Link To Article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/climate/glacier-collapse-avalanche.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld&action=click&contentCollection=world®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=3&pgtype=sectionfront New York Times JAN. 23, 2018 "Bigger, Faster Avalanches, Triggered by Climate Change" By Kendra Pierre-Louis This article was about massive glacier that collapsed in Tibet in 2016, then three months later a larger collapse happened in the same region. This short gap in between left the scientists baffled and unable to explain the cause until recently. Luckily not many people live near the collapse of the second one, but the first one took the lives of about nine humans and hundreds of animals. A glacier collapse on this scale has only happened a handful of times before, but never back to back in the same region. Both glaciers were so fatal because of how fast they were. They reached speeds of up to 186 MPH, and traveled as far as nine kilometers. Each of the glaciers moved enough snow and ice to fill one million freight car trains for 7,500 miles. There’s only one comparable glacier collapse that’s been recorded, it was in 2002, the collapse of the Kolka glacier in the Caucasus mountains. The Caucasus collapse was even more devastating, taking the lives of over a hundred humans and once again animals. The scariest aspect of this glacier collapse is how far it went, 19 kilometers at 189 MPH through a valley until it stopped. The reasons as to why this is happening have brought up many theories with some answers. But one that’s unconfirmed and is agreed upon is climate change in the area, specifically rising temperatures. The higher temperatures made the air hold more moisture than usual when it rained, the icey air usually doesn’t hold much moisture at all. Then when it snowed the glacier became even more overloaded and thick. The warm water from the rain dripped and streaked through to the center of the ice making it even more unstable, and it was only a matter of time until the ice broke. This glacier had even more odd characteristics, like its slope. There’s two types of glaciers, flat glaciers and steep glaciers or even both at once. A flat glacier collapses over a period of time and rapidly at all, and can be on a flatter surface like a plateau. A steep glacier is attached to a mountain and is more like a wall that the ice and snow is attached to, these can reach speeds of 250 MPH when this collapse. But the glacier in Tibet was the third option, a flat glacier with the speeds and brute force of a steep glacier. I think that this whole event is a real eye opener of how large of a problem climate change is. Climate change should be taken much more seriously than it currently is, whether it’s whole governments acknowledging, or citizens trying to help. If something on this large of a scale happened in a more urban climate, or even near a city there’s not a lot of warning that can happen. I will comment on Nia Asbills and Josephs blog posts.
7 Comments
Chloe Reeves
1/24/2018 04:37:00 pm
I have to agree with your opinion on the situation especially considering all the other abnormal weather patterns this past year. Abnormal amounts or even lack of rain fall in normally low or high precipitation areas have also been recorded. In several areas we have also recorded record highs and lows in normally comfortable areas. While considering large scale natural disasters like this 2017 was filled with a extraordinary amount of them. Leaves you to wonder just what exactly will happen in 2018.
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Cole Lampro
1/25/2018 04:51:35 pm
I really like all the facts you have to get a sense of scale. Also it is crazy how rapidly glaciers have been collapsing.
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1/25/2018 06:46:50 pm
What do you think will be some of the possible repercussions of climate change in the next century? Also, I think you did a really good job of explaining the different types of glaciers, and the effects that they have.
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Simon Howard
1/25/2018 08:00:18 pm
I agree the climate change is a serious issue. It was really surprising to see how much it already affect us and how dangerous it can be.
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1/25/2018 08:49:05 pm
This article really explained how climate change has been changing our world and will only continue to change it. Has there been any possible solutions to resolve this disaster?
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Caleb Crozier
1/26/2018 11:28:01 am
I think it's crazy that such a large mass can be moved so quickly. My question is do you think that there is a correlation with earthquakes and these big glacial break offs?
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Sofia Mertz
1/30/2018 11:29:52 am
How can someone not believe in climate change when something like this happens? This is clearly a direct result of rising temperatures, so I find it a bit baffling that there are still people that call climate change a myth.
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