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Glacial melting and Glacier Lake Outburst Floods |
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The Hindu Kush-Himalayan region contains the world?s largest volume of glacier ice and perennial snow outside the Polar Regions. Its melt water contributes to the major rivers that supply freshwater to almost a quarter of humanity residing in the downstream areas. The Himalayan range extends for approximately 2,400 km within the 3,500 km length of the Hindu Kush-Himalayan ranges, and has about 33,000 sq.km of the estimated 110,000 sq.km of glaciated area. The Nepal Himalayas occupy 800 km of the central section of the Himalayan range. (As extracted from ICIMOD report) Due to global warming which has caused increased in average temperature has resulted in melting of glacial in Himalaya region. Glacial melting is occurring at the rate as high as 50 feet per year. Glacial Lake outburst Floods (GLOF) occurs when glacial lakes fill past their breaking points and burst causing extensive damage to roads, bridges, trails and villages. Nepal has experienced 24 GLOF events of which 14 were occurred in Nepal itself while 10 were the result of flood surge overspills across the Tibet. 40 of Nepal?s 2300 glacial lakes are identified as potentially dangerous for GLOF out of which 20 are likely to burst. Some of the GLOF are-Madi river( Kabache lake,15 August,2004 and 8 August 2004), Dud Koshi( Tam Pokhari river,1998), Tama Koshi (Chumbung lake,1991) and so forth. In dudh Koshi GLOF 2million USD damaged occurred while in Madi GLOF damages are yet unknown. If GLOF and glacial melting continues to occur then not only it will cause immediate damages like destruction of infrastructure, taking away human life and assets, agricultural land damage and sweeping away livestock but also long term effects. If glacial continues to melt then there will be decline in water level of glacier fed rivers thus decreasing supply to water for those people (more than one billion of people) that depends on those rivers. This will create environmental and economic chaotic situation and people have to face the music. Also, melting of glacial lakes will leave mountains snowless thus effecting the biodiversity and eco system of Mountain region. Mountain occupies special position economically, socially and environmentally in Nepal. It?s one of the reasons many tourists come here. Mountain as well consists of unique eco-system and is home to rare and endangered species like Snow Leopard, Red Panda, Yarchhaghumba, Panchaaule and so on. Nepalese people depend upon mountain as source of water, energy production (hydroelectricity is major source of energy in Nepal) as most of the rivers are originated from mountains. If glacial melting and GLOF continue to occur, it?s going to affect Nepal severely. Now is the right time to act, protect our earth and do our best while being eco friendly. We don?t need another GLOF to prove climate change and global warming. We don?t want to see rise in sea level, increase in area of deserts, uncovered snowless mountains, people suffering from starvation and thirst, extinction of those endangered and rare animals. Snow covered White Mountains are beautiful and it?s the right of every organism to enjoy their eco system. So it?s the duty of every responsible global citizen to act from their side, inform other about such natural disasters caused by human activities, leave less carbon footprint, adopt eco-friendly technologies and mitigate climate change and global warming. |
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18 Comments
thanks for sharing
Posted 30-11-2014 05:01
Thank you for sharing, Rahul Acharya!
Posted 27-11-2014 00:47
Absolutely right Arushi, every little actions of our has great impact. Our action for environment is not merely limited to environment conservation only but also with promotion of humanity. thank you for your concern about climate change and global warming, and your valuable comments.
Posted 11-11-2014 20:51
Thanks Rahul for an informative and inspiring article. Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. Effects that scientists had predicted in the past would result from global climate change are now occurring: These effects of climate change pose widespread and continuing threats to any region??s economy and environment like in case of Nepal , India or any other Soith Asian country - Extreme heat will affect health, energy, agriculture, and more. Decreased water availability will have economic and environmental impacts. SO it's high time that we take it as wake up alarm and adopt sustainability & greener options in our daily lifestyles. Every actions of ours will have an impact.
Posted 11-11-2014 17:22
Absolutely right Jekk Youth should act and inspire other as well for greener and better world where every natural wonders are protected and conserved
Posted 10-11-2014 23:34
Thank you Christy for the comment
Yes climate change issues must be taken seriously.even though Nepal's contribution towards climate change is very nominal yet it's being severely effected by global change in climatic condition. So we must together act globally as we have only one world,. :)
Posted 10-11-2014 23:30
Thank you Rohan. Adopting green technologies and Levington less footprint is effective solution to indirectly mitigate such problems and protect the beauty and wonderful gifts of nature :)
Posted 10-11-2014 23:25
Thank you for the scientific report! We, youth, should act now to make a low carbon, greener and climate resilient community, :)
Posted 10-11-2014 18:22
Thank you for the informative article on GLOF, Rahul. My concern is that Nepal is not one of the major climate change causing countries. But it directly get affected by the climate change for example, like GLOF. It's slowly happening compare to our lifetime but the change is real and if it surpasses the critical point, we can't reverse it. So this issue must be dealt seriously.
Posted 10-11-2014 14:30
Well reported Rahul. Show covered white mountains are jewels in Himalayan region.
Let's all pledge to restore the beauties of these God's Gifts.
Spread awareness to stop GLOF completely & ensure the constant water supply to the whole Nepali population.
Posted 10-11-2014 13:30
Thank you Prashant
Posted 09-11-2014 12:19
Insightful!
Indeed the issue is grave
Posted 09-11-2014 00:56
Green lifestyle for better tomorrow Daniel
Posted 09-11-2014 00:15
Not only polar bear other beautiful species like snow leopard. Oh er species like red panda, yak and nak are found in mountainous region
thank you for riding the article Azieh
Posted 09-11-2014 00:14
Thank you Bindu di for finding report useful
Posted 09-11-2014 00:05
Yes. It's true. We should act now. Change our lifestyle to green lifestyle. :)
Posted 08-11-2014 23:43
GREAT work Rahul.when i hear of glacial i think of the lives of pooor polar bears in danger.
Posted 08-11-2014 21:36
Useful information about Hindu Kush Himalaya Region and GLOF :)
Posted 08-11-2014 20:12