CRYOSPHERE

CRYOSPHERE

The Cryosphere refers to regions of the Earth where water exists in its solid form (ice or snow) for a significant part of the year. This includes ice caps, glaciers, sea ice, and permafrost regions across Antarctica, Greenland, and other high-altitude areas.

Occurrence:

• Factors: The Cryosphere’s distribution is determined by temperature, wind, and precipitation.
• General pattern: As latitude and altitude increase, temperature drops, reducing precipitation, particularly in continental areas.
• Winds and Precipitation: Winds and precipitation patterns influence the growth and distribution of ice and snow across high-altitude regions, allowing glaciers to expand.
• Permafrost: Permafrost exists in cold climates where precipitation accumulates as solid snow and ice, forming long-term ice deposits.

Significance of the Cryosphere and How It Affects Climate:

• Holds the largest percentage of freshwater: About 77% of the Earth’s freshwater is locked in the Cryosphere, with 91% in the Antarctic Ice Sheet, 8% in Greenland, and 1% in glaciers.

Significance of the Cryosphere:

• Source of information: Ice cores from glaciers provide records of Earth’s climate over the last 800,000 years, helping us understand past temperature trends, atmospheric composition, and volcanic activity.
• Maintain Earth’s energy balance: The Cryosphere acts as a reflective blanket (high albedo) that reflects solar radiation, preventing the Earth from overheating. Ice and snow, being white, reflect most sunlight back into space, making them crucial for cooling the planet.
• Insulating layer: Ice and snow serve as insulation over land and oceans, holding heat and moisture that would otherwise escape into the atmosphere. Thicker ice insulates up to twice as much as thin ice.
  • Example: Heat transfer between the ocean and atmosphere is significantly reduced when ice is present.
• Thermohaline circulation: At polar regions, sea-ice converts seawater into saltier water, which sinks due to higher density and initiates oceanic circulation patterns that transport warm water from the tropics toward the poles.
• Carbon trapping agents: Frozen ice traps carbon dioxide within it, preventing the release of this gas into the atmosphere, thus acting as a natural carbon sink.
• Water cycling: The Cryosphere plays a vital role in the global water cycle, serving as a major source for rivers and streams. Snow and rainfall return this water to the system to maintain balance.

Effects of Rising Temperature:

• Feedback Loop: Melting ice reduces the reflective surface (albedo effect), causing oceans and land to absorb more solar energy and release it as heat, accelerating ice melt and contributing to more global warming.
• Global Warming: When polar ice melts, it releases stored methane, a potent greenhouse gas, which amplifies the greenhouse effect, leading to more warming.
• Ocean Acidification: As methane trapped in permafrost is released into the oceans, it can result in the acidification of ocean waters, especially in the Arctic region, threatening marine ecosystems.
• Cascading effects: Rising sea levels cause a domino effect—higher global temperatures, more extreme weather events (heavy rainfall, heatwaves), sea-level rise, and damage from inundation.
• Impact on river flow: Millions of people depend on rivers fed by melting glaciers. While short-term river flow might increase due to melting, long-term flow will decline as glaciers disappear, creating water shortages.
• Coastal community at risk: Since 1900, the global sea level has risen by 7-8 inches, threatening coastal communities through erosion, flooding, and storm surges.
• Impact on food security: Polar vortex shifts, heatwaves, and unpredictable weather patterns from ice melt already threaten global food systems, causing agricultural disruptions.

IPCC Report on “The Ocean and Cryosphere Climate”:

1. High Mountain Areas: Glaciers could lose up to one-fifth of their mass by the end of this century if emissions remain high, with up to 80% loss predicted for regions like Central Europe.
2. Sea Ice: There is high confidence that Arctic sea ice has declined in all months of the year, with half of this loss attributed to human-caused warming.
3. Ice Sheets: Greenland’s ice melt is at its highest rate in the last 350 years, with Antarctic loss contributing significantly. This has led to an increase in sea levels.
4. Abrupt Changes and “Tipping Points”: The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which moves warm water toward Europe, has likely weakened by 15%. While it’s not expected to collapse, changes could still severely impact weather patterns.
5. Sea Level Rise: The current acceleration in sea level rise is unprecedented. Worst-case scenarios predict that sea levels could rise by up to 2 meters by 2100.
6. Permafrost: Arctic permafrost is expected to face widespread disappearance, with 30-99% of the surface at risk. This will release significant amounts of CO2.
7. Impacts on Coasts and Islands: Warming could drastically affect migration patterns. Some islands may become uninhabitable by the end of the century.
8. Marine Life: A 15% decline in marine mammal populations is expected, with almost all coral reefs facing degradation.
9. Implications of Polar Warming: Polar bears and other species are facing negative impacts from warming, with ranges shrinking and habitats changing.
10. Extreme Events: Cyclones, heatwaves, and extreme weather are becoming more severe and will likely cause loss and damage.
11. Socio-Economic Implications: The changes in oceans and the cryosphere will impede sustainable development goals, increasing the range of potential disease threats.

India and Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) Region:

1. Importance of the Region:

• The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, known as the “Third Pole,” covers over 3,500 square kilometers across eight countries, including India, Nepal, and China. It contains the world’s third-largest storage of frozen water after the Arctic and Antarctic.
• Over 240 million people live in the region’s mountains, and 1.7 billion people in river basins depend on its water. These rivers feed over 10 major river systems critical to agriculture, drinking water, and hydroelectricity.

