Cataclysmic Glacier Melt Down

Two sections of people are inimitable for their responses to the changes in environment. The first group contains resolute environmentalists, perturbed by deviations in the climate and environment. While the other section simply override thoughts of the impending calamities of global warming and abuse of environment. But this indifferent attitude needs to be shunned as studies published in reputed International journals Geophysical Research Letters and Science recently had warned about imminent collapse of glaciers. Study revealed that the grounding line of Pine Island glacier and Thwaites Glacier retreated over 31km and 14km respectively during the period of 1992 to 2012. As the grounding line starts shrinking it become exposed to sea water wherein glacier melting is accelerated. Also the ice at the farther end starts pushing more quickly resulting in thinning of glacier. At least 6 glaciers that hold ice having capacity to increase the sea level by 4-13 ft have started melting consistently every year at significant rates. Computer modelling of the Thwaites Glacier, an early-collapsing glacier in West Antarctica indicated that changes have become irreversible or reached a point of no return. If the thawing of the glacier picks up speed, it has potential to increase the sea level by 1mm every year. Although it is a long drawn process but their eventual collapse is unstoppable.

As the leviathan glaciers of west Antarctica have started melting it would trigger a chain reaction. As opposed to popular belief, glacier melting is not triggered by general temperature rise. But the collapse is accelerated by strong winds pulling warm waters from oceans resulting in melting of the thick ice sheets from below. Global warming primarily contributed to strengthening of winds and the effect is magnified by holes in Ozone layer over Antarctica. Hence glacier thinning is linked to climate change and emissions in the years to come might pave way for a rapid collapse of these glaciers. If the humongous ice sheets were to be melt the sea level would rise by 4-13 feet submerging most of the countries along the coasts.

The recent trail of disastrous avalanches on the Himalayan terrain is the fall out of glacier melting. The deadly disaster claimed lives of 16 mountaineers last month following which the annual expedition to Mt. Everest has been suspended by Nepal. The annual terrain exploration expedition generated revenue worth $ 3.4 million to the impoverished nation in lieu of permit fees. Mountain glaciers account to 1% of frozen ice and have potential to increase sea level by 1-2 ft. These glaciers are located in regions where ambient temperatures are higher. So they tend to melt away faster than its counterparts at poles. Raising global temperatures have reduced Nepal’s glaciers by a quarter. Glacier melt down more often results in numerous flash floods, avalanches and landslides effecting lives of millions of mountain dwellers and people living in the low lying remote villages. Himalayan glaciers are life line of major Asiatic rivers and over a billion people living along these river basins. Raising temperatures especially in this part of the world have increased the frequency of flash floods. The most horrendous devastation that ravaged Uttarakhand killing over 5700 people last year has been caused by the meltdown of a glacier Chorabari at 3800 ft and subsequent eruption of Mandakini River. Often the melt down accumulates as lake at the base of the glaciers and sudden breakdown of the basins inundates the downstream villages. Although the meltdown of glaciers may initially increase the rundown of the rivers but if they melt fast, their effects would be perilous to the entire region.

Satellite images from the NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and IceSat indicated that glaciers are melting away releasing 260 billion metric tons of water every year. The members of the Dark Snow Project reported an increase in Arctic melt down in Greenland. It has 10% of World’s ice and can cause an increase in sea level by 23 ft. Meltdown has increased partly due to the increase in temperature, black carbon soot deposited by forest fires and industrial pollution. Albedo or the ability to reflect sun’s rays into space has decreased as the ice was blackened due to the deposition of black soot from forest fires. Further the warm waters flowing around the glaciers are enhancing melting. A complete melt down of all glaciers would increase sea level by 215 ft. Scientists fear that glacier melting is an irreversible process.

Research indicates that by the year 2100, glaciers might increase of sea level by 30-40 cm drastically affecting lives of 100 million people who live within a meter of sea level. Glacier water acts as thermal regulator by controlling the water temperatures, aquatic life and snow cover. These water supplies have a direct impact on agriculture, its allied activities and power generation. Glacier melt down might result in flooding in wet season and dry drought in the summers. Global warming has resulted in disappearance of most of the glaciers in British Columbia of West Canada as well.

Glaciers are rivers of ice frozen from snow in the colder regions. The snow freezes into granular, frozen ice called firn. This hardens further to form glaciers which move around the sides of mountains. Antarctica has the largest existing frozen ice mass. East Antarctica is colder and higher and doesn’t melt. Increased global warming has also led to an increase in snowfall thus containing the melting losses. But the ice in West Antarctica, has started showing signs of rapid melting. Scientists believe that as long as the emissions of heat trapping Carbon dioxide increases melting would continue.

Increased emissions of gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide are changing the atmospheric flux. During early 1970’s when the effects of global warming have been enunciated people were sceptical about its impact even. Only few were worried about the carbon foot print. But as the vicious effects of global warming have become more imminent, governments and corporations are vouching for stringent environmental conservation laws. The momentum is picking up but a lot needs to be done to avert the catastrophic effects of glacier meltdown.

 

 

 

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