Warming triggers `alarming' retreat of Himalayan glaciers

Fri, May. 11, 2007
From Real Cities dot com

"The presence of glaciers is very vital to the Himalayan river systems," said Anil Kulkarni of the Indian Space Research Organization, who has used satellite data to measure the glacial retreat. "It is really alarming. We have to be really concerned."
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As the glaciers recede, lakes on the Tibetan Plateau are rising steadily, and experts foresee floods, landslides and mudflows from mountain lakes overrunning their banks.
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Glacial retreat in the Himalayas may have a surprising impact in extremely arid areas far from the mountains.

Yao said oases in China's far western deserts, such as the Taklimakan, get their underground water from glacial runoff. Towns are usually built around the oases.

"If the glaciers disappear, then the oases will also disappear," Yao said.

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