Question: According to a latest study, last remaining glaciers in the Earth’s tropical zone will disappear within the next-
(a) 100 years
(b) 10 years
(c) 20 years
(d) 50 years
Answer: (b)
Related facts:
- A latest study says last remaining glaciers in the Earth’s tropical zone will disappear within the next ten years or possibly sooner.
- This is going to happen due to the ongoing climate crisis. The range covers Himalayas in the North and the Andes in the South.
- The research regarding this has been done by the researchers from Ohio State University in the US and the study, published in the journal PNAS.
- According to the study the first glaciers to go could be the ones in Papua, Indonesia, which the researchers called “the canaries in the coal mine” for other mountain top glaciers around the world.
- The researchers noted that the melting of mountain top glaciers on the western half of New Guinea has increased rapidly due to a strong 2015-2016 El Nino.
- They explained that the El Nino, a phenomenon that causes tropical ocean water and atmospheric temperatures to get warmer.
- El Nino is a natural climate process, but has been amplified by global warming.
- According to the researchers, the New Guinea mountain glaciers will disappear in the next 10 years, most likely during the next strong El Nino.
- It is likely that other tropical glaciers, such as those on Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and Quelccaya in Peru, will go towards the same fate.
- Based on their study, the researchers said the melt started at least 150 years ago, but has quickened in the last decade.
- The researchers said the air around the glacier is hotter due to global warming, which has also changed the altitude at which rain turns to snow.
Links:
http://www.newsonair.nic.in/News?title=Last-remaining-glaciers-in-Earth%26%2339%3Bs-tropical-zone-may-disappear-by-next-decade%3A-Study&id=375890
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/tropical-mountain-top-glaciers-may-melt-by-next-decade-or-sooner-study-119121000316_1.html