Tibetan Plateau Permafrost Warming and Glacier Instability Raises Disaster Risk
What happened
Researchers from Peking University and Nanjing Normal University studied permafrost changes on the Tibetan Plateau, finding that shallow ground ice has increased over the past 20 years, affecting over a third of the plateau’s permafrost. This occurred while the plateau is warming at roughly twice the global average. Separately, a catastrophic landslide and flood occurred on the China-Nepal border in late August, triggered by a glacier collapse.
From thestar.com.my
Why it matters
The increasing instability of glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau could lead to further collapses and collateral disasters, according to a senior official from China’s National Climate Centre. The plateau serves as a primary source of water for the Yangtze and Mekong River systems.
From thestar.com.my
Who's involved
- Peking UniversityConducted studies on permafrost changes on the Tibetan Plateau
- Nanjing Normal UniversityCollaborated with Peking University on the permafrost study
- Tibetan PlateauThe geographical area where permafrost changes and glacier collapses are occurring
- NepalA country whose border was affected by a recent glacier-triggered flood
Who could feel it
Possible knock-on effectsThese are possibilities Brind reasoned out, not predictions, and not advice. Most are not stated in any report.
- NepalSpeculative
Nepal could face increased disaster risk and higher costs related to border stability due to glacier instability
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The entities involved
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Peking University
university in Beijing, China
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Tibetan Plateau
plateau in Central Asia
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Nanjing Normal University
normal university in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Nothing else this week.