This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
2 mins Read
Researchers and students from around the globe met in Kathmandu last week to assemble a more complete picture of glaciers and glacier changes throughout high mountain Asia. Two-hundred and forty scientists from 26 countries came together between 1 and 6 March 2015 for the International Symposium on Glaciology in High-Mountain Asia, organized by the International Glaciological Society (IGS) and hosted by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), to share the latest findings on glaciers, glacier change, glacier contribution to river flow, and mountain hazards in the region. While knowledge gaps across the region are gradually being filled, additional questions are being raised. “We are making progress on understanding the region as a whole, but when we look at glacier change in more detail, we realize the picture is not yet clear”, said Joseph Shea, a glacier hydrologist at ICIMOD and Chair of the Local Organizing Committee.
The integration of different disciplines has led to studies that capture both regional and local changes in glaciers, snow, and water availability. Multiple researchers presented evidence of the retreat of glaciers in the eastern Himalayas, but suggested that river flows will not decline significantly in the coming decades, as melt rates and precipitation are projected to increase. The Karakoram was also highlighted as a region where glaciers are not retreating, and future research will attempt to explain this anomaly. “Glaciers in high mountain Asia are the highest on earth, and we have built a strong foundation for future research through this symposium”, said Doug MacAyeal, President of the IGS. However, questions remain about the role of debris cover and black carbon in glacier melt, and the limited number of high-altitude precipitation observations. Researchers agreed that more field observations, improved models, intercomparisons of models, and regional data sharing are among the most critical directions and needs for future research.
”ICIMOD is proud to host the first IGS symposium in Kathmandu and help facilitate regional knowledge sharing on the state of our glaciers as well as their impacts on people. We, along with our partners, are working to develop the most accurate and complete picture of the glaciers”, said David Molden, Director General of ICIMOD.
The IGS gathers scientists from around the world several times a year to bring together their knowledge of glaciers in different regions. Results from the symposium will be published in a special edition of the peer-reviewed journal Annals of Glaciology, set to be released next year, as well as through the IGS website in August.
For more information contact: Joseph Shea, Glacier Hydrologist, ICIMOD E-mail: jshea@icimod.org Tel: +977-1-5003222
Nira Gurung, Senior Communications Officer, ICIMOD Email: nira.gurung@icimod.org Tel. +977 1 5003222
Mr Magnus Már Mágnusson Secretary General International Glaciological Society Email: magnus@igsoc.org Telephone: +44 (0)1223 355974
Share
Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.
Related contents
Read in english 随着高温热浪袭击了孟加拉、中国、印度、缅甸和巴基斯坦,本月亚洲气温记录被刷新。国际山地发展中心(ICIMOD)的科学家们敦促全球政府和企业加快减排速度,发展机构来投入更多的气候资金,以努力加快脚步来帮助该地区适应气候变化。 周一(4 月 17 日)孟加拉首都达卡的气温达到41 摄氏度,印度普拉亚格拉吉达到 45 摄氏度,缅甸葛礼瓦达到 44 摄氏度。中国长沙、福州创当地最早入夏记录,浙江的几个城市也刷新了全省4月最高气温记录。 4 月 ...
Brick kilns rank among the most notorious sources of pollution in South Asia, emitting thick black smoke filled with carbon ...
More than four hundred experts in Kathmandu to discuss solutions for mountain communities Four hundred experts from around the world are ...
‘The Government of Bhutan would like to transform Bhutanese agriculture from subsistence ...
On 23 March 2022, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Surketham Dairy Cooperative Limited (SDCL), and Nepal Dairy ...
South Asia faces the challenge of tackling persistent poverty at a time of rapid and large-scale changes in social, environmental, ...
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Chief Guest Mr Narayan Prasad Bhatta, Chief District Officer, ...