They have been described as the water towers of the world, and with good reason.
They have been described as the water towers of the world, and with good reason. Glaciers are a vital source of fresh water for more than half of the global population, but as they shift and recede, they are altering the lives and the livelihoods of the communities that rely on them.
Long-term water availability is just one of the challenges facing humanity as it tries to get to grips with these physical changes to glaciers. There are also implications for water-based ecosystems and for the agricultural and hydropower sectors.
More alarmingly, as global temperatures increase and our glaciers recede, the resulting instability can be disastrous, something witnessed recently when a huge landslide destroyed 90% of the village of Blatten in Switzerland.
Read More at: University of Leeds
Photo Credit: ewirz via Pixabay
