Himalayan glaciers will shrink by almost 10 percent, even if temperatures hold steady

Science Daily: Come rain or shine, or even snow, some glaciers of the Himalayas will continue shrinking for many years to come.

The forecast by Brigham Young University geology professor Summer Rupper comes after her research on Bhutan, a region in the bull's-eye of the monsoonal Himalayas. Published in Geophysical Research Letters, Rupper's most conservative findings indicate that even if climate remained steady, almost 10 percent of Bhutan's glaciers would vanish within the next few decades. What's more, the amount of melt water coming off these glaciers could drop by 30 percent.

Rupper says increasing temperatures are just one culprit behind glacier retreat. A number of climate factors such as wind, humidity, precipitation and evaporation can affect how glaciers behave. With some Bhutanese glaciers as long as 13 miles, an imbalance in any of these areas can take them decades to completely respond. "These particular glaciers have seen so much warming in the past few decades that they're currently playing lots of catch up," Rupper explains.

In fact, snowfall rates in Bhutan would need to almost double to avoid glacier retreat, but it's not a likely scenario because warmer temperatures lead to rainfall instead of snow. If glaciers continue to lose more water than they gain, the combination of more rain and more glacial melt will increase the probability of flooding -- which can be devastating to neighboring villages.

"Much of the world's population is just downstream of the Himalayas," Rupper points out. "A lot of culture and history could be lost, not just for Bhutan but for neighboring nations facing the same risks."...

The glacial lakes of Bhutan, NASA image

A Travel Beyond the Himalayas: Mustang # 3!

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A view of Himalayas as seen from the Pokhara Airport

I got to capture these stunning Himalayas from Plane

hf]d;f]d} ahf/df !@ ah] xfjf ;// .

P xh'/ 3/ xfd|f] kf]v/f, cEfm} ;Dd ef’5}g 3/af/ ..

Click here to download this song....

(Jomsome, air blows 12.00 noon;

Hey, we are from Pokhara and still unmarried!!) 

This is a rhyme of one famous Nepali song (by Nepathya) echoing on and striking me when I was about to step down from Sita Airlines’ Twin Otter (spell?) plane for the first time in Jomsome Bazzar. As in song, it was extremely windy. The wind blowing from south to north was such a strong that it was very difficult for everyone to handle their bags and move smoothlyL. But walking along the air current was super easy and effortless!

Landed Safely :)... Jomsome Airport and Mt. Nilgiri on the background

The journey was highly remarkable for me! I had to struggle to fly. Due to the fluctuating weather flights were cancelled for two days. Even in third day weather was not so good but the captain dared to fly, and thanks GOD for safe landingJ. That was the only flight taken that day. If I would not have gotten chance to fly on that plane I would have to wait for another day. So, I must thank a guy (I’m sorry, I forget his name) from SITA Air who was highly generous to provide me room on first flight even there was a long queue of foreign tourist who were paying way more in US$ for the ticket.

See the arid landscapes of Mustang and a suspension bridge above  Kaligandaki River

Although very dry and arid, landscapes were carved in such a way that everyone could easily lost within the beauty of Mustang. And, I was super excited to travel beyond the Himalayas. The only problem I had was being late by 2 days to conduct research. My research partner Mr. Gabe Stutman (from Washington DC, USA), who was already in Muktinath temple, was counting every minute for my arrival. And, It is totally understandable that how terrible time everyone finds to wait someone not even for a couple of hours but for three days! I am sorry my friend (d]/f] ;fyL u]j dnfO{ dfkm ug'{xf];\ .) ! 

Though it was super windy I decided to leave for Jharkot where everyone was waiting me. We had a team of 8 students (4 Nepali and 4 Americans) from CNSP (Cornell Nepal Study Program) looking at four different aspects in Mustang. As a part of regular courses of CNSP our American friends were there for their research and we (Nepali students) were assisting them.

The Jharkot Village

When I got into Hotel Plazza in Jharkot around 6:00 pm I was completely exhausted. I didn’t see anything on the store but just the Fanta! Wow J I didn’t have to wait for second round to finish half liter fanta. Now I could see who were there; almost all except Paul and Gabe! I came to know that Paul is staying with Amchi and Gabe is in Ranipauwa - Muktinath.

 

Winter season; Mustang region; evening time; very tired; how would you feel if you take shower using freezing water? Though shivering with almost frozen fingers, I was feeling refreshed! Cold but clean! Great time for coffee.

See few more snaps on the way to Jharkot:

Mustang valley: Kaligandaki River gorge

Plants coping with aridity

Salix were the only trees I saw with leaves

A Thrilling Journey into the Himalayas

Before jumping into my journeys and experiences in the Himalayas, although it may not be new for you, I am going to present a brief introduction of the Himalayas; especially the origin and evolution!

A View of Himalayas as seen from Phyuk Ri, Nuwakot

A quote, my favorite one, about the Himalayas by a famous Nepalese Geographer which, I always appreciate and adore:

“IT WOULD BE MORE REALISTIC TO CONSIDER MOUNTAINS AS DYNAMIC, CERTAINLY NOT FRAGILE”

– Dr. Harka Gurung (2004).

#1. Himalayas: The Youngest Mountains in the World

Mt. Dhaulagiri Range as seen from just above Ghorepani, Myagdi

According to Bob Stoddard, Professor of Geography at the University of Nebraska-Linkon, US; the origin of the Himalayas dates backs some fifty million years ago when the two continental plates that form the cores of peninsular India (Gondwana land) and central Asia (Laurasia) began squeezing together. Previously these huge sections of earth surface were separated by shallow sea, which was receiving the eroded sands and muds that were being dumped into it by rivers emitting from the land masses. As the two continents moved together, they squeezed and buckled these relatively soft earth materials into gigantic folds. As these earth materials became pushed higher, they formed the ranges of mountains – now called the Himalayas. Actually this mountain-building process is still occurring as the mountains continue to rise each year.

Gauri Shanker Himalayan range with (Abeis tree on foreground) as seen in the evening from Kalinchowk temple, Dolakha; 28 October, 2010

The evidences are: one is the limestone beds that compose part of the highest mountains, such as Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha) because the origin of limestone was the former shallow sea. And these days those sedimentary rocks are way far from the sea level standing as a water tower. Next evidence: the fossils found on the slopes of the mountains (e.g. the Ammonites i.e. Saligram Sila found in Kaligandaki valley, Mustang, Nepal) indicate life that once existed in seas before the mountains arose.