HIND KUSH MOUNTAINS
1. Context
Due to rising temperatures, record glacier melting has occurred in 2023 globally, including in Asia, according to the State of the Cryosphere 2024 report
2. Cryosphere Report 2024
- If carbon dioxide emissions continue to increase at their current rate, global temperatures could rise by 3°C or more above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century.
- This would pose significant risks to the planet's cryosphere, with wide-ranging impacts on ecosystems, human livelihoods, and the global economy.
- These issues were emphasized in the State of the Cryosphere 2024 – Lost Ice, Global Damage, a report presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22.
- This annual report, published since 2021 by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, evaluates the state of the world's cryosphere.
- According to the report, rising temperatures in 2023 led to unprecedented glacier melting worldwide, including in Asia.
- The Indian Himalayan Region is one of the areas directly impacted by these changes. Before delving into the effects of cryosphere loss in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, it is essential to understand the cryosphere, its components, its importance, and the ways global warming is influencing it
3. Cryosphere: Components
- The term "Cryosphere" originates from the Greek word kryos, meaning "icy cold." It refers to the Earth's frozen water components, including snow, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, sea ice, and permafrost.
- These features are predominantly found in polar regions, high latitudes, and elevated areas of the planet. Permafrost is defined as ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years.
- The Cryosphere is essential to the Earth’s climate and water systems. It serves as a natural reservoir, providing water during periods of scarcity or when perennial sources run dry.
- Snow, with its high reflectivity (albedo), reflects over 90% of solar radiation, contributing to the regulation of global temperatures and maintaining a cooler planet.
- The glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, often referred to as the "Third Pole" or the "Water Tower of the Earth," supply water to major river systems such as the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra.
- Formed through the accumulation of snow over centuries or millennia, glaciers are vital indicators of climate change and global warming.
- As layers of snow accumulate, they capture data about historical climatic conditions, including temperature, air bubbles, dust, heavy metals, and acid traces. This information, preserved in glaciers and ice sheets, can be studied using ice-core analysis.
- However, as permafrost thaws, it releases greenhouse gases like methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere, further intensifying global warming
|
Climate Situations
Global temperatures have already risen approximately 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels. The Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 aimed to limit this increase to well below 2°C, with an aspirational goal of keeping it under 1.5°C by the century's end. To meet these targets, countries were required to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which outline their planned climate actions and commitments. However, the State of the Cryosphere report highlights that current NDCs and climate pledges are insufficient. Even if these commitments are fully implemented, surpassing the 2°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement remains likely. If carbon dioxide emissions continue at their current rate, global temperatures could rise by 3°C or more above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century, leading to significant and potentially catastrophic impacts on the planet |
4. Impacts on the Global Cryosphere
- Rising global temperatures are impacting every aspect of the Cryosphere. For the third consecutive summer, Antarctica's sea ice extent has fallen below 2 million square kilometers. Research indicates that the stability thresholds for the world's largest ice sheets—Greenland and parts of Antarctica—are significantly below a warming of 2.2°C.
- If the current warming trend of 1.2°C persists, there is a risk of complete loss of Antarctic sea ice during summer months.
- This would warm surrounding waters and accelerate ice sheet melting through calving. A similar situation exists in the Arctic, where surpassing the 1.5°C threshold could eventually lead to sea level rises exceeding 10 meters over the coming centuries.
- The Cryosphere's deterioration is evident worldwide. Venezuela lost its last glacier, Humboldt, this year, and Indonesia’s Eternity Glacier is expected to disappear within two years.
- Glaciers in the tropical Andes are losing ice mass ten times faster than the global average. In Europe, under current warming trends, one-third of the Alps' glaciers could vanish by 2050, with up to two-thirds lost if high emissions continue through mid-century.
- As temperatures rise, precipitation patterns are shifting, with less snowfall and more rain, even at high altitudes, reducing overall seasonal snow cover. Additionally, thawing permafrost is releasing more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- While scientists have identified 450 ppm as a critical CO₂ threshold, projections suggest levels could reach 500 ppm, even if current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are fully implemented
5. Hind Kush Himalayan range
- The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) range, often referred to as the "Third Pole," is a vast mountain system spanning across eight countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. It is home to some of the world's tallest peaks, including Mount Everest and K2, and serves as a crucial source of water and biodiversity
- The HKH region is known as the "Water Tower of Asia," supplying freshwater to some of the world's major river systems, such as the Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Yangtze, and Mekong. These rivers support nearly two billion people across South Asia and Southeast Asia
- The region contains thousands of glaciers, which act as natural reservoirs by storing water in the form of ice. However, these glaciers are highly sensitive to climate change, with many experiencing rapid melting due to rising global temperatures
- The report highlights that 2023 experienced unprecedented glacier melting globally, including in Asia, driven by rising temperatures. In the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, snowfall during the winter of 2023–2024 reached record-low levels. This reduction in seasonal snow is expected to significantly affect food, energy, and water security at both national and regional levels.
- The Indian Himalayan Region, encompassing 13 states and Union Territories, is particularly vulnerable to these changes. Projections indicate that a global temperature rise of just 2°C could result in a 50% reduction in ice from High Mountain Asian glaciers. Even with a 1.5°C increase, substantial cryosphere loss in the HKH region appears inevitable.
- Such changes are expected to exacerbate catastrophic events, including Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which are already a pressing concern in High Mountain Asia, particularly in India. A recent example is the October 2023 GLOF event at South Lhonak Lake in Sikkim, which caused significant loss of life and extensive damage to infrastructure
6. Way Forward
The report emphasizes the critical need for immediate global action to limit warming to 1.5°C, which remains the only feasible path to safeguard significant portions of the Cryosphere and reduce the risk of catastrophic events.
In addition to cutting emissions, substantial investments are required to strengthen the adaptive capacities of communities directly impacted by these changes. The upcoming revision cycle for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2025 provides an important opportunity for nations to update and honor their climate commitments
|
For Prelims: Cryosphere, Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) Range, GLOFs
For Mains: Develop a multidimensional understanding of the cryosphere's significance and threats
|
Source: Indianexpress
