Global Glacier Change in the 21st Century - DTE - 07/01/23

Context:
Recently, a report titled “Global glacier change in the 21st century: Every increase in temperature matters”, which states half the Earth’s glaciers may disappear by 2100.
-The researchers used two decades of satellite data to map the planet’s glaciers with greater precision than ever before.
-The United Nation’s (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s sixth assessment report released in 2022 also warned that we are running out of time to attain the 1.5°C target.
Relevance:
GS3
About:
->Findings:
-Glaciers Melting at Unprecedented Rate: Glaciers are receding at unprecedented rates due to climate change and rising temperatures.
-Half the Earth’s glaciers are destined to vanish by 2100, even if we adhere to the Paris Climate Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
-A minimum of 50 % of the loss will occur within the next 30 years. 68% of glaciers will vanish if global warming continues at the current rate of 2.7°C.

->Increasing Risk of Disaster:
-Melting glaciers raise sea levels dramatically, jeopardizing up to two billion people’s access to water and increasing the risk of natural disasters and extreme weather events like floods.
-Global sea level rose by 21 % between 2000 and 2019. This was solely due to meltwater from melting glaciers and ice sheets.

->Recommendations: The rapidly increasing glacier mass losses as global temperature increases beyond 1.5C stresses the urgency of establishing more ambitious climate pledges to preserve the glaciers in these mountainous regions.

For any queries, monthly magazines, reviews, please contact on [email protected]