Melting glaciers danger for human beings Essay for Upsc
Glaciers are large masses of ice
that form over hundreds or thousands of years. They are mostly found in the
polar regions like Antarctica and Greenland, and in high mountains like the
Himalayas. For a long time, glaciers have remained stable, growing in winter
and shrinking slightly in summer. However, in the last few decades, scientists
have found that glaciers across the world are melting at a very fast rate. This
melting is not natural. It is happening because the Earth is becoming warmer
due to human activities. The rapid melting of glaciers is now one of the
biggest dangers for human beings and the planet.
This issue is not limited to faraway
cold regions. It affects all countries, including India. For UPSC aspirants,
understanding the causes, impacts, and solutions related to melting glaciers is
important because it is connected with environment, climate change, water
security, food security, migration, economy, and disaster management.
1. What Are Glaciers and Why Are They Important?
Glaciers store nearly 70% of the
world’s fresh water. They act as natural water reservoirs. In winters,
they accumulate snow, and in summers, they release water slowly. Rivers like
the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Indus, and many others depend heavily on glacier
meltwater. Millions of people rely on these rivers for drinking water, farming,
fishing, industry, and electricity generation.
Therefore, glaciers play the
following key roles:
- Water supply:
They ensure water availability during dry seasons.
- Climate regulation:
Glaciers reflect sunlight, helping keep Earth cool.
- Sea level control:
They lock huge amounts of water in the form of ice.
- River stability:
They release water gradually, preventing sudden floods or droughts.
When glaciers melt too quickly,
these functions get disturbed, creating serious risks for humanity.
2.
Why Are Glaciers Melting?
The main reason is global warming,
caused by human activities such as:
a.
Burning of fossil fuels
Factories, vehicles, and power
plants release carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane, and other greenhouse gases. These
gases trap heat in the atmosphere, raising global temperatures.
b.
Deforestation
Trees absorb CO₂. Cutting forests
increases greenhouse gases and also reduces rainfall patterns.
c.
Industrial pollution
Particles like black carbon settle
on ice, making it darker. Dark ice absorbs more heat and melts faster.
d.
Rapid urbanization
More buildings, roads, and
industries increase heat emissions.
e.
Agricultural activities
Use of fertilizers and livestock
farming emits methane, another powerful heat-trapping gas.
Due to these human activities,
Earth’s temperature has risen by more than 1°C since the pre-industrial era.
This seems small, but for glaciers it is extremely damaging.
3.
Global Examples of Melting Glaciers
- Greenland and Antarctica: Ice sheets are melting at record speeds, contributing
massively to rising sea levels.
- Alps (Europe):
Scientists say almost half of the glaciers may disappear by 2050.
- Andes (South America): Many small glaciers have already vanished, affecting
water supply in Peru, Chile, and Bolivia.
- Arctic region:
Sea ice is shrinking rapidly, disturbing ecosystems, wildlife, and human
communities.
4.
Melting Glaciers in the Himalayas and India
The Himalayas are also called the “Third
Pole” because they store the largest amount of frozen water after the polar
regions. They contain about 9,500 glaciers.
Reports show that Himalayan glaciers
are melting twice as fast in recent decades.
Why
this is worrying for India?
- Indian rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Sutlej, and Chenab
depend on glacier meltwater.
- Glacial lakes are forming rapidly, increasing the risk
of sudden floods.
- Crops in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh
depend on rivers originating in the Himalayas.
- Hydropower projects face risks from bursting lakes,
landslides, and unstable slopes.
The 2021 Chamoli disaster and the
2013 Kedarnath floods were linked to unstable glacier behavior.
5. Dangers of Melting Glaciers for Human Beings
Glaciers melting at an unnatural
speed create many interconnected dangers. These affect not just the environment
but also human lives, economies, and national security.
Let us examine them one by one.
A.
Rising Sea Levels
When land-based glaciers melt, the
water flows into the oceans. This raises sea levels across the world.
Impacts:
- Coastal cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, New York,
and Jakarta face risk of flooding.
- Small island nations like Maldives, Kiribati, and
Tuvalu may become uninhabitable.
- Saltwater enters farmlands and drinking water sources.
- Millions may become climate refugees in the coming
decades.
For India, large coastal populations
are at risk, and major economic zones near the coast face uncertainty.
B.
Water Scarcity
Glaciers act like water banks. If
they melt too fast today, there will be less ice left to melt in the
future. This means:
- Rivers may become seasonal.
- Drinking water availability will reduce.
- Villages and cities depending on river water will face
shortages.
- Conflicts may arise between states or even countries
over river water sharing.
The Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra
basins, which support nearly 700 million people, are highly vulnerable.
C.
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
As glaciers melt, they create lakes
behind thin walls of rock and ice. These natural walls are weak. When they
break, they release huge amounts of water suddenly, causing floods.
Risks
from GLOFs:
- Loss of lives
- Destruction of villages
- Damage to hydropower projects
- Washed-away roads and bridges
- Landslides and soil erosion
Himalayan regions in India, Nepal,
and Bhutan are particularly exposed.
