GS1/GS3 Paper
Syllabus: Geography/ Environment Conservation
Source: TH
Context: The World Meteorological Organization’s recent report, The Global Climate 2011-2020, reveals a concerning trend of glacier thinning, with an average reduction of about one meter per year from 2011 to 2020.
Key findings of the report:
| Key Findings | Implications |
| Temperature Trends | Atmospheric concentrations of major greenhouse gases (GHG) continued to rise, especially CO2, reaching over 413 ppm in 2020, primarily due to fossil fuel combustion and land-use changes. |
| Record high temperatures contribute to extreme weather events, posing risks to ecosystems, agriculture, and human populations. | |
| Oceanic Changes | Accelerated ocean warming and acidification (with 90% of total accumulated heat stored in the ocean) highlight the vulnerability of marine ecosystems, necessitating conservation efforts. |
| Marine Heatwaves and Sea Level Rise | Increased frequency of marine heatwaves poses threats to marine life and ecosystems, impacting fisheries and coastal communities. |
| Accelerated sea level rise calls for adaptive measures to protect coastal areas and vulnerable populations from potential flooding. | |
| Global mean sea level rise accelerated to 4.5mm/yr from 2011-2020, mainly due to ocean warming and ice mass loss | |
| Glacier and Ice Sheet Loss | Global glacier thinning impacts water supply, necessitating water resource management strategies in regions dependent on glacial melt. |
| The significant loss of ice from Greenland and Antarctica (lost 38% more ice compared to 2001-2010) contributes to rising sea levels, with implications for coastal regions. | |
| The report warns of the rapid growth of pro-glacial lakes, contributing to glacier lake outburst floods (GLOF), with past incidents, like the Uttarakhand floods | |
| With current greenhouse gas emission rates, glaciers may decline by 55% to 75%, impacting freshwater supply significantly by 2050 | |
| Arctic Sea Ice Decline | Ongoing Arctic Sea ice decline (30% below the 1981-2010 average) underscores the vulnerability of polar regions to climate change and its cascading effects globally. |
Impact of Arctic and Antarctic Ice Melting:
| Impact | Implications |
| 1. Impacts on Climate | Rise in Sea Levels: Threatens coastal communities; IPCC projects significant sea level rise. |
| Albedo Effect Reduction: Loss of ice increases solar radiation absorption, contributing to planetary warming. | |
| Disruption of Ocean Currents: Melting ice disrupts thermohaline circulation, influencing global climate patterns. | |
| Release of Greenhouse Gases: Melting permafrost releases methane, exacerbating global warming. | |
| Increased Weather Extremes: Influences jet streams, contributing to global extreme weather events. | |
| 2. Impacts on Marine Life | Habitat Loss for Species: Polar bears and penguins face habitat loss, affecting populations and distribution. |
| Changes in Marine Ecosystems: Altered temperature and salinity levels impact marine biodiversity, including plankton. | |
| Ocean Acidification: Increased CO2 absorption leads to acidification, harming marine life, especially shell-forming species. | |
| Disruption of Food Chains: Changing ice conditions affect algae and krill availability, essential for many marine species. | |
| Increased Predation and Competition: Alters marine ecosystem balance, leading to increased competition and predation. | |
| 3. Impacts on Global Economy | Coastal Infrastructure and Housing: Rising sea levels necessitate significant investments in coastal infrastructure adaptation. |
| Impact on Fisheries: Changes in marine ecosystems affect global fisheries and dependent economies. | |
| Increased Insurance Costs: Extreme weather events lead to higher insurance costs for businesses and governments. | |
| New Shipping Routes: Melting ice opens new Arctic shipping routes, altering global trade patterns. | |
| Agricultural Changes: Altered weather patterns influence agricultural productivity, impacting food prices and security. |
Suggestions
- Mitigating Climate Change:
- International Agreements: Strengthening commitments under the Paris Agreement. For example, countries increasing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions.
- Renewable Energy Initiatives: Germany’s Energiewende program, which aims to transition to renewable energy, serves as a model for reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
- Protecting Marine Ecosystems
- Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): The establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia demonstrates effective conservation of marine biodiversity.
- Sustainable Fishing Practices: Norway’s implementation of sustainable fishing quotas and strict regulations to protect fish stocks.
- Adapting Coastal Infrastructure
- Flood Defense Systems: The Netherlands’ Delta Works, a series of dams and storm surge barriers, exemplify advanced coastal protection infrastructure.
- Managed Retreat Strategies: The planned relocation of the Alaskan village of Newtok due to rising sea levels is an example of a managed retreat.
- Promoting Sustainable Economic Practices
- Circular Economy Models: Japan’s focus on recycling and waste reduction under the concept of a “Sound Material-Cycle Society.”
- Green Bonds and Sustainable Investments: The issuance of green bonds, such as those by the World Bank, to fund environmental projects.
- Scientific Research and Monitoring
- Polar Research Programs: The European Space Agency’s CryoSat mission, monitoring polar ice and snow, contributes valuable data on ice melt and sea level rise.
- Climate Research Institutes: The Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the USA conducts cutting-edge research on climate change and its impacts.
- There has been an increased focus on monitoring Greenland’s ice loss through satellite missions like NASA’s ICESat-2.
Conclusion
The melting of Arctic and Antarctic ice poses serious challenges to our global climate system, marine ecosystems, and economies. However, these challenges also present opportunities to foster global cooperation, advance scientific understanding, and implement innovative solutions.
About WMO (World Meteorological Organization) (founded 1950; HQ: Geneva, Switzerland)
It is an Intergovernmental organization with 192 Member States and Territories, including India. It is the specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology, operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences.
Mains Links:
How do the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain (UPSC 2021)
Prelims Links:
Which of the following statements is/are correct about the deposits of ‘methane hydrate’? (UPSC 2019)
- Global warming might trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits.
- Large deposits of ‘methane hydrate’ are found in the Arctic Tundra and under the sea floor.
- Methane in the atmosphere oxidizes to carbon dioxide after a decade or two.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans: D
