Study project on the recent rapid shrinkage of summer-accumulation type glaciers in the Himalayas, 1997-1999

Abstract

A three-year glaciological project was carried out in Nepal and Bhutan Himalayas to verify progressing glacier variations under the global climate change, to study on the variation mechanism and to predict the future variation, in succession to the studies from 1994 to 1996. Recent rapid shrinkage of glaciers and its acceleration tendency were verified. Such tendency was found in large debris-covered glaciers as well as small debris-free glaciers. Expansion of glacier lakes in recent decades in the Bhutan Himalayas was also observed as a result of glacier retreat. Related meteorological data at high altitudes and proxy data from snow/ice and tree-rings to reconstruct climate change were collected for further analyses. A simulation model for the glacier variation has been developed.