Extreme climate events in the Himalayas

The useful part

As of now no direct causal link has been established between global warming and the collapse on August 26 of a 600 metre section of the Langtang Lirung peak of the Langtang Himal mountains in Nepal, close to the Tibetan border. The slope failure at a height of over 5000 metres led to a break in the mountains and a collapse of the glacier situated over it. This colossal amount of rock and ice fell about 1200 metres on to a non-glaciated valley through which the Lhende Khola river runs.

How it works

• The rocks, ice, water and debris moved along the river with ever increasing speed and then to lower river valleys causing devastating floods which swept everything in their path.
• As I write these lines media reports indicate that the death toll has reached 1252 and several thousands are missing.
• While scientists will determine the exact cause of this terrible slope failure, the fact of the hugely negative impact of climate change due to global warming cannot be denied.
• The Hindukush-Himalayan region contains the largest amount of glacial ice after the polar regions.
• It is leading to extreme climate related events every year threatening human life and habitations.

What to take from it

It requires a concerted effort on the part of most of these countries to mitigate the consequences of climate change because of the retreat of glaciers. These mountains have glaciers which are melting because of global warming. Regrettably that is unlikely because of political reasons.

Details worth keeping

The fall generated a seismic wave of 5.2 magnitude on the Richter scale. This is leading to the melting of polar ice and of glaciers.