Glaciers at roof of the world melting at terrifying rate
Researcher said: "This acceleration in the rate of loss has only emerged within the last few decades, and coincides with human-induced climate change.”
Glaciers at the roof of the world are melting at an "exceptional rate" due to global warming, warns new research.
The accelerating melting of the Himalayan glaciers threatens the water supply of millions of people in Asia, say British scientists who conducted the study.
They have calculated that they have lost between 390 cubic kilometres and 586 cubic kilometres of ice – the equivalent of all the ice contained today in the central European Alps, the Caucasus, and Scandinavia combined.
The study, led by University of Leeds researchers, concludes that in recent decades the Himalayan glaciers have lost ice TEN TIMES more quickly than on average since the last major glacier expansion 400 to 700 years ago, a period known as the Little Ice Age.
The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, also reveal that Himalayan glaciers are shrinking far more rapidly than glaciers in other parts of the world.
Khumbu Glacier in northeastern Nepal between Mount Everest and the Lhotse-Nuptse is melting rapidly (Duncan Quincey via SWNS)
The research team made a reconstruction of the size and ice surfaces of 14,798 Himalayan glaciers during the Little Ice Age.
They calculate that the glaciers have lost around 40 per cent of their area – shrinking from a peak of 28,000 square kilometres to around 19,600 km2 today.
During that period they have also lost between 390 cubic kilometres and 586 cubic kilometres of ice – the equivalent of all the ice contained today in the central European Alps, the Caucasus, and Scandinavia combined.
The team calculate that the water released through that melting has raised sea levels across the world by between 0.92 mm and 1.38 MMS.
Glaciers at the roof of the world are melting at an "exceptional rate" due to global warming, warns the new research (Duncan Quincey via SWNS)
Corresponding author Dr. Jonathan Carrivick, deputy head of the University of Leeds School of Geography, said: “Our findings clearly show that ice is now being lost from Himalayan glaciers at a rate that is at least ten times higher than the average rate over past centuries.
"This acceleration in the rate of loss has only emerged within the last few decades, and coincides with human-induced climate change.”
The Himalayan mountain range is home to the world’s third-largest amount of glacier ice, after Antarctica and the Arctic and is often referred to as 'the Third Pole’.
The researchers say that acceleration of melting of Himalayan glaciers has "significant" implications for hundreds of millions of people who depend on Asia’s major river systems for food and energy. These rivers include the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Indus.
The team used satellite images and digital elevation models to produce outlines of the glaciers’ extent 400 to 700 years ago and to ‘reconstruct’ the ice surface.
Satellite images revealed ridges that mark the former glacier boundaries and the researchers used the geometry of these ridges to estimate the former glacier extent and ice surface elevation.
Comparing the glacier reconstruction to the glacier now, determined the volume and mass loss between the Little Ice Age and now.
The Himalayan glaciers are generally losing mass faster in the eastern regions - taking in east Nepal and Bhutan north of the main divide.
The study suggests the variation is probably due to differences in geographical features on the two sides of the mountain range and their interaction with the atmosphere, resulting in different weather patterns.
Himalayan glaciers are also declining faster where they end in lakes, which have several warming effects, rather than where they end on land.
The number and size of these lakes are increasing so continued acceleration in mass loss can be expected.
Similarly, glaciers that have significant amounts of natural debris on their surfaces are also losing mass more quickly: they contributed around 46.5 per cent of total volume loss despite making up only around 7.5 per cent of the total number of glaciers.
Dr Carrivick said: “While we must act urgently to reduce and mitigate the impact of human-made climate change on the glaciers and meltwater-fed rivers, the modelling of that impact on glaciers must also take account of the role of factors such as lakes and debris.”
Co-author Dr Simon Cook, of the University of Dundee, added: “People in the region are already seeing changes that are beyond anything witnessed for centuries.
"This research is just the latest confirmation that those changes are accelerating and that they will have a significant impact on entire nations and regions.”
Related Topics:
Stories and infographics by ‘Talker Research’ are available to download & ready to use. Stories and videos by ‘Talker News’ are managed by SWNS. To license content for editorial or commercial use and to see the full scope of SWNS content, please email licensing@swns.com or submit an inquiry via our contact form.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.