Everest Could Lose Its Glaciers By Century’s End

Researchers at Nepal’s International Center for Integrated Mountain Development say that the famous Mount Everest may lose 99 percent of its glaciers by the end of the century, according to the New York Times. The scientists base the claim on climate models they developed in their lab.

The models incorporate data on temperatures, precipitation and glacier melt, as well as observations collected through fieldwork and remote-sensing technologies. Together, the data sets reveal a high likelihood that Everest will have no glaciers by 2100. There is a 70 percent chance, researchers say, that Everest will lose all its glaciers if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced moderately. But if the emissions levels continue as they have, they predict that chance will increase to nearly 100 percent.

Results of the work are not good for Nepal, as many of its citizens see the glaciers and Mount Everest as culturally important. However, scientists say fewer glaciers would probably make climbing the mountain safer for tourists.