<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/27/climate-crisis-mountain-areas-glaciers-nepal-tibet>
"The devastating flash flood that has ripped through the border communities of
Nepal and Tibet has heightened fears that the climate crisis is destabilising
the geology of mountain and polar regions, threatening millions of people.
Satellite imagery suggests a glacier collapse high in the Himalayas was the
primary cause of the deadly torrent of mud, water and ice that tore along the
Bhotekoshi River on Wednesday. It swept away buildings and roads and left at
least 360 dead and 1,400 missing.
A magnitude 4.4 earthquake was initially blamed for the collapse. However, it
is now thought to have been caused by the huge wall of ice that crashed down on
to the north slope of Langtang Lirung, a 7,000-metre (23,000ft) mountain, the
impact of which registered a magnitude of 5.2.
“Additional analysis of long-period seismic waves indicates that the seismic
energy was instead generated by a glacial collapse and debris flow,” the US
Geological Survey said.
The ice-rock avalanche pushed boulders and other debris into the Lhende Khola
River, a tributary of the Bhotekoshi River. Water levels in rivers downstream
rose by between 7 and 9 metres within 30 minutes, according to the
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, an intergovernmental
scientific institution.
Scientists are still examining the precise mechanics of the Himalayan disaster,
but many observe that glaciers and permafrost around the world are being
weakened by global heating, caused by the burning of gas, oil and coal."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
