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Himalayan Glaciers Are Melting at Furious Rate

Posted on December 23, 2021 by admin1  1293

Context 

  • Glaciers in the Himalayas are melting at an “extraordinary ” rate according to new research.

About research

  • The research published in the journal Scientific Reports found that mass ice loss from nearly 15,000 ice sheets in the Himalayas is rapid compared with other parts of the world.
  • The vast ice sheets shrank 10 times faster in the past 40 years than during the previous seven centuries.
  • Himalayan glaciers have lost about 40% of their area in the last several hundred years, or an estimated 390 to 586 cubic kilometres of ice — enough to raise global sea levels 0.92 to 1.38 millimetres.

Major causes 

  • There is scientific consensus that ice loss from glaciers and polar ice sheets results from rising global temperatures caused by greenhouse-gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.
    • Many peer-reviewed scientific studies have identified human activity as a cause of rising global temperatures.
    • United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  report issued in August 2021 also highlighted that human influence is very likely the main driver of the global retreat of glaciers since the 1990s.
  • The regional climate factors, such as shifts in the South Asian monsoon, may play a role.

Impacts 

  • The Himalayan mountains are also referred to as the third pole because they hold the world’s third-largest amount of glacier ice, following Antarctica and the Arctic. 
  • The ice melt threatens agriculture and water supply for millions of people in South Asia and will contribute to rising sea levels that threaten coastal communities across the world.
  • It also adds to the threat of inundation and related problems faced by coastal communities around the world.
  • In addition to floods, rising sea levels can cause soil erosion and jeopardize the structural integrity of roads and bridges as well as power plants and other critically important industrial facilities located in coastal areas. 
  • As the glaciers continue to shrink, the availability of water for irrigation and drinking water could drop steeply.

Way Forward 

  • We must act urgently to reduce and mitigate the impact of human-made climate change on the glaciers.

About the Himalayas

  • Meaning: The word Himalaya comes from two Sanskrit words: Him (snow) and Aalay (abode). 
  • Geographical coverage and composition: The Himalayas are home to the world’s largest mountains, including the highest peak – Mount Everest, standing at an incredible 8,848m tall. 
  • This incredible mountain range is a result of tectonic plate movement that collided India into Tibet and stretches for 2,400km in length between the Indus and the Brahmaputra river systems.
  • The Himalayas, passing through India, Pakistan, Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal.
  • There are the Outer Himalayas, the Lower Himalayas, the Tibetan Himalayas, the Trans-Himalayas and the Great Himalayas.
  • Diverse Ecosystem
    • The beauty of the Himalaya, which is one of the youngest chains of mountains in the world harbouring a diverse ecosystem, lies in its intriguing complexity.
    •  The region is among the 36 world biodiversity hotspots.
    • They are home to the highest mountains, deepest gorges and the greatest biodiversity on the planet including the majestic snow leopard.
    • The Himalaya is characterized by a complex geologic structure, snow-capped peaks, large valley glaciers, deep river gorges and rich vegetation. 

Importance of Himalayas

  • Strategic position: The Himalayan ecosystem is vital to the ecological security of the Indian landmass and occupies the strategic position of the entire northern boundary (NorthWest to North-East) of the country. 
  •  A reliable source of clean energy: The immense hydropower potential of the Himalayas could make it a reliable source of clean energy thus reducing carbon emissions.
  • Maintaining whether: These mountain ranges guard our country against the cold and dry winds coming from Central Asia the absence of these mountains, India would have been a dry desert.
    • They also cause most of the rainfall in northern India by acting as a barrier to the monsoon winds.
  • Source of water and Forest: These mountains are the source for 10 major river systems in Asia, a lifeline for almost half of humanity.
    • This is important not only for Himalayan states but for the future of all North Indian states dependent on rivers originating from there.
    • Local communities are dependent on forests for their agriculture and basic needs.
  • Cultural Importance: From the story of Lord Shiva and Parvati to Bhagavad Gita and almost all Indian cultural and traditional books, there is mention of the importance of the Himalayas.

Several challenges and Concern

  • The major challenges facing the Himalayas are increasing population, rampant urbanisation, unchecked deforestation, melting of glaciers, construction of roads, the establishment of hydroelectric projects, etc.
  • Unscientific disposal of plastic and other human activities were harming the Himalayas 
  • Frequent natural calamities are a result of our carelessness towards nature
  • Demographic shifts, weak institutional capacity, poor infrastructure, and a paucity of adequate information on mountain-specific climate change pose challenges to capacity-building in the region.

Steps were taken

  • National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem– It aims to understand scientifically the complex processes affecting this ecosystem and evolve suitable management and policy measures for sustaining and safeguarding the Himalayan ecosystem including Himalayan glaciers.
  • SECURE Himalaya project- SECURE Himalayas project is spread over 6 years. The objective of the project is to secure people’s livelihood, restore, conserve and use sustainably the high range ecosystems of the Himalayas.
    • The key focus of the project is on improving the enforcement to ensure the reduction in wildlife crime, protection of snow leopard and other endangered species and ensuring a secure livelihood to the people in the region.
  • Collection of records: The records helps scientists develop more accurate forecasts of glacial change and sea-level rise in coming decades.

Source: WSJ

 
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