Dust from Thar Desert significantly impacts glaciers on Tibetan Plateau: Study
The Thar desert dust, lifted by updrafts from northwest India, was subsequently transported by westerlies, exerting a significant influence on the southern glaciers of the Tibetan Plateau, they said. Tibetan plateau NEW DELHI: Glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau are greatly affected by dust from the Thar Desert in India due to the influence of terrain and westerly winds, according to a study. Dust deposited on a glacier’s surface can reduce the albedo — fraction of light that is reflected by a surface — of the ice and increase absorption of solar radiation, which has a significant impact on glacier melting and global climate change. Accurately identifying the source of glacial dust on the Tibetan Plateau is critical for comprehending dynamics of glacial environment and reconstructing regional atmospheric environment, the researchers said. The study, published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research, determined dust sources for the three glaciers on the Tibetan Platea...