GLOBAL WARMING : NOT FROM THE NEWSPAPERS!

I’ve been visiting Khuvsugul lake, the «Blue Pearl of Mongolia», for over 6 years now and I am still charmed by its amazing wildness! The surrounding magnificent mountains fill you with a powerful peace. Not one visitor will ever forget the magic of this place!

But as we all know by now, Global Warming is affecting us all, also Mongolia and Khuvsgul.

Things have changed since I visited the lake for the first time in 2003. The most remarkable fact I observed is the constant increasing number of uprooted trees on the lake’s shoreline : many of them are blown down because permafrost melt weakens their roots.

Scientific studies show that permafrost layers have reduced from 1 to 2 meters in 40 years, more than 30%. This is the result of the increase of the average temperature which is about 2°C during the last 60 years in this area. In winter, the increase is even bigger: about 3°C during the December-January-February period.

This causes other problems : water holes appear now, that weren’t there before, mostly on the east coast around the two main islands. They’re created by the internal streams of Khuvsgul Lake, but due to the increase of water temperature as well as the thickness of ice layer that is reducing year after year. Some local fishermen may enjoy that! But for me it sounds like something wrong is happening here. Khuvsgul’s eco-system is in danger!

Khuvsgul is the most wooded area of Mongolia, but these forests are now threatened by a new phenomenon : spontaneous fires, which I have seen a lot on the east cost. First I was wondering why. Then I got the answer from some Mongolian scientists.

The permafrost melt is releasing water during the summer, and this water causes fermentation in the most dry lands, covered by peat. This chemical reaction releases a very flammable gas. As a result of that, just one little spark may trigger a terrible forest fire... Brown bears, reindeers, wolves, and other species need this woods to survive. How long will they stand the degradation of the eco-system?

We must act fast and let the entire world know about what is happening everywhere on the planet : the wildest areas are becoming endangered. I assure you, seeing it with your own eyes is much more impressive than reading about it in the newspapers!

I strongly hope Bert and Kiki can help me to pass this message : we need to be conscious that global warming is a reality, and we have to take decisions and act consequently.

Joel Rauzy