Risks of glacier melting – An icy warning

Source: The post risks of glacier melting has been created on the article “An icy warning” published in “The Hindu” on 9th December 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper 1 – Geography – Changes in critical geographical features

News: The article discusses the findings of the World Meteorological Organization’s report titled “The Global Climate 2011-2020: A Decade of Accelerating Climate Change.” It primarily highlights the state of glacier health.

What are the key highlights of the WMO report “The Global Climate 2011-2020”?

1. The significant thinning of the world’s glaciers, averaging about a meter per year from 2011 to 2020.
2. The volume of glaciers is forecast to decline anywhere from 55% to 75% by the end of the century.
3. Greenland and Antarctica lost 38% more ice from 2011 to 2020 compared to the 2001-2010 period.
4. During the summer melt season, Arctic Sea ice decreased, reaching a mean minimum extent 30% lower than the 1981-2010 average.
5. The rapid glacier melting will lead to their disappearance. For instance, glaciers on the Rwenzori Mountains and Mount Kenya in Africa are projected to vanish by 2030, and those on Kilimanjaro by 2040.

For more information key highlights of WMO report read here

For information on WMO read here

What are the risks of glaciers melting?

a) Glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are a major risk, as seen in the Uttarakhand floods in 2013, which were caused by glacial melt.
b)The destruction of infrastructure due to flooding from melting glaciers, like the collapse of the Chungthang dam in Sikkim.
c) The rapid decline in glacier volume may lead to a decrease in freshwater supply in the future, impacting regions by 2050.
d) Additionally, the disappearance of glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayas was reported to be 65% faster in the 2010s than in the previous decade, emphasizing the accelerating pace of glacier melt.

What should be done?

a) Enhance the monitoring of glacier health, as the rapid thinning of glaciers globally indicates a critical need for detailed observation,
b) Develop and implement early warning systems specifically for glacier lake outburst floods (GLOFs), to prevent disasters,
c) Conduct comprehensive risk assessments in regions affected by glacier melting to understand and mitigate risks better,
d) Prioritize the development of resilient infrastructure in vulnerable areas, keeping in mind the potential for increased flooding and other glacier-related hazards,
e) Raise the threat level of glacier-related risks to that of other significant natural disasters such as cyclones and earthquakes. This action will guarantee the implementation of sufficient response and preparedness measures.

Question for practice:

Discuss the impact of glacier melting, as indicated by the World Meteorological Organization’s report “The Global Climate 2011-2020.”