glacial melting Archives - Disasters News

Mar242025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Himalayan Glaciers Melting Rapidly Raising Risks for 2 Billion People

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Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, a crucial freshwater source for nearly 2 billion people are melting at an alarming rate, heightening the risk of floods, landslides and infrastructure damage across Asia. The region home to the world's largest ice reserves outside the polar areas is experiencing glacial melt 65% faster than in the previous decade with the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) projected to triple by the century’s end. The impact is already being felt. In August last year, a glacial lake in Nepal's Everest region burst its banks unleashing a destructive flood in Thame village. Homes, farms, a school, and a hydropower plant were damaged, but timely evacuation saved lives. With such disasters set to become more frequent, governments and international organization...

Mar222025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Himalaya Glaciers Vanishing at Alarming Rate Melting 65% Faster as Climate Crisis Worsens

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Glaciers across the globe are shrinking at an unprecedented pace, with the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region witnessing the most dramatic losses, retreating 65% faster in 2011-2020 than in the previous decade, according to a United Nations report released on the World Day for Glaciers. The Asia-Pacific region, home to some of the world’s highest mountains and vast glacier systems, is one of the most vulnerable to climate change. Spanning five million square kilometers of high-altitude terrain, the HKH region contains nearly 100,000 square kilometers of glaciers, often referred to as the “Third Pole” due to its immense ice reserves outside the Arctic and Antarctic. This region serves as a crucial water source, feeding ten major river systems and sustaining nearly two billion...

Mar102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

World coastal Cities Sinking NASA Warns of Accelerated Sea Level Rise

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

A new NASA-led study has revealed that many of the world’s coastal cities are sinking, making them more vulnerable to rising sea levels than previously thought. Researchers found that in some regions, land is subsiding so rapidly that flood risks could double by 2050, far exceeding earlier projections. Published in Science Advances, the study used satellite data from ESA's Sentinel-1 mission to track vertical land motion along California’s coast from 2015 to 2023. The findings show that in areas like San Francisco Bay, land is sinking by over 10 millimeters per year, potentially leading to more than 45 centimeters of local sea level rise by mid-century. While melting ice caps and climate change have long been blamed for rising seas, the study highlights that human activities such as ...

Feb212025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Glaciers Lost 6.54 Trillion Tonnes of Ice Since 2000, Driving Sea-Level Rise

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Between 2000 and 2023, glaciers lost an estimated 273 billion tonnes of ice annually, making them the second-largest contributor to rising sea levels, according to a new study published in Nature. The total global ice loss during this period reached 6.54 trillion tonnes, raising sea levels by 18 millimeters (mm) and contributing 0.75 mm of sea-level rise per year. The study revealed that ice loss accelerated by 36% in the second half of the study period (2012-2023) compared to the first half. Recent years saw the most severe losses, with the 2019-2023 period witnessing annual ice loss exceeding 400 gigatonnes per year (Gt/yr), including a record 548 Gt/yr in 2023. “This underscores the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s call for urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions ...

Jan242025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

UNESCO, WMO Unveil 2025 as Year for Glacier Preservation

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UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP), emphasizing the urgency of addressing glacier retreat and its global implications. The initiative was officially launched on January 21, aiming to protect Earth's "water towers" essential sources of freshwater for over 2 billion people. The declaration follows a UN General Assembly resolution from December 2022, marking March 21 as World Day for Glaciers annually. With glaciers covering 700,000 square kilometers and storing 70% of the world’s freshwater, their rapid melting poses severe threats such as water scarcity, rising sea levels, and ecosystem collapse. WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo highlighted the severity of the crisis "In 2023, glaciers su...

Dec242024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Melting Glaciers Linked to Increased Earthquake Activity in Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains

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Southern Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains, known for their dramatic rise from the flat San Luis Valley, have long been shaped by tectonic activity and glacial forces. Now, a groundbreaking study in Geology suggests that the melting of alpine glaciers thousands of years ago may have significantly increased earthquake frequency in the region by relieving pressure on the underlying fault system. The research connects Earth’s changing climate to tectonic movements, a rare link that sheds light on how warming temperatures like those seen today might trigger fault activity. “Areas where glaciers are retreating or where hydrologic changes occur over active faults could experience elevated earthquake activity,” explained study co-author Sean Gallen, a geologist at Colorado State University...

Dec142024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Greenland Experiences One of the Largest Documented Glacial Lake Outburst Floods

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A massive glacial lake outburst flood, among the largest ever recorded, has been documented in East Greenland, releasing over 3,000 billion litres of meltwater. The event, which occurred between September 23 and October 11, was caused by the sudden release of water from Catalina Lake into the Scoresby Sound fjord, as reported by researchers at the University of Copenhagen's Niels Bohr Institute. Notably, this marks the first time such a phenomenon has been observed in real-time. The flood was triggered when meltwater from Catalina Lake, held back by the Edward Bailey Glacier for over 20 years, carved a 25-kilometre-long tunnel beneath the glacier. This process caused the lake’s water level to plummet by 154 metres. Researchers equated the released volume of water to three times Denmark'...

May202024 by Editor Desk1 Comment

Severe Heatwave Grips Delhi: How to Protect Yourself as Temperatures Soar Above 45 Degrees

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

As a severe heatwave grips Delhi and other parts of North India, with temperatures soaring to 45-47 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert. The extreme heat poses significant health risks, including heatstroke, dehydration, and damage to vital organs. It is crucial to take preventative measures to protect oneself from the adverse effects of such high temperatures. High temperatures can overwhelm the body's natural ability to regulate its internal temperature, leading to conditions like heatstroke. Symptoms of heatstroke include high body temperature (above 40°C or 104°F), confusion, loss of consciousness, and seizures. Without immediate medical intervention, heatstroke can be fatal. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can also damage the brain, ...

Jan112024 by Editor Desk1 Comment

Impending Catastrophe in Kashmir as Over 100 Rock Glaciers Face Melting Threat

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A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the Amrita School for Sustainable Futures of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kerala, has unveiled a looming environmental crisis in Kashmir. The research, led by Assistant Professor Remya S. N, reveals that more than 100 active permafrost structures, commonly known as rock glaciers, in the region are at risk of melting, posing a severe threat to the Jhelum river basin. According to a report published in Down To Earth (DTE), the study indicates that these rock glaciers, which accumulate large amounts of water, are showing signs of swelling and displacement, indicative of permafrost melting. If the temperatures continue to rise, it could lead to massive devastation in the Jhelum basin, with potentially disastrous consequences for the region...

Dec252023 by Editor Desk1 Comment

Ice Cores data from Nevado Huascaran Provide Insights into Amazon Basin’s Climate History

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Scientists from Ohio State University (OSU) have studied ice cores from Nevado Huascaran, the world’s highest tropical mountain located in the Peruvian Andes, to gain unprecedented insights into the climate history of the Amazon Basin over the past six decades. Unlike polar regions, samples from tropical areas like Nevado Huascaran can provide valuable information about phenomena such as El Niño and the movement of monsoon winds. The research involved collecting ice core samples from the summit and the mountain col, the lowest point between two ridges. Key Points: •Nevado Huascaran, standing at nearly 7,000 meters above sea level, is the world’s highest tropical mountain. •Ice core samples were collected from the summit and the mountain col to analyze the impact of climate change ...