a study has found.

Melting of Himalayan glaciers has doubled since the start of the 21st century due to rising temperatures, losing over a vertical foot and half of ice each year and potentially threatening water supply for hundreds of millions of people in countries including India, a study has found. The analysis, spanning 40 years of satellite observations across India, China, Nepal and Bhutan, is the latest and perhaps most convincing indication that climate change is eating the Himalayas' glaciers, researchers said. It indicates that glaciers have been losing the equivalent of more than a vertical foot and half of ice each year since 2000 -- double the amount of melting that took place from 1975 to 2000. "This is the clearest picture yet of how fast Himalayan glaciers are melting over this time interval, and why," said Joshua Maurer, a PhD candidate at Columbia University in the US. While not specifically calculated in the study, the glaciers may have lost as much as a quarter of their enormous mass over the last four decades, said Maurer, lead author of the study published in the journal Science Advances. Currently harbouring some 600 billion tonnes of ice, the Himalayas are sometimes called the earth's "Third Pole." The study synthesises data from across the region, stretching from early satellite observations to the present. The synthesis indicates that the melting is consistent in time and space, and that rising temperatures are to blame. Temperatures vary from place to place, but from 2000 to 2016 they have averaged one degree Celsius higher than those from 1975 to 2000. Researchers analysed repeat satellite images of some 650 glaciers spanning 2,000 kilometers from west to east. Many of the 20th-century observations came from recently declassified photographic images taken by US spy satellites. They created an automated system to turn these into 3D models that could show the changing elevations of glaciers over time. They then compared these images with post-2000 optical data from more sophisticated satellites, which more directly convey elevation changes. They found that from 1975 to 2000, glaciers across the region lost an average of about 0.25 metres of ice each year in the face of slight warming. Following a more pronounced warming trend starting in the 1990s, starting in 2000 the loss accelerated to about half a metre annually. Recent yearly losses have averaged about 8 billion tonnes of water, or the equivalent 3.2 million Olympic-size swimming pools, said Maurer. Asian nations are burning ever-greater loads of fossil fuels and biomass, sending soot into the sky, researchers said. Much of it eventually lands on snowy glacier surfaces, where it absorbs solar energy and hastens melting. Researchers compiled temperature data during the study period from ground stations and then calculated the amount of melting that observed temperature increases would be expected to produce. They then compared those figures with what actually happened. They matched. "It looks just like what we would expect if warming were the dominant driver of ice loss," Maurer said. The Himalayas are generally not melting as fast as the Alps, but the general progression is similar, say the researchers. The study does not include the huge adjoining ranges of high-mountain Asia such as the Pamir, Hindu Kush or Tian Shan, but other studies suggest similar melting is underway there as well. Some 800 million people depend in part on seasonal runoff from Himalayan glaciers for irrigation, hydropower and drinking water. The accelerated melting appears so far to be swelling runoff during warm seasons, but scientists project that this will taper off within decades as the glaciers lose mass. This will eventually lead to water shortages. Even on Mount Everest, long-lost corpses of climbers who failed to return are emerging from melting ice and snow along trails. The study shows that "even glaciers in the highest mountains of the world are responding to global air temperature increases driven by the combustion of fossil fuels," said Joseph Shea, a glacial geographer at the University of Northern British Columbia in Canadia who was not involved in the study. "In the long term, this will lead to changes in the timing and magnitude of streamflow in a heavily populated region," said Shea.

Himalayan glaciers melting doubled since 2000: Study

Baishui glaciers a&nbsp;region in central Asia, is the world's third-largest store of ice after Antarctica and Greenland that’s roughly the size of Texas and New Mexico combined has lost 60% of its mass and shrunk 250 m since 1982, according to a 2018 report in the Journal of Geophysical Research.

The ice fields of the third pole contain the largest reserve of fresh water outside the polar region, it covers 100,000 square kilometres and has over 46,000 glaciers.

