Global warming has resulted in glaciers melting fast at the Mount Qomolangma area of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, threatening the balance of global water resources.

A team of Chinese scientists has been carrying out comprehensive research on Mount Qomolangma. They have spotted evidence of the glaciers' shrinkage in the world's highest area.

The melting area of Dongyongbu glacier rises to 6,400 meters this year, about 50 meters higher than the figure two years ago, said Kang Shichang, head of the scientific expedition. "This indicates a drastic change of glaciers. Usually, the melting area only grows by less than ten meters each year."

Glaciers maintain a balance between ice accumulation and melting. Growing melting area means less fresh water reserves for the world in the future.

Scientists also elaborated on other evidence of the shrinkage.

The expedition team in 2002 observed a 30-meter ice cliff at an altitude of 5,600 meters, but they could not find it this year.

The expedition team in 2004 set more than 20 poles for scientific purposes at altitudes from 6,300 to 6,500 meters, but they only can find four left this year, showing the melting glaciers have taken them away.

Scientists attributed the glaciers' shrinkage to global warming,and said the effects of snowfall changes or human activities could almost be ignored in such natural changes.

Glaciers are critical to the world's water resources. If they all melted, the global sea level would grow by about 60 meters, according to scientists.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2005)