Jin Zizhen, 27, a PhD student of glacial hydrology, and Qin Xiang, the director of the Qilian Shan Station of Glaciology and Ecologic Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences walk towards the Laohugou No. 12 glacier in the Qilian mountains, Subei Mongol Autonomous County in Gansu province, China September 26, 2020. The 20-square kilometre glacier is criss-crossed by rivulets of water down its craggy, grit-blown surface. It has shrunk by about 7% since measurements began, with melting accelerating at a record pace in recent years, scientists say. Equally alarming is the loss of thickness, with about 13 metres (42 feet) of ice disappearing as temperatures rise, said Qin. "The speed that this glacier has been shrinking is really shocking." REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH "RAWLINS GLACIER" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.
Chinese glaciers melting at ‘shocking’ pace, scientists say
Glaciers in China’s bleak Qilian mountains are disappearing at a shocking rate as global warming brings unpredictable change and raises the prospect of crippling, long-term water shortages, scientists say. Read more
