ZOMBIE ICE
Source: indianexpress
Context:
The melting of the Greenland ice sheet will unavoidably raise the global sea levels by at least 10.6 inches or 27 centimetres, no matter what climate action the world decides to take right now. This is because of ‘zombie ice’, which is certain to melt away from the ice cap and blend into the ocean.
What is ‘zombie ice’?
Also referred to as dead or doomed ice, zombie ice is one that is not accumulating fresh snow even while continuing to be part of the parent ice sheet. Such ice is “committed” to melting away and increasing sea levels.
| This ice has been consigned to the ocean, regardless of what climate scenario we take now more like a foot in the grave |
What has led to this?
This is on account of the warming that has already happened. The research points to an equilibrium state where snowfall from the higher reaches of the Greenland ice cap flows down to recharge the edges of the glaciers, and thicken them.
It says that over the last several decades there has been more melting and less replenishment.
Key takeaways
- It is also referred to as dead or doomed ice, zombie ice is one that is not accumulating fresh snow even while continuing to be part of the parent ice sheet. Such ice is “committed” to melting away and increasing sea levels.
- The inevitable sea-level rise that the study predicts is particularly bad news for millions that live in coastal zones.
- According to the UN Atlas of the Oceans, 8 of the world’s 10 largest cities are near the coast.
- Rising sea levels will make flooding, high tides and storms more frequent and worse as their impact will reach more inland.
- This, in turn, means a threat to local economies and infrastructure. Also, low-lying coastal areas will take a harder hit.
- The World Economic Forum’s 2019 Global Risks Report noted that “already an estimated 800 million people in more than 570 coastal cities are vulnerable to a sea-level rise of 0.5 metres by 2050”.
