New evidence that Thorang Phedi's glacier water absorbs carbon

An international study has found that many streams flowing from glaciers may be pulling carbon dioxide from the air instead of releasing it.

The study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature Water, covered 170 glacial streams worldwide, including a stream at Thorang Phedi in Nepal.

Researchers also found indications that carbon absorbed by the stream water may remain stored in the fine rock particles carried along by the same stream.

This gas, released when coal, petroleum and natural gas are burned, is warming the Earth as its levels rise. As temperatures climb, Nepal's glaciers have been shrinking, and the risk from glacial lakes has also grown.

The study was published at a time when countries around the world are working to reduce this gas in the atmosphere.