Needs for long-term monitoring of glaciers

More than 70 international scientists today called for better monitoring and improved data sharing on Himalayan ice and snow.During a three-day workshop on Cryosphere and Hazards for the Hindu Kush Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau that concluded today, the scientists agreed that there is a major need of better long-term monitoring of glaciers in the Himalayas, using direct observation in the field, to complement remote sensing techniques alongside sharing of data among different countries in the region, stated a press release issued by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development today.

Started from March 31 and organised by ICIMOD, the workshop came up with a six-point conclusion, urging the governments of the Himalayan countries to facilitate data generation and sharing and to identify at least one model glacier in each country for long-term field-based study.It highlighted on the need of developing a standard method that could be used for monitoring and assessing glaciers across the region to facilitate comparative analysis. Development of basin-wide water scenarios should be encouraged for all major water basins in the region and scientists should be educated and trained on emerging technologies and a database developed on glaciological data resources, it stated.

The workshop brought together the best geosciences expertise available for the region. The scientists brainstormed on new ideas and procedures for obtaining information about the status and trend of snow and ice resources in this extended mountain area, release added.The massive stores of water in the region in the form of snow and ice have got the nickname
of ‘Water Tower of Asia’ and the ‘Third Pole’ - the largest ice reserves in the world outside the Arctic and Antarctic. However, these snow and ice resources are undergoing rapid changes attributing to climate change, the release said.
Source:http://www.thehimalayantimes.com