Third pole glaciers feed Asia's 10 largest rivers which include the Indus, Ganges, Tarim, Yangtse, Mekong, Brahmaputra, Irrawady, Salween, Yellow River and the Amudarya.

The melting of glacier will largely affect India and China, as both the countries together produce over half of the world's wheat and rice. The Yangtze irrigates half of China's annual rice harvest.

Millions of people depend on these crops for their staple calories.

The Ganges, Yellow River and the Yangtze rivers are fed by rains during the monsoon season. During dry seasons the water from the third pole becomes vital to these rivers as they depend heavily on the meltwater from the glaciers. Water is the utmost need for irrigation of rice and wheat crops.

India and China also depend on underwater aquifers from where water is pumped out for irrigation. But, water tables are sinking as water is being pumped out faster than it can be replaced.

Soon both countries will lose booth the sources of irrigation and the consequences will be shortage of food.

Meanwhile, 60% of Pakistan depends on grain irrigated by the Indus river, which in turn depends on the meltwater from the glaciers. The shrinking of the third pole will take a toll of the entire world.&nbsp;

Baishui glaciers a region in central Asia, is the world's third-largest store of ice after Antarctica and Greenland that’s roughly the size of Texas and New Mexico combined has lost 60% of its mass and shrunk 250 m since 1982, according to a 2018 report in the Journal of Geophysical Research.

Baishui glaciers a region in central Asia, is the world's third-largest store of ice after Antarctica and Greenland that’s roughly the size of Texas and New Mexico combined has lost 60% of its mass and shrunk 250 m since 1982, according to a 2018 report in the Journal of Geophysical Research. The ice fields of the third pole contain the largest reserve of fresh water outside the polar region, it covers 100,000 square kilometres and has over 46,000 glaciers. Third pole glaciers feed Asia's 10 largest rivers which include the Indus, Ganges, Tarim, Yangtse, Mekong, Brahmaputra, Irrawady, Salween, Yellow River and the Amudarya. The melting of glacier will largely affect India and China, as both the countries together produce over half of the world's wheat and rice. The Yangtze irrigates half of China's annual rice harvest. Millions of people depend on these crops for their staple calories. The Ganges, Yellow River and the Yangtze rivers are fed by rains during the monsoon season. During dry seasons the water from the third pole becomes vital to these rivers as they depend heavily on the meltwater from the glaciers. Water is the utmost need for irrigation of rice and wheat crops. India and China also depend on underwater aquifers from where water is pumped out for irrigation. But, water tables are sinking as water is being pumped out faster than it can be replaced. Soon both countries will lose booth the sources of irrigation and the consequences will be shortage of food. Meanwhile, 60% of Pakistan depends on grain irrigated by the Indus river, which in turn depends on the meltwater from the glaciers. The shrinking of the third pole will take a toll of the entire world.

Melting of China's Third Pole glacier will hit irrigation, food production in India & Pak too

&nbsp;

Environmentalists have long been worried about melting glaciers in the Himalayas. Studies and articles on the matter often border on the extreme. Some seek to reassure people that it is not a big deal, while others paint doomsday scenarios. But while global warming is a reality, available facts and figures are not enough to ascertain exactly how frozen surfaces in the region are melting or what its impact is on the environment, vegetation or animal life.&nbsp;

The Himalayan range and its extension in the northwest are home to more than 50,000 glaciers. Only the polar circles have more. Approximately 60,000 square kilometres of ice are stored along the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya mountain ranges. But despite the huge dimensions, these frozen masses do not last for ever and have retreated in the last few decades. Glaciers are fragile. After all, they consist of nothing but ice.

Global warming has led to the Himalayan range witnessing less snowfall, more rains and hotter summers. Glaciers erode and become shorter and thinner every year, a loss that is impossible to recover as long as the mercury continues to rise.

Fieldwork is a major problem here. Many of the glaciers are located in isolated high mountain areas and reaching these places with necessary equipment involves a lot of time and money. In some areas of Afghanistan, it is also a matter of safety. Data are fragmented and it is impossible to have a precise overall picture.

