*[Enwl-eng] [wildlife-climate] Local cooling and drying induced by Himalayan glaciers under global warming

[enwl]

Understanding the response of Himalayan glaciers to global warming is vital 
because of their role as a water source for the Asian subcontinent. However, 
great uncertainties still exist on the climate drivers of past and present 
glacier changes across scales. Here, we analyse continuous hourly climate 
station data from a glacierized elevation (Pyramid station, Mount Everest) 
since 1994 together with other ground observations and climate reanalysis. 
We show that a decrease in maximum air temperature and precipitation 
occurred during the last three decades at Pyramid in response to global 
warming. Reanalysis data suggest a broader occurrence of this effect in the 
glacierized areas of the Himalaya. We hypothesize that the counterintuitive 
cooling is caused by enhanced sensible heat exchange and the associated 
increase in glacier katabatic wind, which draws cool air downward from 
higher elevations. The stronger katabatic winds have also lowered the 
elevation of local wind convergence, thereby diminishing precipitation in 
glacial areas and negatively affecting glacier mass balance. This local 
cooling may have partially preserved glaciers from melting and could help 
protect the periglacial environment.

<https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-023-01331-y>
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С уважением,
Григорий Фёдоров.



From: Ecology BY
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2023 10:12 PM
Subject: [wildlife-climate] Local cooling and drying induced by Himalayan 
glaciers under global warming

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