Study on impacts of global warming in Himalayan cryosphere

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1. Automatic observation systemsLong-term monitoring in the Khumbu region on the south slope of the Himalayas and in the Tanggula region on the north slope of the Himalayas has been continued. Important data concerning the effect of the recent global warming on the high Himalayas, where such observational data were very poor, have been obtained.2. Observations of glacier variationsGlaciers which were observed in 1970s were resurveyed, and distinct shrinkage was observed on the south slope of the Himalayas. In Hidden Valley, west Nepal, the terminus of Rikha Samba Glacier retreated about 200m in the recent 20 years ; in Shorong region, east Nepal, the thickness of Glacier AX010 decreased around 20m in the recent 17 years ; the lower part of Khumbu Glacier, east Nepal showed distinct decrease of the thickness. Acceleration of glacier melting due to the global warming has caused enlargement of glacier lakes and is increasing dangerousness of outburst flood disaster.3. Observations on process an mechanism of glacier variationRelations between glacier mass balance, heat balance and albedo, and effects of thick supra-glacial debris and ponds on glacier melting were studied by the methods of glaciological-meteorological-hydrological observations in the field, remote sensing from airplanes and satellite data analyzes. Important information on characteristic phenomena in the Himalayan cryosphere wree found such as acceleration effect on glacier melting due to lowering of albedo by bacteria and algae on the glacier surface, and new development of evaluation method for glacier melting under thick debris cover.4. OthersThe followings were carried our : sampling and analyzes for study on water and material cycle ; development of algorithm for satellite data ; analyzes of recent climatic change by the use of tree rings and snow core ; analyzes of recent glacier variations by the use of air photos and topographical maps.