Some glaciers have visibly receded, like the Gangotri, in India, where the Ganges has its headwaters. From 2000 onwards, it has been receding to the tune of 12 metres every year. It has already lost nearly 200 metres of its length.

But not all South Asian glaciers are melting though. The process seems to have been reversed in the Karakoram range, along the border between Pakistan, India and China. The monsoon reaches this region in winter and the precipitation freezes thanks to severe temperatures.&nbsp;

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It is not good news though and it does not balance the loss. &quot;It is more of a unique phenomenon. There are very few other places in the world where this is happening,&quot; says Sarah Kapnick, a physical scientist at Princeton University who studies the area closely. &quot;We can create a hypothesis that may be valid for the next hundred years. It is impossible to know what could happen after that. And this does not mean that it is not getting warmer up there. It sounds counterintuitive. But more snow means more precipitation which is another effect of rising temperatures,&quot; the scientist tells WION.

It is almost unanimously recognised that global warming is a human-induced phenomenon, mostly caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases. But when it comes to South Asian glaciers, one of the chief factors contributing towards their melting is dust. A part of it comes from forest fires, cooking fires, agricultural and industrial burn wastes. Particles get deposited on the frozen surface, absorb the sun light, warm up and create holes, pretty much what happens when a firebrand is placed on an ice cube. Through these holes, solar heat gets the chance to penetrate deep in. The melting gathers speed.

It is a classic domino effect example, a chain reaction. More dust means more heat, more heat more holes, more holes more heat.

Most of this dust has natural origins: it comes from the Asian Brown Cloud (ABC), a recurring layer of pollution partially covering South Asian skies.

&quot;Poor quality petrol combustion also contributes to this cloud but it is mainly composed of natural dust coming from Rajasthan and other dry places in India and Pakistan which gets blown by the wind,&quot; says Dipak Gyawali, director of Nepal Water Conservation Foundation (NWCF) and a former Nepalese minister for water resources. &quot;There is not much that we can do about the natural part of it. We can surely work on cutting down on the use of poor quality petrol and coal to reduce the damage,&quot; he adds.

Glaciers are, above all, storage systems. They thicken with winter snowfalls and release water when the summer comes. &quot;Most of the high altitude settlements rely on spring sources for their water. This is true for Nepal. The shrinking of glaciers will not cause them problems. It will mostly affect low altitude areas, reducing the flow of rivers during dry seasons,&quot; the director of NWCF puts the elements into perspective.

Monsoons remain the principal source of fresh water in South Asia but the flows of some of the biggest rivers in the region depend on ice melt. The Indus in Pakistan, for example, relies on glaciers for up to forty per cent of its flow. But a dense network of minor rivers and major ones across the Indo-Gangetic plain mitigates the reduction in ice melt. The network continues to support agriculture and ensures the survival of hundreds of millions of lives.

Rice is the main agricultural product of the region and it is a water-intensive crop. According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), paddy grows on 60 million hectares of land in South Asia. Accounting for more than a quarter of the global production, Bangladesh and India take the lead. Any change in the rivers&rsquo; flows will have a severe impact.

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Sifting through the jungle of articles, videos and infographics on the matter, one encounters contradictory figures. One moment, it seems that South Asian glaciers will disappear in two decades and there will be huge floods followed by terrible droughts. The next moment, one encounters data that points to their good health. This is confusing and undermines the credibility of the scientific community.

&quot;See, glaciers are a hot topic. There is too much hype. For instance, you say that if glaciers melt, Bangladesh will be completely flooded. You immediately grab eyeballs. But it is scientific nonsense. You are saying a wrong thing. Floods occur because of massive monsoon rains and the problem is that no one can ever predict the right amount of precipitation. Water warming is a much bigger problem and nobody is talking about it,&quot; comments Dipak Gyawali.