D.
Disturbed Weather Patterns
Melting glaciers affect global and
regional climate systems.
- Monsoon patterns become unpredictable.
- Droughts and floods become more frequent.
- Heatwaves become stronger and last longer.
- Winters become warmer, affecting farming cycles.
India is experiencing more extreme
weather events, partly due to glacier changes.
E.
Threat to Agriculture and Food Security
Agriculture depends on stable water
supply. Rapid glacier melting creates two threats:
1. Too much water initially
(leading to floods), and
2. Too little water later
(leading to droughts).
Farmers in North India depend on
Himalayan rivers. If these rivers change their flow, crop productivity will
fall.
F.
Loss of Biodiversity
Glaciers support unique
biodiversity. When glaciers melt:
- Cold-water species like snow trout decline.
- Birds and mammals lose habitat.
- Forests experience stress due to changing temperatures.
- Coral reefs get damaged because of rising sea
temperatures.
This loss harms ecosystems and human
livelihoods connected with them.
G.
Impact on Hydropower
India has many hydropower dams in
Himalayan states. Melting glaciers cause:
- Unpredictable water flow
- Overloading of dams
- Greater risk of dam burst
- Sedimentation that reduces power generation
This affects India’s energy security
and long-term development planning.
H.
Impact on Tourism and Local Communities
Mountain tourism depends on snow,
glaciers, and stable landscapes. As glaciers shrink:
- Popular destinations lose their beauty.
- Winter sports decline.
- Local livelihoods suffer.
- Landslides and avalanches make travel risky.
Communities living in the Himalayas
face displacement and loss of income.
I.
Impact on Global Economy
Melting glaciers cause economic
losses through:
- Damage to infrastructure
- Reduced agricultural output
- Costs of disaster management
- Loss of fisheries and biodiversity
- Increased healthcare costs due to heatwaves and
diseases
The World Bank estimates that
climate-related disasters could push millions into poverty.
6.
How Does Melting Glaciers Affect India’s National Security?
Rivers shared between countries,
such as India and China or India and Pakistan, may experience new tensions if
water becomes scarce.
Also:
- Climate migration may increase.
- Border regions in the Himalayas may become unstable due
to landslides and lake formation.
- Army posts in high altitudes face logistical
challenges.
Thus, glacier melting is not just an
environmental issue; it is also a security concern.
7. What Can Be Done? (Solutions and Strategies)
To address the threat of melting
glaciers, a mix of global, national, and local actions is required.
A.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Shift to renewable energy like solar, wind, and
hydropower.
- Promote electric vehicles and public transport.
- Reduce use of coal.
- Improve energy efficiency in buildings and industries.
B.
Strengthening International Climate Agreements
Countries must work together through
platforms like:
- Paris Agreement
- COP meetings
- Green Climate Fund
- International Solar Alliance
Developed countries should help
developing nations with technology and climate finance.
C.
Protecting Himalayan Ecosystems
- Reduce deforestation and promote afforestation.
- Control construction in fragile mountain zones.
- Maintain a balance between development and ecology.
- Build “smart and sustainable” hill towns.
D.
Monitoring Glacier Health
India has agencies like ISRO, the
Geological Survey of India, and the National Centre for Polar and Ocean
Research. They should:
- Conduct regular satellite surveys
- Map glacial lakes
- Identify high-risk zones
- Use early warning systems for GLOFs
E.
Sustainable Water Management
- Build water storage systems.
- Promote rainwater harvesting.
- Improve irrigation efficiency.
- Shift to less water-intensive crops.
F.
Community Awareness and Preparedness
Local communities must be involved
in:
- Disaster preparedness drills
- Climate-resilient agriculture
- Water conservation programs
- Safeguarding sacred natural sites
G.
Climate-Resilient Development
- Build climate-resistant roads and bridges.
- Avoid building dams in very fragile areas.
- Use scientific guidelines for tourism planning.
8.
Ethical Dimensions
The issue of glacier melting
includes many ethical concerns:
- Intergenerational responsibility: Future generations should not suffer because of our
choices.
- Equity:
Poor communities suffer the most but contribute the least to climate
change.
- Shared responsibility: Climate change is a global problem requiring
cooperation.
- Environmental ethics:
Humans must protect nature, not exploit it.
UPSC essays can highlight these
ethical aspects to create deeper impact.
Melting glaciers are a serious
warning sign. They show that human actions are disturbing the natural balance
of the Earth. If glaciers disappear, the consequences will be severe—rising sea
levels, water scarcity, floods, food shortages, loss of biodiversity, and
threats to human survival. For countries like India, which depend heavily on
Himalayan rivers, the danger is even greater.
Human beings must act urgently.
Governments, industries, communities, and individuals must all work together to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect fragile ecosystems, and promote
sustainable development. The future of our rivers, our climate, and our
civilization depends on the choices we make today.
Saving glaciers is not just an environmental duty. It is a responsibility towards humanity, towards future generations, and towards the planet that sustains us.
