Glaciers are experiencing unprecedented shrinkage. Over the past three years, the world has noted its highest recorded glacier mass loss. This indicates that glaciers are losing more ice annually than they are able to replenish through snowfall.
Scientists monitor glacier health by evaluating snowfall amounts, ice loss, and tracking changes in glacier thickness and length.
Rising global temperatures are the primary drivers behind the accelerated melting of glaciers, especially in elevated regions. Warmer air retains more heat, which hastens the melting process.
Black carbon particles, resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels, wood, and agricultural waste, settle on snow. This layer diminishes snow's ability to reflect sunlight, leading to increased heat absorption and faster melting.
Permafrost refers to frozen soil that has remained solid for millennia. Its thawing is largely a consequence of rising temperatures.
Thawing permafrost releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, which exacerbates global warming. Additionally, this process compromises land stability, resulting in landslides and infrastructure damage in mountainous regions.
There is a notable decline in snow cover across nearly all mountain regions, particularly in spring and summer. A recent study revealed a decrease in global snow cover by nearly 8% from 1979 to 2022.
Snow serves as a crucial water reservoir for rivers and streams. If snow melts prematurely or is insufficient, it adversely impacts water availability downstream.
Snowfall patterns are becoming erratic, occurring later in the season and in shorter bursts, often at higher altitudes. In some regions, warmer air leads to rain instead of snow, thereby shortening the snowfall season.
Approximately two billion people rely on mountain water for drinking, irrigation, and electricity. Rapid glacier melt and reduced snow cover result in diminished river water, leading to water shortages, crop failures, and power outages.
The melting glaciers and thawing permafrost increase the likelihood of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), sudden floods that can devastate communities downstream.
As glaciers melt, they contribute freshwater to oceans, accelerating sea-level rise since 2006 and posing threats to low-lying coastal regions.
Q1. Which glaciers are shrinking the most?
Answer: Most glaciers are shrinking, but those in the Alps, Himalayas, and parts of North and South America are losing ice at an alarming rate.
Q2. Can melting glaciers be reversed?
Answer: Reversing glacier melting is challenging and requires global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
Q3. What is the link between black carbon and glaciers?
Answer: Black carbon settles on snow, darkening its surface and increasing sunlight absorption, leading to accelerated melting.
Q4. What is a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)?
Answer: A GLOF is a sudden flood caused when water stored in a glacial lake breaches its dam, whether ice or rock, typically due to melting or other triggers.
Q5. Why is permafrost thawing dangerous?
Answer: Thawing permafrost releases harmful gases, destabilizes land, and increases risks of natural disasters like landslides and structural failures.
Question 1: What is the primary cause of accelerated glacier melting?
A) Increased snowfall
B) Rising global temperatures
C) Increased glacial area
D) Urban development
Correct Answer: B
Question 2: What is the effect of black carbon on glaciers?
A) Increases reflectivity
B) Enhances snowfall
C) Accelerates melting
D) Stabilizes ice
Correct Answer: C
Question 3: What significant gases are released due to permafrost thawing?
A) Oxygen and nitrogen
B) Carbon dioxide and methane
C) Hydrogen and sulfur
D) Helium and ozone
Correct Answer: B
Question 4: How much did global snow cover decrease from 1979 to 2022?
A) 3%
B) 5%
C) 8%
D) 10%
Correct Answer: C
Question 5: What does GLOF stand for?
A) Glacial Lake Overflow Flood
B) Glacial Lake Outburst Flood
C) Groundwater Lake Outburst Flood
D) Global Lake Outburst Flood
Correct Answer: B
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