Sanctuary |News
CLIMATE
WATCH
GREENLAND ICE MELT
Nearly 80 per cent of Greenland’s land surface is
covered by what is the second largest ice sheet and
freshwater reservoir in the world. While scientists
have known that this ice sheet is melting, a new
study suggests that the melt rate is more rapid
than previously thought. The study published in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
states that in the past eight years alone, the ice
melt has caused a six millimetre rise in global sea
levels. Between 1972 and 1980, Greenland witnessed
an increase in ice cover of nearly 47 trillion kg.
each year. Closer to the 1990s, Greenland began
losing ice at the rate of about 51 trillion kg. per
year. Between 1990 and 2000, over 41 trillion kg.
of ice was lost every year. And between 2010 and
2018, the Greenland Ice Sheet saw a staggering
286 trillion kg. of annual ice melt. This massive
geographical change in the Greenland Ice Sheet is
being regarded as 'one of the major geological shifts
of our time'. Overall, since 1972, Greenland has lost
nearly 4,976 gigatons of ice.DOLPHINS IN TROUBLE
Back in 2011, Western Australian waters struck
by a heat wave saw Shark Bay temperatures
increase by four degrees Celsius above the average
temperature causing a drop in dolphin reproductive
rates and lowering their survival rates. Certain
dolphin species suff ered a survival rate dip of
12 per cent. A recent study published in Current
Biology reveals that the warmer temperatures
destroyed large areas of seagrass, which apart
from being a food source also provides protection
and shelter for several marine species. "Once we
realised that the 2011 warm water event had such
devastating consequences on the seagrass beds
in Shark Bay, we wondered whether [animals] on
top of the food chain might also be aff ected,"
said Michael Krutzen, Director, Department of
Anthropology, University of Zurich. He added that
there were "no clear signs that things were back
to normal... survival and reproduction were still
lower, so these short-term eff ects have long-term
consequences on marine megafauna."GOOGLE EARTHCANADA HEATS UP
Environment and Climate Change
Canada released a grim report in
April this year stating that Canada
is warming twice as fast as other
countries. Severe heat-waves and
rainstorms, says the government
report that was peer reviewed by
43 scientists and researchers, may
become the new normal.
Studies show that while the
global temperatures have risen
by 0.8 degree Celsius since 1948,
Canada witnessed an increase of
1.7 degree Celsius. The resultant
glacier retreat in the Arctic could
be one of the factors contributing
to Canada’s rapid temperature rise,
but the main cause is the burning
of fossil fuels. Whether Canada
manages to stay true to its goal
of cutting down carbon emissions
by 200 million tonnes by 2030,
remains to be seen. Canada’s
national climate strategy includes
introducing a carbon tax and
shutting down coal-powered plants.MILLIONS IMPACTED
BY EXTREME
WEATHER
According to the World
Meteorological Organisation (WMO),
nearly 62 million people were
impacted by extreme weather events
in 2018. The State of the Climate
report released by WMO explains
how just one-degree temperature
rise above pre-industrial levels has
resulted in freak fl oods, heat-waves
and extended cold snaps ravaging
the lives of millions.
With a focus on Cyclone
Idai whose eff ects are spillingover into 2019, Petteri Taalas,
WMO secretary-general said,
“Tropical Cyclone Idai, which
caused devastating fl oods and
tragic loss of life in Mozambique,
Zimbabwe and Malawi, may turn
out to be one of the deadliest
weather-related disasters to hit
the southern hemisphere. Idai’s
victims personify why we need
a global agenda on sustainable
development, climate change
adaptation and disaster risk
reduction.” According to the report,
across the globe, over 35 million
people were victims of fl oods,
while nine million were aff ected
by droughts. In 2017, crumbling
food security due to the eff ects
of climate change saw 821 million
people undernourished. Food
insecurity and weather calamities
also aggravated confl ict and forced
people to migrate, resulting in
huge refugee crises.The Greenland Ice Sheet is melting at an alarming rate. Since 1972, Greenland has lost
nearly 4,976 gigatons of ice.12-1979 12-"There are no emergency
meetings, no headlines, no
breaking news. No one is acting
as if we are in a crisis. Even
most climate scientists or green
politicians keep on fl ying around
the world, eating meat and dairy...
Today we use 100 million barrels
of oil every single day. There are
no politics to change that. There
are no rules to keep that oil in the
ground. So we can't save the world
by playing by the rules. Because
the rules have to be changed.
Everything needs to change. And
it has to start today."- Greta Thunberg, TEDxStockholm
(November 24, 2018).