Tayyaba Munir1, Umarah Khanum1
1Department of Environmental Science, International Islamic University Islamabad
Introduction
An enormous mass of ice called a glacier is created over time by snowfall and accumulation. They generally form at high altitudes, such as mountain tops, where temperatures are very low, such as at sea level. The glacier melts as a result of heat fluctuations, particularly relatively high temperatures, which causes the ice to transition from solid to liquid or water. Estimated to be the source of most of the world’s freshwater, glaciers are currently melting at an alarming rate and dumping water into the ocean.
Scientists have issued a warning that the world is losing ice at a rapid rate, and this rapid melting of glaciers is having a significant impact, including major flooding and a loss of biodiversity. An atmosphere-cryosphere interaction technique is useful for examining the dynamic behavior of glacial fluctuations because of the spectacular global retreat of glaciers (Kaser, 2001; Wagnon et al., 2001). According to temperature studies, the snowline has moved around one km higher than it was previously, which has caused animal and plant species to migrate upward (Rasul, 2006).
The duration of snow cover and the retreat of mountain glaciers are two indicators of the consequences of global warming in mountainous regions (Barry, 2002). On the other hand, Hewitt (1998) found widespread glacier expansion and an abnormally high number of glacier surges in the middle of Karakoram. According to Rasul et al. (2008), the annual mean temperature trend across this severely glaciated region has shown that both the frequency and intensity of heat waves have greatly risen over the southern slopes of the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH).
Causes of Glacier Melting
1. Climate change and natural disasters
We are well aware that heat causes ice to melt. As the planet’s temperature rises, glaciers swiftly thaw, becoming glacier lakes. According to UNDP, the area already contains over 3,000 unstable glacial lakes, 33 of which are in danger of breaking and generating floods.
2. Deforestation
Several detrimental effects of deforestation include an increase in sea levels. Additionally, since there are less trees owing of deforestation, there is an increase in the emission of carbon dioxide and less of it is absorbed by them. It hastens sea level rise and global warming as a result.
3. Fossil fuel burning
Fossil fuel combustion has led to the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which have an impact on the rate of warming by retaining heat in the atmosphere. Increasingly, glaciers are melting as a result of the rising temperature, revealing the soil below. NASA has conducted numerous studies on global warming, and they show that the ice sheet’s borders are fast melting.
Impacts of Ice Glacier Melt on People and the Environment
1. Electricity Shortage
The only source of energy generation in many regions of the world is the continuously flowing water from melting glaciers. The reduction or cessation of water flow will stop the generation of power. People will turn to other energy sources because power is a need in the modern world, some of which may be harmful to the environment and contribute to global warming.
2. Extreme flooding
The potential size of the water bodies makes these events quite worrisome. Overflowing will be a major disaster, destroying everything in their path and displacing thousands of people, as was the case in Pakistan. Higher elevations have ice glaciers that are fast thawing, adding a dramatic influx of water to other bodies of water including rivers, lakes, and oceans. There is a chance that additional lakes will arise as a result of the extra water, and they will keep becoming bigger. These occurrences are particularly worrying because of the potential for very big water bodies. As was the case in Pakistan, overflowing will be a big catastrophe that will destroy everything in their path and evict thousands of people.
3. Loss of biodiversity and loss of habitat for animals
Many living things are essentially dependent on glaciers to survive. For other species, like the blue bear, chilly temperatures are necessary for daily activities. Some birds eat fish discovered in recently melted glaciers. As water temperatures and levels rise, aquatic plants will start to be impacted by this. Fish species will suffer as a result, as will the survival of birds and other creatures that depend on and have adapted to glacier ecosystems.
4. Coral reefs are going extinct
To thrive through the process of photosynthesis, coral reefs need sunshine. There won’t be enough sunlight reaching the corals when sea levels increase as a result of glacier melting.
Their quality will suffer as a result, and they will probably pass away over time. Fish species that depend on coral reefs for sustenance will go extinct without them. People who live in such locations and eat seafood would also be impacted.
5. The financial toll that melting ice glaciers has on the world
The entire planet has been affected by the effects of melting ice glaciers, not just one area. Currently, every continent is suffering the severe consequences of quickly melting ice caps, such as flooding and other calamities related to glaciers, which necessitate huge financial investment in intervention to alleviate. Worse, there is no way to stop the glaciers from melting quickly due to global warming’s rising rate.
