Stig Östlund

onsdag, oktober 26, 2011

Melting Glaciers in China

A glacier field is seen near K2 in the Chinese province of Xinjiang during the summer of 2000. Researchers in Beijing warned this week of "drastic" glacier melt in southwest China.




A stunning panorama taken from K2's north face in the summer of 2000. The Chinese researchers reported significant glacial shrinkage in nearly every area they studied.
 
The glacial lake Namtso in Tibet. The country's glaciers and their runoff are a valuable water source for millions of people living in Asia. But too much meltwater could lead to flooding, the study warned.


 
These glaciers are located in the Himalayas. "The implications of these changes are far more serious that simply altering the landscape," the researchers said in a statement. "Glaciers are an integral part of thousands of ecosystems and play a crucial role in sustaining human populations."

Der Spiegel

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