What is the major reason for the shrinking of the Himalayan glaciers?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
Global warming
Explanation
The primary reason for the rapid shrinking and melting of the Himalayan glaciers is global warming. Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrialization, have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane in Earth's atmosphere. These gases trap solar heat, leading to a steady rise in average global temperatures. The Himalayan region, often referred to as the "Third Pole," is highly sensitive to these temperature changes. Rising temperatures accelerate glacial retreat, cause ice sheets to thin, and turn winter snowfall into rain, drastically reducing the natural accumulation of glacial ice.
Another major contributing factor in this region is the deposition of black carbon (soot from vehicular emissions, biomass burning, and brick kilns) onto the pristine snow. This darkens the surface of the glaciers, lowering their albedo (reflectivity) and causing them to absorb more solar radiation, which further speeds up the melting process.
Key Points
The accelerating melt of Himalayan glaciers poses a severe threat to water security, as these glaciers feed major river systems like the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra, which sustain over a billion people downstream.
Rapid melting leads to the formation of unstable glacial lakes, significantly increasing the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which can cause catastrophic destruction in mountain valleys.
While localized human settlements and deforestation alter microclimates, and earthquakes cause physical disruptions like avalanches, they are not the driving forces behind the systemic, long-term retreat of glaciers across the entire mountain range.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: What is the impact of black carbon deposition on Himalayan glaciers?
Answer: Black carbon settles on the ice and snow, reducing its reflectivity (albedo). This causes the glacier to absorb more solar heat, accelerating its melting rate.
Question: Why are the Himalayas often referred to as the "Third Pole"?
Answer: They are called the Third Pole because the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region contains the largest concentration of snow and ice on Earth outside of the polar regions (the Arctic and Antarctica).