6. Agriculture production is being reduced
The melting of glaciers won’t likely have any impact on agricultural plants, as they depend mostly on rainfall. Even yet, there aren’t many of them and they don’t contribute much to agricultural lands. Dry periods will result in a lack of fresh water from glaciers, drying off the ground and making it unusable for farming. The effect will be a decrease in agricultural production overall.
7. Global warming is getting worse
On Earth, glaciers are crucial for both reflecting and absorbing heat. This implies that global temperatures will increase at the same rate as glaciers continue to melt. In other locations, little ice glaciers have already disappeared, revealing the soil. Heat will keep on increasing, further glaciers will melt, and water levels will rise as the ground cannot reflect as much heat as glaciers can.
Impacts on effected areas
Pakistan is home to more than 7000 glaciers. And these glaciers are now turning into floods due to climate change adversely affecting the home of over 225 million people. Extreme rainfalls and floods have washed away buildings and roads and destroyed farms. Thousands of people have died, and lost their homes to the wicked flood-water. The rainfall of the monsoon season in summer has drowned one-third of the country in water. Recently, a glacier in Kaghan has melted causing the closure of main Kaghan-Naran road for tourist. It also posed a threat to the safety of tourists traveling to the area.
The people of Pakistan have been facing devastating floods since 2020. In 2021, the melting of a glacier named Shishper caused flooding that impacted many households near it. Atleast 20 residents were displaced from their homes and had to move to a tent.
Solutions
Adequate infrastructure
In Pakistan, the flood management team lacks proper infrastructure and capacity for responding timely to mitigate effects of floods. Therefore, to lessen, even if not entirely mitigate the effects of floods, the disaster management teams should be given proper infrastructures, training and capacity to respond in time.
Flood forecasting and early warning systems
Disaster management authorities should focus on developing early warning systems for flood. This would help in early-response and will assist in saving lives and minimizing the effects of floods. Communities can have timely information about the expected crises and can evacuate or take necessary precautionary measurements.
Water management infrastructure
Disaster management authorities and government should combine the efforts and develop infrastructure such as dams, and reservoirs to store excess flood water. As well as storing water for everyday usage, this can help to lessen the negative effects of water.
Flood resilient housing and buildings
Raising the foundations, utilizing flood-proof materials, and using flood-resistant designs are all ways to make buildings and homes more flood-resistant. This will help to avoid infrastructure damage and save lives.
Educating the local community
Government, disaster management authorities and Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should educate the local community about the risks of floods, their effects on the buildings and peoples’ lives. Local communities should be made aware of disaster preparedness and response so they can help save lives and provide humanitarian assistance.
Conclusion
A large chunk of ice formed over time by the falling and accumulation of snow is known as a glacier. Glaciers are now melting due to multiple reasons such as rising temperature, deforestation, burning of fossil fuels etc. This, in turn, is adversely affecting the environment and humans. Melting of glaciers is causing extreme floods that are taking human lives and damaging properties. People are forced to re-locate, leaving their homes or have to live in tents until compensate for the loss. Melting of glacier is a global phenomenon caused by increase in temperature globally, but by taking necessary precautionary measures its effects can be reduced.
Reference:
Adeel, Z. (Sep 13, 2022), “Flooding in Pakistan shows that climate adaptation requires international support and regional co-operation”: World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/09/flooding-pakistan-climate-change-adaptation- international-support-regional-co-operation/
Baigal, P.M. (June 11, 2021). “Threat of receding glaciers gives Pakistan communities sleepless nights”: The third pole. https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/climate/glofs-threat-shishper-glacier- pakistan/
Dawood, F. (July 16, 2022), “Glacier Melting and Glacial Retreat – Causes, Effects, Solutions”: ENVPK. https://www.envpk.com/glacier-melting-and-glacial-retreat-causes-effects-solutions/
Rasul, G., Chaudhry, Q. Z., Mahmood, A., Hyder, K. W., & Dahe, Q. (2011). Glaciers and glacial lakes under changing climate in Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Meteorology, 8(15).
Rinkesh, “Causes and Effects of Melting Ice Glaciers on Humans and the Environment”: Conserve energy future. https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-melting- glaciers-humans-environment.php
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