Antarctic ice shelves are shattering
Recently, due to rising temperatures, the Ice Shelf in East Antarctica broke apart.
- For the first time, scientists have observed the breaking of the Conger Ice Shelf in East Antarctica. This observation has been made possible due to the large scale satellite images.
- Such incidents are happening due to rising temperature. Due to rising temperatures, both the North and South poles are witnessing an increase in the average temperature.
- Also, a new research has highlighted that Antarctica will be approaching the “climate tipping point” by the year 2000. On reaching such a condition, the ice of Antarctica will start melting rapidly.
Climate Tipping Points:
- These are the limits from which even a small change can push the Earth’s system into a sudden and irreversible change.
- A total of 9 climate tipping points have been identified globally. Among them there is also an Antarctica Ice Sheet.
About Antarctica:
- It is the 5th largest continent in the world. Antarctica contains 90% of the total amount of ice on Earth.
- It contains 70% of the fresh water available on Earth. Antarctica is extremely important for the sustainability of the world’s ecosystems.
- It absorbs 62% of the global heat and 40% of the total carbon dioxide emitted by human activities.
- In addition, there are minerals (oil and gas); sea creatures (finfish, krill, squid); and rich sources of genomic resources of endemic biodiversity exist.
- The melting of the Antarctic ice cover could cause sea levels to rise by more than 60 meters.
Worrying situation: According to the evidence, many systems are heading towards becoming tipping points. It has accelerated in the last decade. Also, it has been said to have far-reaching effects (domino effect).
- Frequent droughts in the Amazon rainforest;
- Decrease in the area of the arctic snow cover;
- Atlantic circulation has slowed compared to the 1950s;
- Increase in incidence of boreal forest fires and change in insect species coral reefs Wide-scale reduction;
- Greenland’s snow cover is losing rapidly;
- Permafrost is melting;
- West Antarctica ice cover is being lost at a rapid pace;
- There is a rapid loss of snow cover in the Wilkes Basin East Antarctica.
Source – The Hindu
