Focus News Tibet

Satellite imagery shows rapid melting of glaciers in Tibet

According to a study by Columbia University, published in the journal Science Advances, the rate of glacier melt in Tibet has doubled since the year 2000 compared to previous years. For the study, the scientists have analyzed satellite images of 650 glaciers, which are down to data from American spy satellites from the 1970er years. According to the report, an average of 8 billion tons of ice melted annually. this melt threatens the water supply of 800 million people in Asia.

The people in the riparian states, which are dependent on water from Tibet, would be affected by a lack of meltwater and be exposed to severe periods of drought because they can no longer rely on water reserves to the same extent. This would reduce the power production of hydroelectric power plants. Risks are also seen in more frequent flooding from overflowing meltwater lakes.

On average, the glaciers lost 43 centimeters of thickness per year. Low-lying glaciers melted much faster and lost up to 5 meters in thickness each year. In the next 50 years, according to scientists, a quarter of the glaciers could have disappeared.

Since 2000, average temperatures in the region have been 1 degrees above the long-term mean of the years 1970 to 2000.

The mirror, 19. June 2019 // Dr. Uwe Meya

Image: Glacier in Tibet (zmescience.com)

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