Venezuela has recently become the first country in modern history to lose all its glaciers, with the Humboldt glacier being reclassified as an ice field. This significant event highlights the rapid melting of glaciers worldwide, driven by climate change.
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The International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) has indeed reported that the Humboldt or La Corona Glacier in the Andes has become too small to be qualified as a glacier.
This reclassification is due to the glacier shrinking to less than two hectares, which falls below the commonly accepted threshold of10 hectares necessary for an ice mass to be considered a glacier.
Venezuela was once home to six glaciers, all situated at approximately 5,000 meters above sea level in the Andes Mountains.
By 2011, five of these glaciers had disappeared. Scientists initially predicted that the Humboldt Glacier would persist for another decade. However, it melted more rapidly than anticipated and has now reduced to less than 2 hectares.
Much like the Humboldt Glacier, other glaciers around the world are shrinking and disappearing faster than researchers anticipated.
WHAT ARE GLACIERS?
Glaciers are essentially large and thick masses of ice that are formed on land due to the accumulation of snow over centuries.
As per the United States Geological Survey (USGS), glaciers typically form in regions where the mean annual temperatures are close to the freezing point. In these areas, significant snowfall occurs during winter, and the temperatures for the rest of the year do not completely melt the previous winter’s snow accumulation.
Due to their sheer mass and gravity, glaciers tend to flow like very slow rivers.
Although there is no universal consensus on how large a mass of ice has to be to qualify as a glacier, the USGS says a commonly accepted guideline is around 10 hectares.
REASONS FOR MELTING OF GLACIERS
Global Warming:
The primary cause of glacier melting is global warming, driven by increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities like burning fossil fuels.
For instance, according to a 2023 studypublished in the journal Science, two-thirds of the world's glaciers are projected to melt out of existence by 2100 if current climate change trends continue.
El Niño Phenomenon and Regional Temperature Increases:
Specific regions, like the Andes, have experienced higher rates of temperature increase, contributing to accelerated glacier melting.
For instance, El Niño, an abnormal warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, leads to higher temperatures that accelerate glacier melting.
The 2023 El Niño event caused temperature anomalies of +3°C to +4°C above the 1991-2020 average in the Andean region of Venezuela, contributing to the rapid melting of the Humboldt glacier.
Loss of Albedo Effect:
The albedo effect refers to the reflectivity of a surface. Ice and snow have high albedo, meaning they reflect most sunlight. As glaciers melt, they expose darker surfaces that absorb more heat, further accelerating melting.
For instance, in Greenland, the ice sheet's reflectivity has decreased due to surface melting and increased soot deposition, leading to more heat absorption.
Black Carbon Deposition:
Black carbon, a component of soot, can settle on glaciers and ice fields, reducing their albedo and causing them to absorb more heat.
For instance, studies have shown that black carbon from fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning is deposited on glaciers in the Himalayas, contributing to their accelerated melting.
Atmospheric Changes:
Changes in atmospheric circulation patterns can lead to increased temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, impacting glacier mass balance.
For instance, researchers found that shifts in the jet stream have led to warmer temperatures in regions like the Alps, accelerating glacier retreat.
Local Human Activities:
Local activities such as deforestation, mining, and construction can contribute to regional warming and physical disruption of glaciers.
Deforestation in mountainous areas can reduce moisture levels and increase temperatures, leading to faster glacier melt. For instance, in the Peruvian Andes,mining activities have been linked to localized glacier retreat due to land disturbance and pollution.
Long-Term Climate Trends:
Historical climate variations also play a role. Periods of natural warming and cooling have been observed over millennia, but the current rate of change is unprecedented.
As per a 2021 IPCC report, the current rate of temperature increase is much higher than natural historical variations, primarily due to human activities.
IMPACTS OF GLACIER LOSS
Freshwater Availability:
Glaciers are vital sources of freshwater, particularly during dry periods, supporting drinking water, agriculture, and hydropower. For instance, in the Andes, glacier retreat is causing water shortages and affecting hydroelectric power generation, impacting millions in the Amazon basin (source: UNEP). Also, in India, the Himalayan glaciers support rivers like the Ganges and Brahmaputra, which are crucial for hundreds of millions of people.
