A research team comprising members from the University of Milan in Italy and others has found that the total area of glaciers on Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, has decreased by approximately 14% over the past 50 years or so. In recent years, the rate of glacier melt has surged to nearly six times the average between 1958 and 1975, primarily due to global climate warming. ...
A research team comprising members from the University of Milan in Italy and others has found that the total area of glaciers on Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, has decreased by approximately 14% over the past 50 years or so. In recent years, the rate of glacier melt has surged to nearly six times the average between 1958 and 1975, primarily due to global climate warming.
The research team warned: “The Himalayan region, including Mount Everest, functions similarly to a reservoir of water resources for Asia. The reduction in glaciers and snow could have serious impacts on Asia’s freshwater resources, agriculture, and more.”
The research team analyzed changes in glacier area using satellite images from 1958 to 2011 covering about 1,150 square kilometers on the Nepalese side of Mount Everest and its surrounding areas. The results showed that glacier surface area decreased from 396.2 square kilometers in 1958 to 339.5 square kilometers in 2011. The glacier’s terminus also retreated by 400 meters compared to 1962.
The survey also found that the melting rate has increased to 0.7% per year in recent years, compared to an annual average of 0.12% from 1958 to 1975. Small glaciers with areas less than 1 square kilometer have significantly decreased, with glacier surface area shrinking by 43% over the past approximately 50 years.
According to the research team, it has been confirmed that the average temperature around Mount Everest has risen by 0.6 degrees since 1992 due to climate warming, which is likely the cause of the glacier melt.
Dr. Sudeep Thakuri, a member of the research team, stated: “There have been reports of reduced water availability during the dry season in Nepal and other areas, with increasingly severe situations such as declining hydropower output and water shortages.”