Glaciology, the study of glaciers identify an ice cap as a mass of ice that spans about 50000 km2 (19000 sq mi) of land area . Larger masses of ice which cover more than 50000 km2 are termed as ice sheets. The polar regions such as Antarctica and Greenland hold the most of earth’s glacial ice. At present the largest single land ice body on Earth is the Antarctic ice sheet. [1]
Ice caps are home for a vast ecosystem and many organisms have adapted to life on ice caps. Ranging from microbes to mammals, the diversity is quite large. Most of the polar regions are covered extensively by ice, which are being made home by a variety of plants and animals. The structure and age of the ice caps decide whether it is suitable for habitation. Forests in some countries like Iceland, Russia and Canada even share borders with ice caps. Mammals like musk ox, polar bears etc live around Arctic circle whereas the Antarctic region is home to Penguins. [2]
MELTING ICE-A BRIEF OVERVIEW
One of the most fascinating elements of nature, the glaciers and icecaps are truly an important freshwater resource but also a potential cause of serious natural hazards. Since they are close to the melting point and are sensitive towards climate change, glaciers are important indicators of global climate. Since the Ice age, glaciers around the globe have been shrinking dramatically. In the present scenario, owing to the increasing pollution, temperature and other factors, the ice caps and glaciers are melting quite quickly. Researches had shown that the ice is melting now 65% faster. Considering the present climate conditions, the ongoing trend of glacier shrinking and melting will shoot up and may result in the deglaciation of many mountains by the end of 21st century.
The melting ice caps will have an immediate effect on the socio and natural resources of the planet and the most critical regions which are under high danger are the regions where the population depend mainly on water resources from glaciers during the dry season and glaciated mountain ranges that are densely populated and highly developed. To give a realistic picture , it has been estimated that between 1994 and 2017 about 2800000 crore ton of ice melted , which if spread across Britain would form 100m deep layer of ice. [3]
CAUSES OF MELTING ICE CAPS
Frozen water , or ice acts as a protective layer over Planet Earth which helps to regulate the surface temperature and also is a home for a number of cold loving species. Early reports of melting ice caps extend as old as 1900s. Indeed, human activities are the root cause for this phenomenon. With the advent of new technologies after the industrial revolution, the planet witnessed a sudden surge in the rate of carbon emissions, which immediately affected the polar regions and forced the ice caps to melt. [4]
It is blindingly obvious that the most prominent impact of global warming is seen in Polar regions where ice caps and glaciers are excessively melting . This seem to continue in a rather rapid pace since the 20th century , especially after 1995. Taking into account the ablation-temperature correlation and the degree day model , it has been inferred that summer temperature is the most important factor influencing the behaviour of the glaciers. [5]
Even if we manage to curb the global carbon emissions , more than a third of worlds glaciers will be eliminated by the year 2100. It has been observed that 95% of the worlds oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic is already gone. Researchers and glaciologists have projected that if the emissions are left unabated , the whole of Arctic could be ice free by 2040. [4]
POLAR WILDLIFE
The Polar regions , both North and South are the regions where much wilderness is left in its entirety . Ranging from bioluminescent algae to huge bears , its biodiversity is vast and wondrous. The reason for the sustenance of such a wilderness is the fact that the polar regions hold the relatively untouched wilderness on Earth. [6]
The polar wilderness , comprising of the Arctic and Antarctic wilderness is an epitome of maintenance of natural benefits , long term environmental stability and indigenous diversity. The native people as well as organisms had been able to cherish within the Polar environment because they had essentially become a part of the ecosytem. The polar wildlife has contributed the essential elements of history , knowledge , culture and more for the past 2300 years . As a stepping stone towards a sustainable future , it is unavoidable that we protect the same , for they contribute to life on earth and to each of us ; no matter where we live .[7]
The extensive wildlife of polar regions include polar bears , whale , penguins , arctic fox , arctic wolf , pacific salmon , brown bear and much more.[8]
POLAR WILDLIFE AND MELTING ICE CAPS
The polar regions of our planet may appear too remote for humans to have too much of an impact on them, but even activities thousands of miles away can negatively affect these areas. The Arctic habitats are already being altered by climate changes. The Arctic region is warming up , the ice cover is shrinking , permafrost is melting and the coastlines are facing erosion. All these changes are adversely affecting the wildlife there. Polar animals such as polar bears and walrus are losing their habitats and are facing the threat of extinction. The plight is no different in Antarctic regions also , where the sea ice is also disappearing , thereby threatening to wipe out the penguin species that live there. [8]
The polar bear depends on sea ice for its life processes such as feeding, breeding, and locomotion. Reduction in Arctic sea ice is having profound impacts on their population. When the world is getting warmer there will be only less sea ice and therefore less polar bear habitat . If the current scenario is going on like this , then there are high probabilities that the polar bears will disappear by the end of this century. All polar bears are dependent on ice for their prey. [9]
The ice caps and glacial melting that are happening in the Antarctic and Greenland is altering the circulation of oceans and has a direct relation to the destruction of fisheries around the planet. In the Arctic, as sea ice melts, wildlife like walrus are losing their home and polar bears are spending more time on land, causing higher rates of conflict between people and bears and thereby putting the life of all species at danger. [8]
CONCLUSION
Ice caps , glaciers and ice sheets ; generally belonging to the polar regions are a boon for planet Earth as it helps to maintain Earth’s temperature to a great extent. These frozen covering of Earth is now under the threat of pollution , climate change and other human activities. Studies report that the ice caps of the planet are continuously melting for over a century and its rate will increase even more in the coming years. Being a home to a number of cold loving species , its existence is unquestionable and its journey towards destruction is a serious global threat which should be immediately acted upon. Polar wildlife consisting of bears , penguins , walrus , foxes etc are native to such places and the elimination of ice caps and ice sheets may lead to their ultimate extinction. All the above mentioned species are slowly decreasing in population and the arctic ice is being rapidly cleared out. If no sudden step is taken to curb this emergency , it is certain that a whole set of species will be gone from this planet forever.
REFERENCES
1. Greve, R; Blatter, H. Dynamics of ice sheets and glaciers. 2002
2. Horner, R; Ackley, S et al. Polar biology, 417-427, (1992)
3. Michael, Z; Haeberli, W. Glaciers and ice caps. Part I: global overview and outlook (2007)
4. Hancock, L. Why are glaciers and sea ice melting? worldwildlife.org
5. Braithwaite, R. Climate change: geophysical foundations and ecological effects, (24-25)
6. Bastmeijer, K. Protecting Polar Wilderness: Just a Western Philosophical Idea or a Useful Concept for Regulating Human Activities in the Polar Regions? The Yearbook of Polar Law Online, (2009), 73–99
7. Codling, R. Concept of wilderness in the antarctic. Antarctica in the environmental era, (31-36)
8. Polar region habitats, WWF magazine.
9. Hunter, C; Caswell, H; Runge, M; Regehr, V; Amstrup, S; & Stirling, I. Climate change threatens polar bear populations: a stochastic demographic analysis. Ecology, (2010), 2883–2897
By Adithy R Nair
adithy.r02@gmail.com
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