1. IPCC Report on HKH:

• Loss of Glaciers: By 2100, regional temperatures are expected to increase by 3.5°C to 6°C, causing significant glacier loss. This will impact water resources, particularly in the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra river basins.
• Uncertain Rainfall and Floods: The region will face unpredictable rainfall patterns, with increased frequency of floods.
• Water Resources: Global warming will directly affect water resources in the HKH region, with agriculture, domestic use, and hydroelectricity sectors facing adverse consequences.

• UNDP Report

• Loss of Cryosphere: In the best-case scenarios, the High Mountain Asia region (which includes the Tibetan Plateau) will lose a substantial part of its cryosphere over the next few decades. This would also affect its water storage abilities, leading to increased water stress in high mountain areas.
• Water Shortage: Up to 2 billion people in Southeast Asia face food and water shortages. As the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) mountain range loses up to two-thirds of its ice by 2100, Southeast Asia will face greater challenges in food and water security.
• Anthropogenic Factors: The report highlights how the melting of the cryosphere is driven by human activities. The HKH region is particularly vulnerable as it is downwind of heavily polluted areas, worsening the effects on agriculture, climate, and monsoon patterns.

Way Forward

1. UNDP Suggestions: The UNDP report suggests actions to address water stress and climate impacts:

• Water Storage Solutions for Farmers: Farmers will need to adopt locally appropriate water storage systems or switch to less water-intensive crops.
• Design Compatible Hydropower Projects (HPP): Future designs for hydropower will need to account for changing climate and water availability.
• Coordination: Data, capacity building, early warning systems, and infrastructure need improvement, with a focus on sufficient funding and large-scale coordination.

2. International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI): The ICCI program focuses on the unique dynamics in the cryosphere, highlighting the need for global climate efforts aimed at reducing CO2 and other greenhouse gases.

3. IPCC Suggestions: The IPCC provides measures to limit climate change:

• Still Manageable for Vulnerable Groups: If actions are taken now, the impacts on vulnerable populations can be managed.
• Risk of Delay: Delaying action increases costs and challenges for sustainable development goals (SDGs).
• Coordination Between Governments: The report stresses international cooperation, education, and sharing of data to effectively address climate change. Social vulnerability and equity must also be addressed in climate strategies.

4. High Time to Act: There is an urgent call for global collaboration to slow climate change, build resilience, and reduce human activities that accelerate environmental degradation.

ANTARCTIC BILL AND TREATY

The Bill aims to give effect to the Antarctic Treaty, Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. It seeks to regulate activities and ensure environmental protection in Antarctica.

Key Facts about Antarctica:

• Size and Location: Antarctica is the world’s southernmost and fifth-largest continent, containing the geographic South Pole.
• Division: It is divided into East Antarctica (mostly a high ice-covered plateau) and West Antarctica (a largely ice sheet-covered archipelago).
• Unique Governance: Antarctica has no native population, and seven nations claim parts of it: New Zealand, Australia, France, Norway, the United Kingdom, Chile, and Argentina.

Key Highlights:

1. Applicability: The Bill applies to any person, vessel, or aircraft involved in an Indian expedition to Antarctica under a permit.
2. Central Committee: The central government will establish a Committee on Antarctic Governance and Environmental Protection. Functions: The Committee will:
   • Grant permits for activities.
   • Ensure compliance with international environmental laws.
   • Review information provided by Treaty parties.
   • Negotiate fees/charges with other nations for activities in Antarctica.
3. Permits: A permit by the Committee or written authorization from another Treaty party is required for various activities in Antarctica.
4. Prohibited Activities: The Bill prohibits certain activities, such as:
   • Nuclear waste disposal.
   • Introduction of non-sterile soil.
   • Discharging harmful substances like garbage and plastic into the sea.

Offenses and Penalties: Severe penalties for contravention. For instance, conducting a nuclear explosion in Antarctica can result in 20 years imprisonment and a fine of at least ₹50 crore.

Importance of the Bill:

• Protects Ecology: Prohibits drilling, dredging, excavation, and collection of mineral resources in Antarctica.
• Protects Indigenous Fauna: Prohibits the introduction of non-native species such as animals, birds, plants, or microorganisms.
• Regulates Tourism: Facilitates sustainable tourism development and management in Antarctica.
• Polar Diplomacy: Aims to increase India’s involvement and credibility in international Antarctic governance.
• Prevents Pollution: Prohibits pollution-related activities, including radioactive waste disposal, non-sterile soil introduction, and plastic discharge into the sea.

Antarctic Treaty:

• Signed in Washington on 1 December 1959 by twelve nations.
• The treaty mandates peaceful and cooperative use of the continent, without it becoming a scene of international conflict or territorial claims.

Challenges to the Treaty:

1. Increased Human Presence: Growth in human activities, including scientific research and tourism, has led to increased footprints in the region.
2. Increased Tourism: In 2007, over 37,500 tourists visited Antarctica, marking a significant increase.
3. Changes in International Law: Many new treaties and international laws have emerged since 1959, leading to a more complex legal environment.
4. Impact of UNCLOS: The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has led to a renewed debate on national sovereignty in Antarctica.
5. Increased Climate Change: Melting ice caps due to global warming are a significant challenge.
6. Jurisdiction Issues: It is difficult to apply traditional grounds for jurisdiction in Antarctica, given its unique governance.

Way Forward:

• Redefine Treaty: There is a need for an updated treaty system that reflects modern-day climate challenges and international dynamics.
• Regulate Tourism: Frameworks should be created to ensure that growing tourism does not impact Antarctica’s fragile ecology.