Loss of glaciers in China threatens Asia’s water supply
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029444
New York Times : The so-called Third Pole region in the Himalayas and adjacent mountain ranges contains an estimated 46 000 glaciers, which are major suppliers of water for 10 countries throughout southern and southeastern Asia. According to a report published by China’s government in November, the surface area of the glaciers in China has decreased more than 10% since the 1960s. In some areas, the glaciers have shrunk even more—on Mount Everest, the glaciers have shrunk by 30%. And in many regions, the loss is accelerating; between 2005 and 2014, the Mengke Glacier has averaged twice the yearly loss of ice as it sustained from 1993 to 2005. Some of the effect of glacier loss has already been seen in an increase in the frequency and severity of floods in nearby regions.
