With global warming becoming a hot topic both in the scientific and political communities, many discussions arise concerning glaciers variation, esp. the possible disappearance of some tropical glaciers. Progresses made in the study of Himalayan glaciers have recently been highlighted in Nature report/ climate change.
"The remote glaciers of the Himalayan mountains have been the subject of much controversy, yet little research." The report thus goes, also confirming the necessity and significance to focus on the environmental study within the Third pole region.
For more detail, please read further at: http://www.nature.com/climate/2010/1003/full/climate.2010.19.html.