In the front page of The Borneo Post today was an article of the current heat wave in Sabah. The weather has been extraordinarily hot over the last couple of days. Even with the air-conditioner running in the office, I've been sweating profusely, though I'm not sweating my tits off yet at this stage.
Yesterday, during the weekly Rotarian meeting, Rtn Toshinori gave an interesting talk about his work in Mongolia. Toshi is an Environment Conservation Specialist who spends a lot of his time in the jungles of Sabah, but also in Mongolia.
Yesterday, during the weekly Rotarian meeting, Rtn Toshinori gave an interesting talk about his work in Mongolia. Toshi is an Environment Conservation Specialist who spends a lot of his time in the jungles of Sabah, but also in Mongolia.
The above is a map showing the location of Mongolia. Note the neighbouring China, Kazahstan and Russia. In the middle is the mountain range which used to contain many glaciers. These glaciers are the main source of water for this reqion.
A beautiful shot of the Bolonin Glacier in Altai Mountain Range at an estimated depth of 200 metres in 2002, but has been decreasing rapidly to an estimated 50 metres in 2007. Because of global warming, a difference of only 1.5 degrees centigrade over the recent years, it has been estimated that there will be no more glaciers in this region by the year 2035. That is not exactly a very long time from now. Essentially, what it means is that by the year 2035, an approximate 1 billion people in this region will have problem with water for their livelihood.
These are some of the people who inhabit the area—very simple folks who have continued the traditional way of life, hunting animals with their well-trained Golden Eagles. Living in an environment of frequent below-freezing point, they welcome the increasing temperature, not knowing that the entire area will be dry in less than 30 years' time.
The Ongii River, flowing from the Hangai Range to the Gobi Desert which was frequently flooded during the springs and summers up till 1995. It was the source of water for the people and wildlife.
Ongii River in 2000. No more water for the people and wildlife due to uncontrolled gold-mining and climate change. Below are some of the attempts to squeeze some water out of the clouds in the sky above the Gobi Desert.
Think about it—the year 2035. We probably won't have to worry too much about the war against Skynet, the super computer. The water problem is good enough to wipe out 1 billion people. Toshi opines that we have not done enough to reverse the trend; and all the glaciers will melt and dry out in the end.
Scary, huh?
2 comments:
Hahaha thanks for the link! It's good to note that it's not too hot today though. Nice to know clouds are still around!
Yeah, Shan, I'm still trying to visualise sweating my tits off in my mind. And what I see in my mind isn't pretty at all!
This kind of weather is not very kind to those who're preparing for the marathon in October. I hope it will start raining again soon. A couple of days ago, I went to the Likas jogging track, intending to run a moderate 15km. But I could only do 10km, and it felt like 20km. The air was still hot at 7pm. Lungs felt like burning! And I drank twice the amount of water I usually consume. If we get this kind of temperature in October, I would faint long before the end of that 42km distance.
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