Tibetan glaciers turns to dust
The Chinese Academy of Science reported that glaciers on the roof of the world is melting faster that ever before. At the present rate the glaciers on the Tibetan plateau, the largest area of ice outside the polar regions or 15% of the world's total, will reduce by 50% every decade.
11th May 2006
carbon-info.org
How you can help
Related Stories
The retreat of Tibet's more than 46,000 glaciers, covering just under 60,000 sqm at an average height of 4,300 meters above sea level, is caused by an increase in temperature in Tibet by x degrees during the last 2 decades.
The environmental and humanitarian impact of the melting glaciers are significant. The water released is triggering soil erosion and allowing desertification to accelerate. Sand storms are threatening the health of millions as it increases air pollution. A single sand storm is capable of releasing 100,000's of tons of dust into the atmosphere.
The Tibetan railway is also under threat as the permafrost holding the tracks in place starts to thoughe. The £1.7bn project is likely to face severe problems in the next 50 years.
However, worst of all is the threat faced by 300 million people, who rely on the glaciers for water and daily survival.
People living along many of the world's greatest rivers - the Mekong, the Yangtze, the Ganges and the Indus, all face an uncertain future.
