My Eco Movie Eight

Climate Challenge

The Arctic is warming up faster than other parts of the planet. 

The Arctic Sea Ice Cover has reduced by over 30% in the last few years. This rapid ice melt has captured the world’s attention, including that of Indian scientists who, by 2018, had set up a permanent research station; Himadri.

Scientists have been trying to understand the complex processes and the hydrological changes in the Arctic; similar changes are being seen in the Himalayas. A global report predicts that a third of the Himalayas glaciers are expected to melt by the end of this century.

This situation is predicted to intensify in the coming years which could have dire consequences on the availability of water, food, and energy.

All major North Indian Rivers originate from the Himalayas, which directly supports close to 1.5 billion people. According to the latest reports, there are about 9,575 glaciers in the Indian Himalayan region. These melting glaciers are impacting the region and the global environment with its changing climate. A team of Indian scientists undertakes research in order to understand the effects of climate change on glaciers in the Lahul and Spiti region. 

At the frontline of climate change, the planet’s oceans are impacted by the ever increasing carbon dioxide levels. At 65 degrees south, the Southern Ocean, which connects the Atlantic, the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean, has ice-clogged waters due to extreme conditions. It stores a great deal of heat and carbon dioxide, and has recently shown increased levels of acidity due to this. 

The Arctic Permafrost is another source of carbon that is affected by changing climates. The degrading permafrost in the Arctic region could release billions of tons methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually, a threat that must be dealt with.