Mount Everest losing snow and ice cover
Much of the focus of snow and glacier melt has been in the Arctic circle but closer home Mount Everest's snow and ice cover is also declining at a rapid rate. Glaciers have shrunk by 13 per cent over the last 50 years, the snow-line has shifted up by 180 m., while glaciers smaller than one square kilometre have experienced a 43 per cent decrease in surface area since the 1960s. Observations of the temperatures and precipitation in the area have also revealed a change; a 0.6 degree Celsius increase in temperature and 100 millimetre decrease in precipitation during the pre-monsoon and winter months since 1992. “The Himalayan glaciers and ice caps are considered a water tower for Asia since they store and supply water downstream during the dry season… downstream populations are dependent on the melting water for agriculture, drinking, and power production," said Sudeep Thakuri, the leader of the team conducting the research.
Source: Sanctuary Asia.