&quot;It is always difficult to speak about environmental problems with a non-specialist. It is also challenging because what will happen in the future is pretty much uncertain. Climatic conditions change in decades and some of these are natural. As scientists, we are not always good at explaining this to common people,&quot; opines Sarak Kapnick.

A balanced narrative will improve general awareness about the negative effects of global warming. Water, in all its forms, is a basic need of any ecosystem and its preservation is a priority. It is the common interest of the world.

South Asian rivers are also an important source of clean energy. Some countries base their energy provision on hydropower. It powers more than sixty per cent households in Bhutan.

A decline in river flow leads to a decrease of potential energy. In a developing region like South Asia, this may also have political ramifications. It may force countries to further tighten their borders. A run for energy in such a scenario will affect peaceful and constructive coexistence.

But global warming also presents a unique opportunity for South Asian governments to come together to battle the problem. They can coordinate their actions and benefit from each other&rsquo;s respective strengths. Rivers and glaciers are often shared between neighbouring countries and change in one place will affect people in another. Any negative changing will affect all their populations. Pakistan, for instance, can face water and hydropower shortage if Indian glaciers melt too fast. The necessity of a common strategy to preserve water sources may become a way to mend poor diplomatic relations between some South Asian countries. In case they succeed, the region can gain a global leadership role in environmental protection. It is a chance not to be underestimated and a cause not worth neglecting.

The impact of global warming presents South Asian countries with a unique chance to unite

