GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Climate change & international agreements· Prelims + Mains·
Cryosphere dynamics and sea-level rise: a critical GS3 Environment and Ecology topic.
Researchers at Northumbria University, supported by NASA, found that Greenland and Antarctica lost 11.3 billion tonnes of ice since the late 1970s, contributing to a 31.4 mm rise in global sea levels.
The study analyzed 42 satellite surveys over five decades, revealing that glacier acceleration accounted for 84% of ice loss. Annual ice loss in Greenland increased from 60 to 264 billion tonnes, while Antarctica's loss rose from 48 to 202 billion tonnes between 1979 and 2023.
With reference to polar ice loss and sea-level rise, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (a) 1 only — Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: The ice loss contributed to a 31.4 mm rise in global sea levels. Statement 3 is incorrect: The study analyzed 42 satellite surveys over five decades.
Q. Discuss the implications of accelerated glacial melting in polar regions on global sea-level rise and the resulting challenges for coastal geography.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
Keywords: Cryosphere · Sea-level rise · Glacial acceleration · Satellite remote sensing · Climate feedback
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