Millions face glacier catastrophe

[Briar]

Millions face glacier catastrophe

Global warming hits Himalayas

Robin McKie, science editor

...
The roof of the world is changing, as can be seen by Nepal's Khumbu glacier, where Hillary and Tenzing began their 1953 Everest expedition. It has retreated three miles since their ascent. Almost 95 per cent of Himalayan glaciers are also shrinking - and that kind of ice loss has profound implications, not just for Nepal and Bhutan, but for surrounding nations, including China, India and Pakistan.

Eventually, the Himalayan glaciers will shrink so much their meltwaters will dry up, say scientists. Catastrophes like Ghat will die out. At the same time, rivers fed by these melted glaciers - such as the Indus, Yellow River and Mekong - will turn to trickles. Drinking and irrigation water will disappear. Hundreds of millions of people will be affected.

'There is a short-term danger of too much water coming out the Himalayas and a greater long-term danger of there not being enough,' said Dr Phil Porter, of the University of Hertfordshire. 'Either way, it is easy to pinpoint the cause: global warming.'

According to Nature, temperatures in the region have increased by more than 1C recently and are set to rise by a further 1.2C by 2050, and by 3C by the end of the century. This heating has already caused 24 of Bhutan's glacial lakes to reach 'potentially dangerous' status, according to government officials. Nepal is similarly affected.

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http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1646656,00.html

[RC]

1. But, but, but....

Global warming is good right? With tropical beaches and Palm trees in central Canada. Just think of all that money those poor, poor people can save in heating every winter. See, the compassionate Conservatives do help those they caused to be down & out.

[Briar]

2. Conservatives

"compassionate" or otherwise, are more likely to assert that the down and out made their own choices and have no one but themselves to blame.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Get your Bering Straight condos while they're still cheap!