ESA - Eduspace EN - Global Change - Monitoring of glaciers in the Himalayas

Coastal change

Danube Delta change detection Oil spills

Deforestation

Bardia National Park Congo River Basin Kameng-Sonitpur Elephant Reserve Kilimanjaro Rondonia Shillong and Guwahati

Ice

Antarctica 2003 Climate change and glaciers Glacier analysis using radar imagery Glacial retreat in the Alps Glacier Ice Flow

Monitoring of glaciers in the Himalayas

Remote sensing of ice and snow

Urbanisation

Cairo City of Kathmandu Córdoba Himalayas Kathmandu Valley Lagos

Vegetation

Annapurna Conservation Area Lost in the Andes Ngorongoro Conservation Area Niger Inland Delta Vegetation in South America

Monitoring of glaciers in the Himalayas

The world’s highest mountain range is also home to a very large number of glaciers. Among them, there is the Siachen glacier (35.5°N, 77.0°E), the largest glacier outside the polar region. People in the Himalayas have adapted to the special living conditions caused by the unique circumstances of this region. But people have also settled into areas which have been or have become endangered over the years. In the case of an outburst, glacial lakes may become such a risk for people living in these areas. The photo shows a glacial lake outburst flood in 1977 at Nare glacier in Khumbu Himal. It caused severe downstream erosions and destabilised the terrace of the village.

Glacial lake outburst, Nare glacier

This case study includes:

a background section

a worksheet introduction

exercises

You can access them by clicking on the links on the right.

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Monitoring of glaciers in the Himalayas

Glaciers Investigation area Khumbu's glaciers Imja glacier

Exercises

Location of the study area, Khumbu Himal Development of glacial lakes in the Khumbu Himal Glacier retreat at Honku glacier

Links