Ecosystem Disruption:
Glacial melt water helps regulate downstream water temperatures, which is critical for many cold-water aquatic species. The loss of glaciers disrupts these ecosystems, threatening species that rely on cold water and affecting the entire food web.
Sea Level Rise:
Melting glaciers significantly contribute to global sea level rise. Greenland has lost over 1,000 gigatonnes of ice since 1985, significantly contributing to rising sea levels and posing risks to coastal communities global. In India, rising sea levels threaten densely populated coastal regions, including cities like Mumbai and Kolkata, increasing the risk of flooding and displacement. According to WWF, the Greenland ice sheet is currently disappearing four times faster than in 2003 and contributes 20% of current sea level rise. If all the ice on Greenland melted, it would raise global sea levels by 20 feet (WWF).
Climate Feedback Loops:
The reduction in glacier cover decreases the Earth's albedo effect, which reflects solar energy back into space. Less ice leads to more heat absorption, further accelerating global warming and ice melt in a feedback loop that exacerbates climate change.
Cultural and Economic Impacts:
In regions like Venezuela, glaciers are integral to local culture and tourism. Their loss disrupts traditional practices and economic activities. Similarly, in India, the Himalayas hold cultural and spiritual significance for local communities and pilgrims. The retreat of glaciers affects tourism, agriculture, and traditional ways of life.
Hydrological Changes:
The retreat of glaciers significantly affects the timing and quantity of water flow in rivers. In the Indian Himalayas, for instance, glacier melt is a critical factor for river basins that are fed by the monsoon. During the non-monsoon season, the melt water from glaciers helps maintain river flow, making these rivers perennial.
Global Climate Indicators:
The state of the world's glaciers is a critical indicator of climate change. Record losses in regions like the European Alps highlight the accelerating impacts of global warming.
Changes in Weather Patterns:
According to the WWF, the Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the Earth, with sea ice declining by over 10% every decade. Melting ice reveals darker ocean patches, reducing the cooling effect and increasing air temperatures. This disrupts ocean circulation and has been linked to the polar vortex appearing more frequently outside the Arctic, impacting Gulf of Maine fisheries and causing more destructive global storms and hurricanes.
WAY FORWARD:
Curbing Climate Change: The most critical step in addressing glacier melt is to tackle the root cause: climate change. This requires reducing global CO2 emissions. Key actions include transitioning to renewable energy (wind, solar, hydroelectric), implementing energy-efficient technologies in industries, promoting sustainable agriculture and forestry, and enhancing public transportation and electric vehicle use. International cooperation and full implementation of agreements like the Paris Agreement are essential.
Engineering Solutions: Innovative engineering solutions can help slow down glacier erosion and potentially restore some ice:
Building Dams: Propose constructing dams like the 100-meter-long one in front of Greenland's Jakobshavn glacier to stabilize it.
Artificial Icebergs: Create hexagonal ice blocks from desalinated water to form large ice masses, as suggested by the "Refreeze the Arctic" project.
Manufacturing More Ice: Use wind power to pump and spread ice from below glaciers to increase thickness, a method proposed by the University of Arizona.
Enhancing Albedo Effect
Local and Regional Measures
Monitoring and Research
Reducing Black Carbon Deposition: Implement stricter regulations on fossil fuel combustion and promote cleaner technologies to decrease soot on glaciers.
Protecting Snow Cover: Preserve snow cover through conservation efforts and controlled land use practices to maintain high albedo levels.
Forestation and Reforestation: Plant trees in mountainous regions to regulate local temperatures and moisture, slowing glacier retreat.
Sustainable Development Practices: Limit mining, construction, and deforestation in glacier-fed regions to minimize disruption and pollution.
Community Engagement: Educate and involve local communities in conservation efforts to enhance regional measures' effectiveness.
Satellite Monitoring: Use satellite technology to monitor glacier changes in real-time for timely interventions.
Climate Modeling: Advance climate models to predict future scenarios and develop proactive measures.
Interdisciplinary Research: Encourage research involving glaciologists, climatologists, engineers, and social scientists for holistic and innovative solutions.
PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q. Discuss the causes and impacts of glacier melting. What measures can be implemented to address this issue? (15 marks, 250 words)
