Informant38

BBC Science/Nature� Kazakhstan's glaciers 'melting fast':
"The scientists, led by Dr Stephan Harrison of the University of Oxford, reported their findings at the annual conference in London of the UK's Royal Geographical Society and Institute of British Geographers.
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Dr Harrison said: 'The effects of global warming on glaciers are not just of interest to scientists, as glacial retreat has profound political, economic and social repercussions.'
He told BBC News Online: 'I think we can be certain the reason why the Tien Shan glaciers are melting is climate change.
'We have the climate records themselves, which go back to early last century. Sceptics often argue that records of this sort are contaminated by the proximity of urban centres.
'But these records are from glaciers 3,000 m (9,800 feet) up, nowhere near any towns or cities.
'They're confirmed by the evidence from tree rings, which preserve a record of climate conditions as they grow, and by the meteorological records.
'Taking all three together, I think we have to say that climate is affecting the glaciers.'"