January 31, 2025
Introduction:
The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the vital role glaciers play in our ecosystem and the urgent need for climate action. Glaciers, which store about 70% of the world’s freshwater, are critical indicators of climate change. Their rapid melting threatens water supply, contributes to sea level rise, and poses risks to coastal populations.
About Glaciers
- Glaciers are large masses of ice formed from accumulated snow over time.
- They flow under gravity and are sensitive to temperature changes.
- The Randolph Glacier Inventory estimates there are approximately 275,000 glaciers worldwide.
- These glaciers are essential for maintaining the global water cycle and support various ecosystems and human communities.
Risks of Melting Glaciers
- As global temperatures rise, glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates.
- This melting contributes to global sea level rise. It can also lead to the formation of glacial lakes, which may cause glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
- GLOFs pose risks to communities and infrastructure downstream. Furthermore, the calving process in polar regions, where large ice chunks break off, disrupts ecosystems and exacerbates sea level rise.
Himalayan Glaciers and Their Importance
The Hindu Kush Himalaya region, known as the “Third Pole,” contains the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar regions. This area is crucial as it feeds ten major rivers, including the Indus and Ganga. Over 1.3 billion people rely on these rivers for water supply, agriculture, and energy. The Indian Himalayan Region has around 9,575 glaciers, but they are experiencing mass loss due to rising temperatures and decreasing snowfall.
Glacier Behaviour Patterns
Glaciers in the Himalayas show varying responses to climate change. While glaciers in the Western Himalaya are retreating rapidly, those in the Karakoram region have remained stable since the 1970s, a phenomenon known as the “Karakoram Anomaly.” Factors influencing glacier behaviour include altitude, topography, and debris cover. These non-climatic factors affect how glaciers respond to rising temperatures.
Impacts of Glacier Melting
The melting of Himalayan glaciers threatens freshwater availability for millions. Declining seasonal snowfall will impact agriculture and lead to socio-economic challenges. The increase in glacial lakes raises the risk of GLOFs, endangering communities and infrastructure, including hydroelectric projects.
Global and National Responses
- In response to these challenges, the UN has initiated the “Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences” from 2025 to 2034.
- This aims to enhance global research and cooperation on cryosphere monitoring.
- Additionally, India has launched the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem to address climate change impacts.