scholarly journals Tracing glacier changes since the 1960s on the south slope of Mt. Everest (central Southern Himalaya) using optical satellite imagery

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 5389-5432 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Thakuri ◽  
F. Salerno ◽  
C. Smiraglia ◽  
T. Bolch ◽  
C. D'Agata ◽  
...  

Abstract. We contribute to the debate on glacial shrinkage in the Himalaya by analyzing glaciers in southern slopes of Mt. Everest that are characterized by extensive debris coverage and the highest elevation in the world. In this paper, we make a complete analysis from 1962 to 2011, considering five intermediate periods using optical satellite imagery. We found an overall surface area shrinkage of 13.0 ± 3%, an upward shift of 182 ± 9 m in snow-line altitude (SLA), a terminus retreat of 403 ± 9 m, and an increase of 17.6 ± 3% in debris coverage. The recession process of glaciers has been relentlessly continuous over the past fifty years. Furthermore, since early 1990s, we have observed an acceleration of the surface area shrinkage, which resulted in a median annual rate double that of the previous three decades (an increase from 0.27% a−1 to 0.46% a−1). Comparing the SLA over the same periods, it shifts upward with a velocity almost three times greater (from 2.2 ± 0.5 m a−1 to 6.1 ± 0.9 m a−1), which points to a worsening of the already negative mass balance of these glaciers. However, the increased recession velocity has only significantly affected glaciers with the largest sizes, which are located at higher altitudes and along the preferable south-oriented direction of the monsoons. Moreover, these glaciers present median upward shifts of the SLA that are double others; this finding leads to a hypothesis that Mt. Everest glaciers are shrinking, not only due to warming temperatures, but also as a result of weakening Asian monsoons registered over the last decades. We conclude that the shrinkage of these glaciers is less than that of others in the Himalayan range. Their position in higher elevations have surely reduced the impact of warming on these glaciers, but have not been excluded from a relentlessly continuous and slow recession process over the past fifty years.

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 1297-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Thakuri ◽  
F. Salerno ◽  
C. Smiraglia ◽  
T. Bolch ◽  
C. D'Agata ◽  
...  

Abstract. This contribution examines glacier changes on the south side of Mt. Everest from 1962 to 2011 considering five intermediate periods using optical satellite imagery. The investigated glaciers cover ~ 400 km2 and present among the largest debris coverage (32%) and the highest elevations (5720 m) of the world. We found an overall surface area loss of 13.0 ± 3.1% (median 0.42 ± 0.06 % a−1), an upward shift of 182 ± 22 m (3.7 ± 0.5 m a−1) in snow-line altitude (SLA), a terminus retreat of 403 ± 9 m (median 6.1 ± 0.2 m a−1), and an increase of 17.6 ± 3.1% (median 0.20 ± 0.06% a−1) in debris coverage between 1962 and 2011. The recession process of glaciers has been relentlessly continuous over the past 50 years. Moreover, we observed that (i) glaciers that have increased the debris coverage have experienced a reduced termini retreat (r = 0.87, p < 0.001). Furthermore, more negative mass balances (i.e., upward shift of SLA) induce increases of debris coverage (r = 0.79, p < 0.001); (ii) since early 1990s, we observed a slight but statistically insignificant acceleration of the surface area loss (0.35 ± 0.13% a−1 in 1962–1992 vs 0.43 ± 0.25% a−1 in 1992–2011), but an significant upward shift of SLA which increased almost three times (2.2 ± 0.8 m a−1 in 1962–1992 vs 6.1 ± 1.4 m a−1 in 1992–2011). However, the accelerated shrinkage in recent decades (both in terms of surface area loss and SLA shift) has only significantly affected glaciers with the largest sizes (> 10 km2), presenting accumulation zones at higher elevations (r = 0.61, p < 0.001) and along the preferable south–north direction of the monsoons. Moreover, the largest glaciers present median upward shifts of the SLA (220 m) that are nearly double than that of the smallest (119 m); this finding leads to a hypothesis that Mt. Everest glaciers are shrinking, not only due to warming temperatures, but also as a result of weakening Asian monsoons registered over the last few decades. We conclude that the shrinkage of the glaciers in south of Mt. Everest is less than that of others in the western and eastern Himalaya and southern and eastern Tibetan Plateau. Their position in higher elevations have likely reduced the impact of warming on these glaciers, but have not been excluded from a relentlessly continuous and slow recession process over the past 50 years.


