Global Warming Heats Up: Tibetan Glaciers Their Warmest Since 2000 Years

Global Warming Heats Up: Tibetan Glaciers Their Warmest Since 2000 Years

Prominent members of Indian Inc. may be demanding “azaadi” from green resitrictions but they should remember that great power comes with even greater responsibilities. Consider the alarming evidence that now confronts us. Scientists have revealed that in the past 50 years, there has been a dramatic rise in humidity and temperature of the earth which has impacted the glaciers in a negative manner.

The temperature of Tibet's glaciers is now the warmest it has been since 2000 years. Chinese media remarked that the increase in the temperature is the double of the average global level which has affected human life activities as it can lead to drastic rise in the intensity and number of natural disasters such as floods as well as landslides and avalanches.

Experts have also reported a 15% reduction in the Tibetan glaciers. Glaciers in the Tibetan plateau are the source of water for millions across Asia. They are now retrating as the temperature on the plateau has become the warmest in the past 5 decades than anytime in the past 2,000 years. The trend is expected to continue according to the Chinese scientists.

What is alarming is that the ongoing warming throughout the century will see them pull back more causing desert conditions that will be difficult to combat. "Over the past 50 years, the rate of temperature rise has been double the average global level," a report from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research has indicated.

China's scientists have also reported that during the past 30 years, the Tibetan glaciers have reduced by about 3,100 miles which is 15% of the previous coverage. Water supplies in the major Asian rivers namely the Yangtze and Yellow in China as well as the Brahmaputra in India and the Mekong of Southeast Asia could be facing new threats due to the retreating of the glaciers.

It should be remembered that lives and livelihoods depend upon Mother Nature. Around 2 billion people residing in more than 12 countries which is 1/3rd of the world's population depend upon the glacier fed rivers which are emanating from the plateau region.

The rivers feed and nourish the lives of people living in some of the world's most densely populated areas and locals are already warning that the changes have begun to impact the topography of the place. "This all used to be ice ten years ago," Tibetan farmer Jia Son has been quoted as saying about the glacier near his village of Mingyong. "The beast is sick and wasting away. Our sacred glacier cannot survive, how can we?"

With changes in temperature, new beasts are coming about. Scientists have found the existence of polar grizzly hybrids as well as the “coywolf” which is a cross between a coyote and a wolf. In case people are wondering if this is anything to cry wolf about, consider the fact that hybrid animals are infertile. Of course, that is a side issue considering that humanity is facing its own threats of extinction. With industrialists simply refusing to get the point, if asteroids don't finish us off, global warming will!!!