An increasing number of people are becoming aware of the devastating effects of global warming on our environment. As temperatures rise, melting glaciers and rising sea levels can no longer be ignored. But what exactly does global warming have to do with glaciers melting?
Global warming, also known as climate change, is caused by an increase in green-house gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide and methane in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun and create an unnatural warming of the earth’s atmosphere. This is known as the greenhouse effect and the excess heat is trapped in the atmosphere and can’t escape, causing a rise in global temperatures.
The majority of glaciers around the world are considered to be “cold-based” meaning that most of the ice remains below 0C. This cold-based ice is vulnerable to global warming and as temperatures increase, it begins to melt. This meltwater not only threatens drinking water supplies for humans, but it can also cause problems for wildlife and other natural processes.
Global warming directly affects glaciers by raising air temperatures at medium to high altitudes. As temperatures rise, the air warms and circulates upslope over glaciers and snowfields, resulting in more melt-water production. This leads to an increase in glacial runoff and a reduction in glacial mass. Warmer temperatures also increase the snow-melt season, causing more total melt-water volume generated in a given year as well as a decreasing albedo effect, whereby sunlight is more easily absorbed into glacial ice, causing it to quickly melt.
The melting of glaciers is not only problematic for its affect on local communities, but it also works to amplify global warming effects, as exposed water further warms the atmosphere. This leads to a feedback loop of warming temperatures, melting glaciers, and increased greenhouse gases. Warmer temperatures increase the melting rate of the glaciers and reduce their ability to store solid ice. This had led to serious declines in the size of glaciers around the world, including some of the most iconic ones, such as the glaciers of Mt. Everest and the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Glaciers are an important part of the global ecosystem, supplying freshwater to rivers, lakes and aquifers. They also help to regulate global temperatures, storing carbon and trapping heat. As these glaciers melt, it not only threatens ecosystems and communities, but it also exacerbates global warming.
To combat the effects of glaciers melting, we need to take concerted action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming. We must also invest in renewable energy sources and find innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Every small action taken will help to preserve our glaciers and mitigate the long-term effects of global warming.