Environmentalists have long been worried about melting glaciers in the Himalayas. Studies and articles on the matter often border on the extreme. Some seek to reassure people that it is not a big deal, while others paint doomsday scenarios. But while global warming is a reality, available facts and figures are not enough to ascertain exactly how frozen surfaces in the region are melting or what its impact is on the environment, vegetation or animal life. The Himalayan range and its extension in the northwest are home to more than 50,000 glaciers. Only the polar circles have more. Approximately 60,000 square kilometres of ice are stored along the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya mountain ranges. But despite the huge dimensions, these frozen masses do not last for ever and have retreated in the last few decades. Glaciers are fragile. After all, they consist of nothing but ice. Global warming has led to the Himalayan range witnessing less snowfall, more rains and hotter summers. Glaciers erode and become shorter and thinner every year, a loss that is impossible to recover as long as the mercury continues to rise. Fieldwork is a major problem here. Many of the glaciers are located in isolated high mountain areas and reaching these places with necessary equipment involves a lot of time and money. In some areas of Afghanistan, it is also a matter of safety. Data are fragmented and it is impossible to have a precise overall picture. Some glaciers have visibly receded, like the Gangotri, in India, where the Ganges has its headwaters. From 2000 onwards, it has been receding to the tune of 12 metres every year. It has already lost nearly 200 metres of its length. But not all South Asian glaciers are melting though. The process seems to have been reversed in the Karakoram range, along the border between Pakistan, India and China. The monsoon reaches this region in winter and the precipitation freezes thanks to severe temperatures. When it comes to South Asian glaciers, one of the chief factors contributing towards their melting is dust. A part of it comes from forest fires, cooking fires, agricultural and industrial burn wastes. × It is not good news though and it does not balance the loss. "It is more of a unique phenomenon. There are very few other places in the world where this is happening," says Sarah Kapnick, a physical scientist at Princeton University who studies the area closely. "We can create a hypothesis that may be valid for the next hundred years. It is impossible to know what could happen after that. And this does not mean that it is not getting warmer up there. It sounds counterintuitive. But more snow means more precipitation which is another effect of rising temperatures," the scientist tells WION. It is almost unanimously recognised that global warming is a human-induced phenomenon, mostly caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases. But when it comes to South Asian glaciers, one of the chief factors contributing towards their melting is dust. A part of it comes from forest fires, cooking fires, agricultural and industrial burn wastes. Particles get deposited on the frozen surface, absorb the sun light, warm up and create holes, pretty much what happens when a firebrand is placed on an ice cube. Through these holes, solar heat gets the chance to penetrate deep in. The melting gathers speed. It is a classic domino effect example, a chain reaction. More dust means more heat, more heat more holes, more holes more heat. Most of this dust has natural origins: it comes from the Asian Brown Cloud (ABC), a recurring layer of pollution partially covering South Asian skies. "Poor quality petrol combustion also contributes to this cloud but it is mainly composed of natural dust coming from Rajasthan and other dry places in India and Pakistan which gets blown by the wind," says Dipak Gyawali, director of Nepal Water Conservation Foundation (NWCF) and a former Nepalese minister for water resources. "There is not much that we can do about the natural part of it. We can surely work on cutting down on the use of poor quality petrol and coal to reduce the damage," he adds. Glaciers are, above all, storage systems. They thicken with winter snowfalls and release water when the summer comes. "Most of the high altitude settlements rely on spring sources for their water. This is true for Nepal. The shrinking of glaciers will not cause them problems. It will mostly affect low altitude areas, reducing the flow of rivers during dry seasons," the director of NWCF puts the elements into perspective. Monsoons remain the principal source of fresh water in South Asia but the flows of some of the biggest rivers in the region depend on ice melt. The Indus in Pakistan, for example, relies on glaciers for up to forty per cent of its flow. But a dense network of minor rivers and major ones across the Indo-Gangetic plain mitigates the reduction in ice melt. The network continues to support agriculture and ensures the survival of hundreds of millions of lives. Rice is the main agricultural product of the region and it is a water-intensive crop. According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), paddy grows on 60 million hectares of land in South Asia. Accounting for more than a quarter of the global production, Bangladesh and India take the lead. Any change in the rivers’ flows will have a severe impact. Glaciers are a hot topic. There is too much hype. For instance, you say that if glaciers melt, Bangladesh will be completely flooded. You immediately grab eyeballs. But it is scientific nonsense. × Sifting through the jungle of articles, videos and infographics on the matter, one encounters contradictory figures. One moment, it seems that South Asian glaciers will disappear in two decades and there will be huge floods followed by terrible droughts. The next moment, one encounters data that points to their good health. This is confusing and undermines the credibility of the scientific community. "See, glaciers are a hot topic. There is too much hype. For instance, you say that if glaciers melt, Bangladesh will be completely flooded. You immediately grab eyeballs. But it is scientific nonsense. You are saying a wrong thing. Floods occur because of massive monsoon rains and the problem is that no one can ever predict the right amount of precipitation. Water warming is a much bigger problem and nobody is talking about it," comments Dipak Gyawali. "It is always difficult to speak about environmental problems with a non-specialist. It is also challenging because what will happen in the future is pretty much uncertain. Climatic conditions change in decades and some of these are natural. As scientists, we are not always good at explaining this to common people," opines Sarak Kapnick. A balanced narrative will improve general awareness about the negative effects of global warming. Water, in all its forms, is a basic need of any ecosystem and its preservation is a priority. It is the common interest of the world. South Asian rivers are also an important source of clean energy. Some countries base their energy provision on hydropower. It powers more than sixty per cent households in Bhutan. A decline in river flow leads to a decrease of potential energy. In a developing region like South Asia, this may also have political ramifications. It may force countries to further tighten their borders. A run for energy in such a scenario will affect peaceful and constructive coexistence. But global warming also presents a unique opportunity for South Asian governments to come together to battle the problem. They can coordinate their actions and benefit from each other’s respective strengths. Rivers and glaciers are often shared between neighbouring countries and change in one place will affect people in another. Any negative changing will affect all their populations. Pakistan, for instance, can face water and hydropower shortage if Indian glaciers melt too fast. The necessity of a common strategy to preserve water sources may become a way to mend poor diplomatic relations between some South Asian countries. In case they succeed, the region can gain a global leadership role in environmental protection. It is a chance not to be underestimated and a cause not worth neglecting.

Is it bad news for the Himalayan glaciers?

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