In the age of climate change, global warming plays a critical role in melting of snow and ice cover. Discuss with suitable examples.

📝Model Answer

Introduction

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns driven largely by human activity, while global warming denotes the specific rise in Earth’s average surface temperature due to accumulation of greenhouse gases.

• The IPCC AR6 (2021) confirms that global temperatures have already risen by ~1.1°C above pre-industrial levels, intensifying cryosphere degradation worldwide.

Reasons for Climate Change

• Greenhouse gas emissions: Atmospheric CO₂ has crossed 420 ppm (2023), the highest in 800,000 years, primarily from fossil fuel combustion.
• Deforestation: Loss of ~10 million hectares of forest annually reduces carbon sinks, accelerating warming.
• Industrialisation and energy use: Coal, oil, and gas account for over 75% of global GHG emissions (UNEP Emissions Gap Report).
• Agriculture and livestock: Methane (CH₄), 80 times more potent than CO₂ over 20 years, rises from paddy cultivation and cattle.
• Urbanisation and transport: Rapid vehicle growth and concrete heat islands amplify regional warming and emissions.

Role of Global Warming in Melting of Snow and Glaciers

• Himalayan glaciers: Gangotri glacier is retreating ~22 m/year; ICIMOD warns one-third of Hindu Kush Himalaya ice may vanish by 2100 even under 1.5°C scenarios.
• Arctic sea ice: Summer Arctic ice has declined ~13% per decade; the region warms nearly four times faster than the global average (Arctic amplification).
• Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets: Greenland loses ~270 billion tonnes of ice yearly, a major driver of sea-level rise.
• Albedo feedback loop: Melting white ice exposes darker land/ocean, absorbing more heat and accelerating further melt.
• Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs): Warming swells glacial lakes; the 2023 Sikkim South Lhonak Lake disaster destroyed the Teesta-III dam and killed many.
• Permafrost thaw: Melting Siberian and Tibetan permafrost releases trapped methane, reinforcing warming.
• Sea-level rise: Combined ice melt and thermal expansion threaten coastal cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, and small island nations (Maldives).
• Water security threat: Himalayan glaciers feed rivers like the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra, sustaining ~2 billion people; their loss endangers long-term water availability.

Way Forward

• Energy transition: Scale up solar, wind, and green hydrogen; India targets 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030.
• Global cooperation: Strengthen Paris Agreement commitments and operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund.
• Afforestation and carbon sinks: Expand programmes like India’s commitment to a 2.5–3 billion tonne CO₂ sink by 2030.
• Glacier and cryosphere monitoring: Invest in early-warning systems for GLOFs and real-time glacier tracking.
• Sustainable lifestyles: Promote LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), energy efficiency, and circular economy practices.

Conclusion