What would it feel like if suddenly you know that global warming and the melting of glaciers is just a vain worry? All those high school lectures on the issue would be held astray if the alleged denunciation of the excessive emission of greenhouse gases and the overwhelming effects it has on our ecosystem is annulled. They say “Himalayan glaciers are not melting!”… Well, hello! Did we just hear that?
Over five years back, the Mecca of environmental issues and notifications; IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel in Climatic Control) as the world’s primary environmental statistical institution under the UNFCCC prepared its fourth assessment report. Among others, the ever increasing rise in the sea water levels due to various causes was primal. With the levels rising worryingly in some parts of the world, it was analysed that by the year 2035 the entire chunk of the Himalayan glaciers would cease to exist!
However, with such remarked comments in the field, IPCC head, Rajendra Pachauri had to later taste the bitter when after a series of tests and reconfirmations, it was ascertained that there were several loopholes in their assessment. The debate, whether the glaciers would meet their fateful end or continue being the crown of the Himalayas is still brewing hot and in the wake of the year, rather shocking discoveries were made by another group of glaciologists headed by Professor John Wahr.
In their research paper published in the journal Nature in February, it was claimed that not only was the earlier assignment of 2035 as the year of doom for Himalayan glaciers wrong but also told that in the past decade, they haven’t lost any volume substantially!
Now this is certainly news for the world, which from a long time is struggling hard to find a way to curb the issue. Their studies, made by satellite imaging proved that nothing as grim was happening as of yet in this part of the world. Another quite reassuring point is that, contrary to consensus, the rise of water would be around 5 cm by 2100 and not 1 meter!
Like all lucrative things that come with a statutory warning, it is indeed tough to believe Wahr’s analysis. The major reason is the environmental brown cloud in this region that makes the melting more a rule than an exception along with other studies made by Asian scientists.
Yes, it is rather reassuring to note that we would not be floating in icy cold water by 2035 but you cannot take away from the fact that the road is still wet and it is high time to address global warming!