United Nations will observe 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, with 21st March marked annually as World Day for Glaciers starting in 2025.
Glaciers
- Glaciers are large, slow-moving masses of ice formed from compacted snow over centuries. They form on land and move due to gravity, slowly moving downward.
- Historical Context: Most glaciers today are remnants of the massive ice sheets that covered Earth during the Ice Age (around 10,000 years ago). During Earth’s history, there have been glacial periods (or ice ages) when glaciers formed and interglacial periods when glaciers melted.
- Global Distribution: Most glaciers are found in polar regions such as Greenland, the Canadian Arctic, and Antarctica because of low solar insolation received in higher latitudes. Tropical glaciers exist in mountain ranges near the Equator, like the Andes in South America at high altitudes. Approximately 2% of the Earth’s water is stored in glaciers.
- Glaciers Melting: Rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have increased temperatures, especially at the poles, causing glaciers to melt, calve into the sea, and retreat on land. Even with major emission cuts, over a third of the world’s glaciers will melt by 2100.
Importance
Water Supply: Glaciers are a vital source of drinking water for millions of people, especially in arid regions.
- Glaciers provide up to 27% of the Amu Darya’s river flow in late summer, while La Paz (capital of Bolivia), relies on glacial meltwater during dry periods.
- In Ladakh, India, artificial glaciers known as ice stupa store water in winter and release it in spring, providing vital irrigation for crops in the cold desert region.
- Nutrient Cycling: Glaciers release nutrients that support phytoplankton growth, which forms the foundation of aquatic food chains, affecting marine biodiversity and fisheries.
- Climate Regulation: Glaciers play a role in regulating Earth’s climate by reflecting sunlight (albedo effect), helping to cool the planet.
- Energy Production: Glacial meltwater is harnessed to generate hydroelectric power in countries like Norway, Canada, and New Zealand.
- Tourism: Glaciers attract tourists to mountainous regions, supporting cryo biodiversity and providing opportunities for research and education.
Current Status of Glaciers
- Global Glaciers: The World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) which tracks 210,000 glaciers show that between 1976 and 2023 a large-scale deglaciation was observed in recent years. WGMS monitors and assesses the state of glaciers around the world and works under the auspices of the UN Environment, the UNESCO, and the WMO.
- Regional Glaciers: The Hindu Kush Himalayan cryosphere is warming at twice the global average rate. The region is most vulnerable to glacial disasters like Glacial Lake Outburst Flood. The cryosphere refers to the frozen water part of the Earth’s system, encompassing all the areas where water exists in a solid state.
- Retreat of Glaciers: Experts predict the disappearance of several significant glaciers by 2030, with many larger glaciers splitting into smaller ones. E.g., Yala Glacier in Nepal’s Langtang Valley and Peyto Glacier in Western Canada have retreated with significant elevation loss. Humboldt glacier in Venezuela has shrunk significantly and is now classified as an ice field.The retreat of glaciers means shrinking and disappearing of glaciers.
- International Response: In December 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution highlighting the urgency of glacier loss and promoting global awareness. Initiatives like the International Year of Glaciers and World Glacier Day are initiatives in this regard.