Hindu Editorial Analysis : 12-December-2023
The World Meteorological Organization’s Global Climate 2011-2020 report sheds light on the alarming threats posed by the dwindling glaciers around the world. This essay explores the significance of glaciers, reasons behind their melting, and the implications of their decline, with a specific focus on the Himalayas.
1. Glaciers and their Formation:
- Glaciers, composed of ice ranging from several hundred to several thousand years old, form in areas with extremely low temperatures, including high-altitude regions like mountain tops.
- Approximately 10% of Earth’s land area is covered by glacial ice, with 90% in Antarctica and the remaining 10% in the Greenland ice cap.
2. Importance of Glaciers:
- Acting as a protective cover, glaciers reflect excess heat back into space, helping to regulate the Earth’s temperature.
- They serve as a scientific record, offering insights into historical climate changes and indicating the rapid warming of the planet.
3. Melting of Glaciers:
- Human activities, particularly since the industrial revolution, have led to the accelerated melting of glaciers worldwide.
- Greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, contribute to rising temperatures, causing glaciers to melt, calve off into the sea, and retreat on land.
4. Outcomes of Melting Glaciers:
- Rapid glacial melt in Antarctica and Greenland affects ocean currents, slowing them down and causing sea levels to rise.
- Scientists predict that the Arctic could be ice-free in the summer by 2040 if emissions continue unchecked.
5. Global Climate 2011-2020 Report Highlights:
- The report reveals that, on average, glaciers worldwide thinned by approximately one meter per year from 2011 to 2020.
- Regional variability exists, but the overall trend indicates a reduction in glacier size across the globe.
- Reference glaciers used for long-term assessments have already vanished, contributing to adverse events such as glacier lake outburst floods (GLOF).
6. Melting of Himalayan Glaciers:
- Himalayan glaciers, often referred to as the third pole, are crucial for millions downstream who rely on these glaciers for water needs.
- A report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development notes a 65% faster disappearance of Himalayan glaciers in the 2010s compared to the previous decade.
- Without early warning systems, the likelihood of GLOF events poses a serious threat.
Why In News
In the World Meteorological Organization’s report, the Global Climate 2011-2020, which highlighted the threats from contracting glaciers, it is imperative that we prioritize sustainable measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change and preserve our planet for future generations.
MCQs about Threatened Glaciers:Unveiling the Global Consequences of Melting Ice
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What is the primary reason for the rapid melting of glaciers since the early 1900s?
A. Natural climate variability
B. Human activities, including industrialization
C. Changes in solar radiation
D. Geological processes
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According to the Global Climate 2011-2020 report, what is the average annual thinning rate of glaciers during the mentioned period?
A. 0.5 meters
B. 1 meter
C. 1.5 meters
D. 2 meters
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Why are Himalayan glaciers often referred to as the “third pole”?
A. They have a similar climate to the North Pole.
B. They hold the third-largest amount of glacier ice in the world.
C. They are the highest mountains on Earth.
D. They are covered in polar ice caps.
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