Prelims: Environment | Current events of national and international importance
Why in news?
Recently scientists in Switzerland have found that many glaciers are developing large holes, making them look like Swiss cheese.
- Holes in glaciers – The glaciers are no longer "dynamic," meaning they aren’t creating enough new ice from snowfall at higher altitudes to replace melting at lower altitudes.
- As a result, ice just melts in place, becoming weaker.
- Water flows or air movements inside the ice blocks create small holes.
- Over time, these holes grow bigger, their roofs collapse, and they become visible from the surface.
Reason for the Holes
- It is due to the fact the glaciers are losing strength and structure.
- Glaciers in Switzerland have been shrinking steadily, especially since the 1980s.
- The worst years for melting were 2022 and 2023.
Faster melting threatens:
- Drinking water supplies
- Agriculture
- Hydropower (electricity from water)
- River flows during dry seasons
- Recent incidents – A glacier collapse caused a massive mudslide in the Swiss village of Blatten.
- Some glaciers have lost up to 10 meters of vertical ice in a single year.
- Global situation – Similar glacier losses seen in the Himalayas and Tian Shan range in Asia.
- Global warming is pushing melting to higher altitudes.
- The Paris Climate Agreement aimed to limit warming to 1.5°C, but many glaciers will disappear even if that target is met.
- Significance – It reflects the tragedy of rapid climate change in real time.
Reference
The Hindu| Swiss Glaciers Show Holes
