HR: 1340h
AN: GC13A-0934    [Abstracts]
TI: Global Warming, Climate Change and Glacier Retreat of Nepal Himalayas
AU: * Shrestha, S
EM: sanjivstha@yahoo.com
AF: Shrestha Sanjiv, Department of Physics Earth Sciences , University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan, Nishihara, Oki 903-0213, Japan
AU: Hisaki, Y
EM: hisaki@sci.u-ryukyu.ac.jp
AF: Shrestha Sanjiv, Department of Physics Earth Sciences , University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan, Nishihara, Oki 903-0213, Japan
AB: Global average air temperature near the earth surface rose 0.74¡¾0.18¨¬C during the twentieth century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that observed increased globally averaged temperatures since mid-twentieth century is very likely due to the observed increment in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations, which leads to warming of the surface and lower atmosphere by increasing the greenhouse effect. Climate models referred by IPCC project that global surface temperature are likely to be increase by 1.1 to 6.4¨¬C between 1990 and 2100. An increase in global temperature is expected to cause other changes including glacier retreat, sea level rise, increase intensity of extreme weather events and change in the pattern of precipitation, etc. The Nepal Himalaya revealed 3,252 glaciers and 2,323 lakes, which are 3,500 m above the sea level. They cover an area of 5,323 km2 with an estimated ice reserve of 481 km3. The average temperature in Nepal is rising by 0.5¨¬C per decade, and because of this reason, big glacial lakes in the country are at high risk of flooding from glacial lake bursts, which would have an adverse effect, such as huge loss of life and property. Nepal is facing a disturbance in mountain climate, flash floods, cloudbursts, erratic weather patterns and so on. The death of number of people due to floods and landslides is increasing annually. It is reported that more than 164 people already died because of floods and landslides during the current year, 2007 rainy season. Nepal does emit negligible greenhouse gases compare to developed and industrialized countries, however, country and people are facing the consequences of actions of other developed and industrialized countries. Study shows the¡¡disasters in current years and possible hazards in future due to the probable causes of global warming and recommends some suggestions for controlling of green house gases emission.
DE: 1225 Global change from geodesy (1222, 1622, 1630, 1641, 1645, 4556)
SC: Global Environmental Change [GC]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting