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En-en adult card 16 melting of glaciers: Difference between revisions
En-en adult card 16 melting of glaciers (view source)
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== Card #16: Melting Glaciers == | |||
| | <center> | ||
[[File:En-en_adult_card_16_front.png|400px]] | |||
Almost all glaciers have receded, and hundreds of them have already disappeared. Glaciers are important because they regulate and provide freshwater. | |||
</center> | |||
== Definition== | == Definition== | ||
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=== Consequences === | === Consequences === | ||
* [[En-en adult card 22 sea level rise|Sea | * [[En-en adult card 22 sea level rise|Rising Sea Levels]] A melting of 100 gigatons of ice per year is equivalent to about 0.28 mm per year of mean sea level rise<ref>[https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/WG1AR5_SPM_brochure_fr.pdf IPCC Report 2013 - Summary for Policymakers p7 (French)]</ref>. Thus, 15 to 35% of sea level rise is linked to the melting of glaciers, according the IPCC scenarios. 30% to 35% is linked to the expansion of water. The remainder is linked to the melting of the ice caps. | ||
* [[En-en adult card 31 freshwater resources|Freshwater Resources]] Melting glaciers threaten water supplies. Indeed, the relative importance of glacier melt water in summer can be considerable, contributing for example to 25% of August flows in the basins draining the European Alps, with an area of about 105 km<sup>2</sup> and only 1% glacial cover<ref>[https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/WGIIAR5-Chap3_FINAL.pdf Freshwater Report 3.4.3 Glaciers, p243]</ref>. Their disappearance could be catastrophic for cities located in valleys watered by rivers flowing down from the surrounding mountains and for freshwater fauna. Glacier meltwater also increases in importance during [[En-en adult card 30 droughts|droughts]] and [[En-en adult card 36 heat waves|heat waves]]. | * [[En-en adult card 31 freshwater resources|Freshwater Resources]] Melting glaciers threaten water supplies. Indeed, the relative importance of glacier melt water in summer can be considerable, contributing for example to 25% of August flows in the basins draining the European Alps, with an area of about 105 km<sup>2</sup> and only 1% glacial cover<ref>[https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/WGIIAR5-Chap3_FINAL.pdf Freshwater Report 3.4.3 Glaciers, p243]</ref>. Their disappearance could be catastrophic for cities located in valleys watered by rivers flowing down from the surrounding mountains and for freshwater fauna. Glacier meltwater also increases in importance during [[En-en adult card 30 droughts|droughts]] and [[En-en adult card 36 heat waves|heat waves]]. | ||
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=== Observation === | === Observation === | ||
According to the IPCC, glaciers around the world are losing mass: about 220 Gigatons per year between 2006 and 2015<ref>[https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/chapter/summary-for-policymakers/ Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere in the Context of Climate Change - Summary for Decision Makers - Observed Changes and Impacts]</ref>. | According to the IPCC, glaciers around the world are losing mass: about 220 Gigatons per year between 2006 and 2015<ref>[https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/chapter/summary-for-policymakers/ Special Report on Ocean and Cryosphere in the Context of Climate Change - Summary for Decision Makers - Observed Changes and Impacts]</ref>. | ||
For some great graphics that illustrate Earth's ice loss, check out [http://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/CryoSat/Our_world_is_losing_ice_at_record_rate this article from ESA]. | |||
=== Projections === | === Projections === | ||