Mera Glaciers Stakes Located

Aug 26th, 2009

Since the weather improved slightly, we left early to reach Mera Glacier hoping to find at least a few of the stakes that were put in place by scientists last year. After hiking for a couple of hours we reached the front of the glacier. Using the handheld GPS, we identified locations of a few stakes. We noted the reference number of the stakes and took measurements of the emerging heights. We also calculated the thickness of the snow on top of the glacier at the stake location. Some of the stakes appeared to be in the exact same position as last year. Other have moved (in some cases over 100 meters). After completing our field work, photos and video recording we returned to camp which is located lower in the valley. We will be reporting all the gathered information to our scientific partners.

Monsoon Fury

August, 25th 2009

After much delay caused by the fury of an exceptional monsoon, our approach of the Mera Glacier has been slow. We finally made it to Kahre, the last camp before reaching the Mera glacier, where we expect to do some of our field work. The morale of the team is relatively high despite the very poor weather conditions and reduced visibility. We will follow up tomorrow. With a little luck we will have reachd the Glacier.


http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/detail.php?article_id=23138&cat_id=7

Ocean Temperatures Are Highest on Record

National Briefing | Environment
Ocean Temperatures Are Highest on Record
By CORNELIA DEAN
Published: August 14, 2009


Average temperatures of waters at the oceans’ surface in July were the highest ever recorded, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. The agency said the average sea surface temperature was 1.06 degrees higher than the 20th-century average of 61.5 degrees. Though July was unusually cool in some areas, like the eastern United States, analysts at the NOAA Climate Data Center said the combined global land and ocean surface temperature was 1.03 degrees higher than the 20th-century average of 60.4 degrees, the fifth warmest since worldwide record keeping began in 1880. The agency also said that, on average, Arctic sea ice covered 3.4 million square miles in July, 12.7 percent below the 1979-2000 average and the third lowest on record, after 2007 and 2006.

Himalayan Expedition to Record Climate Change Effects

Geneva, 14 August -- In partnership with Green Cross International, the “Pax Arctica —Himalayas Expedition 2009” will help record changes in the Himalayan glaciers that feed seven of Asia's greatest rivers. The Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra, Salween, Mekong, Yangtze and Huange supply water to about 40 per cent of the world’s population...

Please go to this link for more info and download the Press Release:
PR-Nepal-f-1%2012-09-50.pdf