Meltdown: In the Shadow of Nepal’s Lost Glaciers

Synopsis: In 1986 a small glacial lake in the Khumbu region of Nepal burst its banks washing away a hydro-electric power station, many bridges and many lives. This was just a taste of what is to come. There are much bigger lakes now and before long they will burst their banks too. This film follows a UN-led expedition to look at the escalating glacial melt that is starting to consume Nepal’s high mountains. Like the polar regions, mountain ranges provide the first indicators of global warming, and in the Himalaya temperatures are starting to skyrocket. The implications are extreme. Huge lakes are forming behind moraine dams, dams which could burst at any time. The film ventures into the region to look at evidence of recent floods and to visit a dammed lake the experts believe might soon release 30 million tons of water onto the 7000 Nepalis who live below it. The film includes interviews with a leading Buddhist monk, a Nepali environmentalist, local witnesses to disasters, a UN official, and glaciologists and global warming experts. Contributors inlude: Mark New, Roger Payne, Ian McNaught-Davis, Julie-Ann Clyma, Nic Nuttal, Biso Bajracharya, Chris Clarke. (52 minutes)
Language: English
Country: United States
Year of release: 2007
Year of production: 2004
Notes: Unlimited access to the programme for 30 days after download payment
Subjects: Environmental science; Geography
Keywords: glaciers; global warming; Nepal; physical geography

URI: http://www.firstscience.com/home/firstscience.tv/meltdown-in-the-shadow-of-nepal-s-lost-glaciers_19.html
Price: £1.00
Delivery: Streamed/Download

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