2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher N. Johnson

Since the 1960s, Australian scientists have speculated on the impact of human arrival on fire regimes in Australia, and on the relationship of landscape fire to extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna of Australia. These speculations have produced a series of contrasting hypotheses that can now be tested using evidence collected over the past two decades. In the present paper, I summarise those hypotheses and review that evidence. The main conclusions of this are that (1) the effects of people on fire regimes in the Pleistocene were modest at the continental scale, and difficult to distinguish from climatic controls on fire, (2) the arrival of people triggered extinction of Australia’s megafauna, but fire had little or no role in the extinction of those animals, which was probably due primarily to hunting and (3) megafaunal extinction is likely to have caused a cascade of changes that included increased fire, but only in some environments. We do not yet understand what environmental factors controlled the strength and nature of cascading effects of megafaunal extinction. This is an important topic for future research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 49-58
Author(s):  
Sylwia Czachór

Generational differences in artistic representations of the experience of totalitarian past in the new Czech theatre. The article presents an analysis of a number of Czech performances from the years 2007–2013 on the topic of the communist era and reflecting on the changes that have occurred over the past 25 years. Selected directors belong to three generations of artists: the ones already creating in the 1960s, the ones debuting just before or just after the Velvet Revolution and the ones beginning their career in 2000. The comparison of performances produced within a short time clearly shows the differences, both aesthetic and ideological, in the method of recognizing similar issues by the authors growing up in a completely different socio-political conditions. Works of the oldest generation, using conventional theatrical means, reveal the strongest judgmental tendencies, the need to show the ambiguous choices in black and white colors. The average generation contend with the legend of past years, asking difficult questions about the impact of the past on the shape of collective identity. The youngest generation, however, intentionally emphasize that their knowledge about communism is mediated, which encourages them to analyze the history and memory of their families in search of their own roots.Generační rozdíly v uměleckém zobrazování zkušenosti totalitární minulosti v nejnovějším českém divadle. Příspěvek obsahuje analýzu několika českých představení z let 2007–2013, jejichž tématem se stalo období komunismu a reflexe nad proměnami posledních 25 let. Vybraní režiséři patří ke třem generacím umělců:  jedni inscenovali dlouho před rokem 1989, druzí debutovali krátce po sametové revoluci, zatímco třetí zahájili kariéru v roce 2000. Soubor představení vzniklých v malém časovém rozpětí výrazně ukazuje jak estetické, tak světonázorové rozdíly ve způsobu uchopení podobné tematiky autory, kteří vyrůstali ve zcela odlišných společensko-politických podmínkách. Díla nejstarší generace pomocí konvenčních divadelních prostředků projevují nejsilnější tendence posuzovat a odsuzovat, nutnost ukázat nejednoznačné volby v černo-bílých barvách. Střední generace se poměřuje s legendami mi­nulých dob, pokládá obtížné otázky po vlivu minulosti na podobu kolektivní identity. Nejmladší tvůrci pak vědomě zdůrazňují, že jejich znalost komunismu je zprostředkovaná, což je vede k analyzování historie a rodinné paměti při hledání vlastních kořenů.  


2006 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 218-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiawen Ren ◽  
Zhefan Jing ◽  
Jianchen Pu ◽  
Xiang Qin

AbstractGlacier variation is one of many indicators of climate change. Repeat measurements of the glacier terminus positions for selected glaciers in the central Himalaya document that they have been in a state of continuous retreat over the past few decades. Since the 1960s the average retreat rate on the north slope of Qomolangma (Mount Everest) is 5.5–9.5ma-1 and on Xixiabangma it is 4.0–5.2ma-1. Many glaciers on the south slope of the central Himalaya have been in retreat, and recently their retreat rate has accelerated. Ice-core studies show that the annual accumulation on these glaciers has fluctuated, but over the last century it has declined. It decreased rapidly in the 1960s and has remained consistently below the long-term mean thereafter. Meteorological station records indicate that the annual mean temperature in the region has slowly increased, particularly during the summer months. The strongest warming has occurred in the last 30 years. These data suggest that the current glacier retreat is due to the combined effect of reduced precipitation and warmer temperatures, and, if these conditions continue, the glaciers in the region will continue to shrink.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (S349) ◽  
pp. 445-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michèle Gerbaldi

AbstractThis paper discusses the main outcomes of the International School for Young Astronomers (ISYA), an IAU programme developed since 1967 under the auspices of Commission 46 Astronomy Education & Development, at present Commission C1. An assessment of the impact of the ISYA is given from various surveys and communications with the participants and organizers of the past ISYAs.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 685-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Fernández ◽  
A. Santana ◽  
E. Jaque ◽  
C. Martínez ◽  
R. Sáez

