China has discovered 42 glaciers on the the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. This plateau is also known as the roof of the world, where shrinking of ice due to global warming has been of major concern. China’s largest rivers originate from this plateau and for sometime the glaciers have been retreating from this area.
China has about 46,000 glaciers, spanning across 60,000 square kilometers. However, in the past few years, the glaciers have shrunk by almost 30%.
Satellite imagery in Bomi County led to the discovery of these glaciers. Bomy County has an average altitude of 4,200 meters (13,800 ft) above sea level.
As Zhaxi Norbu, director of the county’s publicity department said,
(If the find is confirmed) it would be the biggest glacier group on the plateau.
These rivers of the ice border make up about 80% of China’s glaciers and are essential for drinking, irrigation etc.
Via: Reuters
