Down to Earth (DTE) 1-15 July 2023: Summary -Climate Change, Hindukush, Groundwater | UPSC IAS Mains
IAS Preparation: https://www.doorsteptutor.com/Exams/I... NET Preparation: https://www.doorsteptutor.com/Exams/UGC/ CUET UG: https://www.doorsteptutor.com/Exams/C... Exam Preparation - https://www.doorsteptutor.com/Exams/ Masters Level topics: / testprep NCERTs: / examrace Hindi Lectures: / examracehindi Our Websites https://www.examrace.com https://www.doorsteptutor.com https://www.flexiprep.com https://www.examtestprep.com https://www.jobduniya.com Call: +91-9998008851 Email: [email protected] #downtoearth #dteanalysis #dtesummary #upscmains #upscanswerwriting #upscpreparation #iasprelims2024 #howtoqualifyias #iaspreparationstrategy #doorsteptutor #netpaper1 #ugcnetpreparation #howtoqualifyJRF #iasmains2023 Third Pole Melting Away Since 2010, Himalayan glaciers have been disappearing 65% faster. This would drastically reduce water flows in the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra. With an average observed trend of 0.28°C per decade from 1951 to 2020, all regions of the Hindu Kush Himalayas are seeing an increase in mean temperature. According to latest assessment from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), this would impact the cryosphere, and in particular glacial melt, which is a major contributor of water for Himalayan rivers like: The Ganga The Brahmaputra The Indus International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is an intergovernmental institute serving the eight Himalayan countries. In the first two decades of this century, already there has been an acceleration of mass loss of glaciers. The report released on June 20 further states that for a global warming level of 1.5-2°C, Himalayan glaciers are expected to lose 30-50% of their volume by 2100. In case warming exceeds 4°C, the heavily glacier covered regions of West Kunlun and Karakoram would have their remaining glacier area reduced to about 50% of their 2020 area. The glacier covered area would reduce to less than 30% of the 2020 area in all other regions. The water eventually starts to decrease as glaciers continue to melt and get smaller. When the change occurs from increasing glacier runoff to decreasing glacier runoff, it is called as point peak water. In most basins peak water would be reached around mid-century, and water availability would decline by 2100. Also, the Hindu Kush Himalayas would see a decline in the snowfall of 30-50% in the Indus basin, 50-60% in the Ganga basin and 50-70% in the Brahmaputra basin between 2700 and 2100, as against the average from 1971 to 2000. The main source of water for mountain communities, about 83% of springs are replenished through snow and glacier melt. The report also states that there is an increase in disasters like landslides, avalanches, and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) recently. While glacial retreat would result in a rise in GLOFs, warming may lead to an increase in snow avalanches especially by the mid-century. The report for biodiversity highlights: Range shifts Ecosystem degradation Species decline Extinction Indian Himalayas by 2100 may see nearly a quarter of its endemic species wiped out.