A boneheaded BBC GW "doubt" piece

[bhikkhu]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8355837.stm

A scientific debate has been triggered over the state of glaciers in the Himalayas.

Some recent findings seem to contradict claims that the glaciers are retreating rapidly. Some glaciers are even said to be advancing.

There are clear signs of glacial retreat and ice melt from other parts of the world, but few field studies have been carried out in the Himalayas.

Its glaciers too were widely believed to be receding fast.

Fine, but then when you read further on the "doubt" part, they quote a researcher Kenneth Hewitt:

"Dozens of smaller, high altitude tributary glaciers have advanced including seven of Biafo Glacier and four of Panmah"
"Rapid, surge-type advances have occurred in at least 17 glaciers since 1985, at least eight since 2000 "

Then they explain that "surges" happen when meltwater undermines and lubricates the underside of a glacier; so Hewitt's account actually supports warming.


The second evidence of "doubt" is from a scientist called Armstrong:

"It turns out about half of the surface area of the glaciers that we studied in Nepal don't experience melt at any time of year."

Fine, except that he's referring to the upper parts of glaciers, above 5400 meters, where the rate of deposition and flow is the real issue rather than melt.


And then from the Indian government:

"Himalayan glaciers, although shrinking in volume and constantly showing a retreating front, have not in any way exhibited... an abnormal annual retreat"

But then it was noted that the data this statement was based on was from the '70s.


Finally they quote a guy from the World Glacial Monitoring Service

"I do not know of any scientific study that supports a complete vanishing of glaciers within this century."

Which indicates more about his reading habits than anything else, and which in any case appears right next to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development's assessment that:

"the general behaviour of the Himalayan glaciers is clear - overall they are currently in a state of rapid and substantial retreat"

Its no wonder people are confused!