Abstract. The central-southern section of Chile is defined as one of the Latin American hot spots in the last IPCC Report due to the impact of glacier retreat on water resources, the transitional character of the climate, and its importance in terms of agricultural and forestry activities. In order to provide a better understanding of glacier behavior in this zone, this paper analyzes the volumetric changes of glaciers in the Sierra Velluda, located in the upper Bío Bío River Basin. Bibliographic sources, satellite images, and DEMs were used to estimate frontal, areal, and volumetric changes. An analysis of significance was performed in order to provide accurate estimations of the fluctuations. The results indicate that Sierra Velluda glaciers have suffered a significant reduction since the 1960s, despite some short periods of positive fluctuations. A maximum position of a glacier for the year 1828 was identified, which is in concordance with other proxies registered elsewhere in Chile. These changes agree with measurements of glacier fluctuation elsewhere in Chile. While short-term fluctuations are consistent with the inter-annual precipitation variability, lake levels records, and a warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the general shrinkage agrees with the shift of the ENSO (PDO) in 1976. Therefore, it is proposed that Sierra Velluda's glaciers are highly sensitive to high frequency climatic fluctuations and even to inter-annual variability. Considering that models project a reduction in Andean precipitation and an altitudinal increase in the 0 °C isotherm, these ice bodies are expected to continue to shrink.


2020 ◽  
pp. 76-82
Author(s):  
Serhiy Hrabovsky

The article is devoted to one of the most important problems of national self-affirmation of Ukrainians in the modern world - the problem of restoration / purification and completion of historical memory. The author shows that the Soviet and current Russian authorities created and constantly developed mechanisms for planting socio-historical mythology with the help of a powerful propaganda machine and repressive apparatus. This mythology replaced real historical memory, putting in its place false historical memory. This was especially true of the so-called "National republics" of the USSR, which were planted not only totalitarian but also colonial social mythology. This mythology is one of the effective tools of Russia's "hybrid war" against Ukraine and against all democracies in the post-Soviet space. The author outlines the development of theoretical ideas about historical (social) memory during the XX-XXI centuries. The article outlines the main conceptual models of such memory, which were created by Western researchers. A critical analysis of these concepts shows that they do not take into account the consequences of the totalitarian distortion of such memory and in fact equate the impact on historical memory carried out in modern democratic and totalitarian and neo-totalitarian societies. The author points out the need to distinguish between such influences and refers to those Ukrainian thinkers who in the 1960s and 1970s spoke about the specifics of totalitarian propaganda and political practice in the formation of false historical memory. The conclusion of the article is that it is necessary to displace the socio-historical mythology of classical totalitarianism and its latest Russian forms, deconstruction and destruction of the false historical memory created by all totalitarian regimes of the past and present. The question of effective methods and forms of building and rebuilding historical memory is worth discussing.


Author(s):  
Leslie M. Loew

A major application of potentiometric dyes has been the multisite optical recording of electrical activity in excitable systems. After being championed by L.B. Cohen and his colleagues for the past 20 years, the impact of this technology is rapidly being felt and is spreading to an increasing number of neuroscience laboratories. A second class of experiments involves using dyes to image membrane potential distributions in single cells by digital imaging microscopy - a major focus of this lab. These studies usually do not require the temporal resolution of multisite optical recording, being primarily focussed on slow cell biological processes, and therefore can achieve much higher spatial resolution. We have developed 2 methods for quantitative imaging of membrane potential. One method uses dual wavelength imaging of membrane-staining dyes and the other uses quantitative 3D imaging of a fluorescent lipophilic cation; the dyes used in each case were synthesized for this purpose in this laboratory.


GeroPsych ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 143-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elmar Gräßel ◽  
Raffaela Adabbo

The burden of caregivers has been intensively researched for the past 30 years and has resulted in a multitude of individual findings. This review illustrates the significance of the hypothetical construct of perceived burden for the further development and design of the homecare situation. Following explanations regarding the term informal caregiver, we derive the construct burden from its conceptual association with the transactional stress model of Lazarus and Folkman. Once the extent and characteristics of burden have been set forth, we then present the impact of perceived burden as the care situation. The question of predictors of burden will lead into the last section from which implications can be derived for homecare and relief of caregivers.


2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (136) ◽  
pp. 339-356
Author(s):  
Tobias Wölfle ◽  
Oliver Schöller

Under the term “Hilfe zur Arbeit” (aid for work) the federal law of social welfare subsumes all kinds of labour disciplining instruments. First, the paper shows the historical connection of welfare and labour disciplining mechanisms in the context of different periods within capitalist development. In a second step, against the background of historical experiences, we will analyse the trends of “Hilfe zur Arbeit” during the past two decades. It will be shown that by the rise of unemployment, the impact of labour disciplining aspects of “Hilfe zur Arbeit” has increased both on the federal and on the municipal level. For this reason the leverage of the liberal paradigm would take place even in the core of social rights.


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