WWF Fears Deglaciation Of Himalaya-Glaciers
WWF Fears Deglaciation Of Himalaya-Glaciers
By Marietta Gross - Scoop Media Auckland
Scoop Report: The environment protection organisation WWF has warned of a melt-down and break-up of glaciers in the Himalaya. Floods have struck in China, India and Nepal. Then in contrast, these areas suffer from drought and water shortage. The phenomena are all linked to global warming.
According to the WWF global warming will accelerate the deterioration of glaciers by ten to 15 metres per year.
“The deglaciation will first increase the water line and cause floods”, said WWF climate expert Jennifer Morgan. “But within the next decade the situation will change, the water line will peak off, which results in massive economical and ecological problems for the people in Western China, Nepal and Northern India”.
Water of the Himalayan glaciers flows into seven of the biggest rivers in Asia: the Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra, Mekong, Thanlwin, Jangtse and the Yellow River.
Referring to the WWF the
water supply of hundreds of millions of people was secured
over the year. If the water supply decline due to sudden
melt-down, hydroelectric power plants will cease to work
properly, and crop losses are expected.