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.