Earth’s Global Thaw Reaches Everest.

Researchers at the Meeting of the Americas in Cancun, Mexico have confirmed that glaciers in the Mount Everest region are shrinking. The glaciers are said to have shrunk by 13% in the last 50 years. Furthermore, the snowline has moved upward by 180 metres (590 feet).

The research group track changes in temperature, precipitation and glacier size at Everest and the surrounding Sagarmatha National Park. There galciers have retreated an average of 400m (1,300 feet) since 1962. Over the last 2 decades, precipitation has reduced by 100mm (3.9”) and temperatures have risen by 0.6 °C (1 degree Fahrenheit.)

Continued shrinking of the glaciers in the Himalayas may become problematic in the future-the glaciers provide water and power for roughly 1.5 billion people.

-Jean

Further information: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/05/130516-everest-shrinking-ice-glaciers-science-global-warming/