MOUNTAIN CLIMATE CHANGE AND CRYOSPHERIC RESPONSES: A REVIEW

mountain regions of the world are at least comparable with, and locally may be greater than, those observed in the adjacent lowlands. Actual and potential responses in cryospheric variables include: a rise in the snowline, a shorter duration of snow cover, changes in avalanche frequency and characteristics, glacier recession, break-out of ice-dammed lakes, warming of perenially -frozen ground and thawing of ground ice. Examples of these changes are presented from various mountain regions. The need for more and better observations for monitoring purposes is also addressed. The changes – including the loss of ice core records of climate history as tropical glaciers and ice caps warm and melt water destroys the ice stratigraphy – are of scientific importance. There are also critical socio-economic implications. These include direct effects of the changes on water resources and hydropower generation, on slope stability and on hazards relating to avalanches and glacier lakes. Indirect effects include economic and social costs for winter tourism based on skiing and associated sports, and impacts on agricultural, industrial and consumptive use of water that is strongly influenced by the annual cycle associated with snow and ice melt runoff.

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