The focus of recent headlines is the 100-km long expanse of rapidly melting ice in Antarctica, which has been named Glasgow after the climate summit held in the city. This event occurred during the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) hosted in Glasgow, UK.
Key Research Findings
A team of scientists from the University of Leeds in England conducted a study involving a series of glaciers located within the Getz basin of Antarctica. According to their research, between 1994 and 2018, 14 glaciers in the Getz Basin of West Antarctica have seen an average thinning of 25% attributable to climate change. Over the last quarter of a century, a staggering 315 gigatonnes of ice have vanished, contributing significantly to the rising global sea levels.
The Getz basin forms a part of Antarctica’s most extensive ice shelf, which is more susceptible to alterations triggered by oceanic forcing compared to other Antarctic shelves. This is a process wherein relatively warm deep ocean water melts the glaciers from below.
Naming Other Glaciers: A Historical Tribute
Eight newly christened glaciers pay homage to significant environmental events and conferences:
1. Stockholm Conference Glacier (1972): This honors the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a key outcome of the Stockholm conference.
2. Geneva Glacier (1979): Named after the First World Climate Conference held in the Swiss city.
3. Rio Summit Glacier (1992): Acknowledges the significant Agenda 21 and the concept of sustainable development combining economic growth with ecological responsibility.
4. COP1 Glacier (Berlin, Germany, 1995): The first Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC.
5. Kyoto Protocol Glacier (1997): Commemorates the collective target of a 5.2% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels agreed by developed countries.
6. COP13 Glacier (Bali, Indonesia, 2007): Marks the agreement on the Bali Road Map and Bali action plan, outlining strategies for a post-2012 outcome.
7. Paris Glacier (2015): Honors the COP21’s aim to limit global temperature rise well below 2.0C above pre-industrial times and if possible, to 1.5C.
8. Incheon Glacier: Pays tribute to the location of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in Incheon, South Korea.
Significance of These Glaciers
Over the past four decades, satellites have tracked enormous iceberg calving events, alterations in glacier flow, and rapidly thinning ice as tangible proof of the devastating impact of global warming. Commemorating glaciers after important climate treaties, conferences, and reports serves as a powerful testament to international collaboration on climate change science and policy over the last 42 years.
From the Stockholm Conference to COP26, these glaciers serve as a chilling reminder of our global responsibility to protect the planet for ourselves and future generations. Their rapid disappearance due to climate change also underscores the urgency of taking decisive and effective action against global warming.
