The melting of glaciers due to climate change has serious implications for the ecosystem and human society. Discuss the effects of melting glaciers on the environment and the measures that can be taken to address this issue.
Introduction
According to IPCC 6th Assessment report, glaciers melting over poles and Himalaya-Hindukush region is one of the tipping point for global climate change.
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Main Body
Effects of melting glacier on environment:
2. Rise in river level over short term & drying of rivers over long-term.
4. Impact on local biodiversity [E.g] Loss of snow leopard habitat in Himalayas.
Disaster like Glacial lake outburst flood - [E.g] Kedarnath floods (2013)
Measures to address:
Short-term:
1. Limiting tourism and carbon emission over sensitive region.
2. Afforestation activity on high reaches of Himalayas
Long-term:
1. To tackle global warming by adhering to Paris agreement.
2. Creation of artificial glacier [E.g] Ice Stupas of Ladakh to reduce dependence on natural glacier
3. Carbon sequestration activities
Melting of glaciers at large scale can have multidimensional issue like sea-level rise floods etc. Therefore, it must be tackled through global cooperation under UNFCC
- References IPCC report
- Explains positive feedback loop clearly
- Mentions specific impact (snow leopard)
- Covers multiple dimensions (hydrology, ecology, climate)
Prajnanandan Giri
Important Geophysical Phenomena and Geographical Features
Glacier melting and climate change
Effects of glacier melting on environment
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Scientific and systematic
Tone