Mount Everest glaciers are primary sources of various Asian rivers including the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. The shrinkage area of the glaciers has been compared to measurements taken somewhere in the 1970s.
Since the 1980s, the glacial area situated on the south slope of Mount Everest has decreased by a massive 26 percent. The glacier shrinkage data was based on long-term on-site monitoring and remote-sensing. The report also reveals that Mount Everest has been getting warmer for the past 50 years.
The shrinking of glaciers has resulted in the swelling of many glacial lakes. Not only this, but river levels downstream have also shown a rising trend. As per the data, in about 13 years, the glacial lake in Mount Everest nature reserve has increased from 1oo sq. km to 114 sq. km in terms of area.
This year in May, international researchers had estimated a reduction of 70 to 99 percent of around 5500 glaciers in the Hindu Kush region by the year 2100. The Hindu Kush region is home to many of the world’s tallest peaks. The adverse effects of climate change have been literally moving mountains as well.
Image Credit: telegraph.co.uk