A new study says that glaciers in the Himalayas are reacting
to climate change in different ways, with glaciers in the eastern and central
Himalayas retreating at accelerating rates..
In China’s Xinjiang region, a key river has been running dry
in summer. Now a team of international scientists is grappling with a problem
facing the Tarim River basin and other mountainous regions — how to secure
water supplies as demands increase and glaciers melt.
According to a study, western Himalaya and Hindu Kush region
are more stable and possibly even growing in places. According to a report by
the National Research Council, many of the glaciers of the Himalayan region are
retreating at rates comparable to other parts of the world, but changes to
glacial meltwater are not likely to make a significant difference in water
availability at lower elevations, which rely more on monsoon rains and
snowmelt. If the the current rate of glacial retreat continues, however, the
report said that high-elevation areas of some river basins could see altered
seasonal water flow. In addition, researchers say the melting of glaciers could
affect regional water security during periods of drought or “similar climate
extremes.” The Himalaya/Hindu Kush region is the source of several river
systems — including the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra — that supply drinking
water and irrigation to 1.5 billion people.
No comments:
Post a Comment