Composite Glacier and Glof Images - John Novis Photography

A composite image from the western side of the Middle Rongbuk glacier.

The viewpoint is approximately 1 km from the site of the 1968 original photo. The Greenpeace team were unable to reach the 1968 site to make an exact comparison owing to the rapid deterioration and collapse of the mountain side. The degradation of the Everest environment and glacial retreat is, Greenpeace believes, a direct result of climate change. The Rongbuk glaciers are a water source to the major rivers of China and India and put millions at risk if water sources disappear. The Middle Rongbuk glacier has retreated 2 km over the last 40 years.

Top Photo: 1968 Middle Rongbuk glacier, Everest, Himalayas, Tibet, China (5800m)

©courtesy of Science Press, China.

Bottom photo: 28 April 2007 Middle Rongbuk glacier, Everest, Himalayas, Tibet, China (5800m) ©Greenpeace/John Novis

A comparison composite of Halong Glacier between 1981 and 2005

A comparison of Halong Glacier between 1981 and 2005. According to the analysis done by the Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the glacier retreated by over 400 metres between 1966 and 2000.

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Bottom Picture:

A comparison of Halong Glacier between 1981 (left) and 2005 (right) . According to the analysis done by the Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the glacier retreated by over 400 metres between 1966 and 2000.

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PHOTO COMPARISON

TOP PHOTO - 15th June 2005-

38 km from Xiadawu township , Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, CHINA. Glacier collapse on the western side of the Anemaqing mountain. Glacial lake (Glof) formed as result of glacier collapse and melt water.In April 2004, a huge snow avalanche took place about 38 km from Xiadawu township on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A combination of rising temperatures brought on by climate change and the geological challenge of steep slope gravity has resulted in the glacial tongue of Anemaqing collapsing with such force that it brought down heavy snow and dark moraine making up a large part of the mountain body. The collapse has spread vast quantities of glacial ice and black moraine over 5 km2 of vale and valleys, with worrying consequences. The moraine has created a dam by blocking the valley river and the quickly melting ice which has resulted in, within 14 months, a large glacial lake (Glof) threatening at any time to overflow causing the flooding of pasture land and may be of danger to the Xiadawu township of 100 households in valley below.

©Greenpeace/John Novis

BOTTOM PHOTO - April 2006

Taken a few weeks after the collapse of the dam emptying the GLOF to the pasture and farm land below to the valleys, destroying livestock, roads and communications. Fortunately, in this instance no record of lives being lost were reported but extensive damage is evident.

©Greenpeace/Du Jiang

PHOTO COMPARISON

TOP PHOTO - 15th June 2005-

38 km from Xiadawu township , Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, CHINA. Glacier collapse on the western side of the Anemaqing mountain. Glacial lake (Glof) formed as result of glacier collapse and melt water.In April 2004, a huge snow avalanche took place about 38 km from Xiadawu township on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A combination of rising temperatures brought on by climate change and the geological challenge of steep slope gravity has resulted in the glacial tongue of Anemaqing collapsing with such force that it brought down heavy snow and dark moraine making up a large part of the mountain body. The collapse has spread vast quantities of glacial ice and black moraine over 5 km2 of vale and valleys, with worrying consequences. The moraine has created a dam by blocking the valley river and the quickly melting ice which has resulted in, within 14 months, a large glacial lake (Glof) threatening at any time to overflow causing the flooding of pasture land and may be of danger to the Xiadawu township of 100 households in valley below.

©Greenpeace/John Novis

BOTTOM PHOTO - April 2006

Taken a few weeks after the collapse of the dam emptying the GLOF to the pasture and farm land below to the valleys, destroying livestock, roads and communications. Fortunately, in this instance no record of lives being lost were reported but extensive damage is evident.

Greenpeace China activist Zhong Yu shows a photo of the Middle Rongbuk Glacier taken in 1968 to the camera to illustrate the 2km retreat and deterioration of the glacier in just under 40 years.

A Greenpeace investigation team at Mount Everest bear witness to melting glaciers which are most probably caused by climate change. The Rongbuk Glaciers are one of the prime sources of water feeding into the major rivers of China and India. Glaciers in the Himalaya are receding faster than in any other part of the world as a result of global warming.

Tianshan No.1 Glacier

comparison picture showing the retreat of glacier activity over 20 years span

Photo of the Middle Rongbuk Glacier taken in 1968 to the camera to illustrate the 2km retreat and deterioration of the glacier in just under 40 years.

Greenpeace China activist Zhong Yu shows a photo of the Middle Rongbuk Glacier taken in 1968 to the camera to illustrate the 2km retreat and deterioration of the glacier in just under 40 years.

A Greenpeace investigation team at Mount Everest bear witness to melting glaciers which are most probably caused by climate change. The Rongbuk Glaciers are one of the prime sources of water feeding into the major rivers of China and India. Glaciers in the Himalaya are receding faster than in any other part of the world as a result of global warming.