READ MORE:* Tasman Glacier retreat accelerating, according to scientists and observers* Global warming is shrinking glaciers faster than thought* Melting glacier in China draws millions of tourists, climate worries* Our barren Alps: Aerial survey shows snow loss 'incredibly extreme'* When the world's glaciers shrunk, New Zealand's grew bigger* Quick retreat of New Zealand's glaciers an issue for tourismThat flight was to be his last bird's-eye view of New Zealand's glaciers. In the four decades since the first survey, New Zealand's glaciers have lost a third of their ice. THE HUMAN FACTORAs with anything affected by climate change, the future of New Zealand's glaciers will depend on how quickly and effectively we act to start curbing emissions in the next few years. Few people have studied the microbiomes of alpine glaciers, Styllas says, but these microscopic habitats seed conditions for the rest of the alpine environment. But in New Zealand, glaciers don't contribute much meltwater to rivers, says Niwa hydrologist Daniel Collins.

Source: Stuff October 01, 2019 00:56 UTC