Almost glaciers around the world are slowly melting, shrink and even disappear, but the situation in the world's second highest peak K2 location - Karakoram range in Asia is not the case. Melting glaciers here not only do not, but some are expanding. Currently, scientists have found the cause of the glacier is so stable - snowfall in the Himalayan region is growing, most of these water vapor will turn into rain in the summer, but in the Karakoram mountain range, which has become year-round snow.
Sarah Kapnick is a post-doctoral researchers from Princeton University, to study atmospheric and oceanic sciences, she Fun Science Network reporter said: "glaciers in other parts of the world are melting, but here the glacier is very stable, and controversy resulting, as it proved in the case of continuing global warming will increase or decrease the amount of snow and ice will not melt, but will also expand. "
Unusual snow
Karakoram mountain range in China, Pakistan and Indian border, has a magnificent picturesque rolling peaks, part of the Great Himalayan chain. At present, the chain of mountains glaciers is with global warming melting constantly. But for the observational study showed that Karakoram glaciers in the region is not only stable, but also increased rather than decreased the amount of snowfall.
"I really want to in-depth research to find out the reason for this phenomenon." Kapnick said. She and her colleagues from the Pakistan Meteorological and some other sources of information (including satellite data) collected Karakoram recent snowfall and temperature data. This information is then combined with the local climate models used to study changes in snow and ice in the Himalayas near the three regions, three areas: the southeastern Karakoram, Himalayas and central Himalayas (including the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau section).
The researchers found that they can emulate the Karakorum Mountains temperature and snowfall cycle with a new range of 19 square miles (about 50 square kilometers) of climate models. Kapnick said that before the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)) climate models can not reflect the seasonal cycle, the simulation model is to continue if global greenhouse gas emissions according to the existing scale conditions, what will happen to our world The change.
The reason why the IPCC model is not applicable, because it and other climate models, like the existence of low resolution of the problem, they can only reflect the 81 square miles (about 210 square kilometers) area of climate change. Resolution would "eliminate" differences in climate at different altitudes, although this is for the central and southeastern Himalayas data has little effect, but the Karakoram range in relation to the other two areas on different elevation reflects the large temperature difference , IPCC and other models showing results will overestimate calories Karakoram Mountains region.
Winter weather
Because of the above model will overestimate the temperature of the Karakoram region, a result they will underestimate the amount of snow in the area. Researchers on October 12 issued a report in the journal "Nature Geoscience", explains the key reasons for the Karakoram Mountains of snow and ice does not melt.
With global warming, the snowfall in the Himalayan region began to increase. Due to the unique terrain of the Karakoram mountain range, the ground most of the water vapor is in the winter by westerly, in the form of snow fell on the mountains. In contrast, most of the water vapor in the Himalayas in central and south-eastern regions is from the summer monsoon, due to the high summer temperatures, most of the water vapor in the form of precipitation falls on the mountains.
Kapnick said, "the total amount of summer rainfall is increasing year by year, but due to the weather when the temperature is above freezing, the moisture did not increase local snowfall, but in fact lead to a reduction in both the amount of snowfall."
Learn snowfall Karakoram region and other parts of the Himalayas, to comb climate change in different regions reflects the difference is very important, but for the moment these findings also have immediate benefits. Himalayan snow and ice is like reservoir area residents, seasonal snowfall forecast can provide great help to understand the water resources currently available. If the snow melts too quickly, it will lead to flooding.
"From the meteorological point of view, to understand the impact of climate on the future of major significance, but from the social point of view it is also important to study." Kapnick said.
(Compiled: via Livescience)
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