Nepal glacier saw exceptional heat before collapse caused deadly floods: Researcher

The mountain section whose collapse triggered fatal floods in Nepal and China on Aug. 26 had experienced unprecedented heat for the time of year, meteorological data analyzed by a researcher show.

Average temperatures on the mountain glacier at an altitude of 5,200 meters (17,060 feet) were estimated at around 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit) between Aug. 21 and 26.

This is exceptionally high.

They had not exceeded 4.0C (39.2°F) over the same period in more than 55 years of data recording, although no direct link to the collapse has so far been established.

This series of highly localized temperatures was reconstructed by Robert Rohde, chief scientist at the independent Berkeley Earth organization in California.

At the site of the collapse, the average temperature recorded over that six-day period has risen by about 1.8C since the mid-20th century.

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