What happens with the melting of glaciers: EFFECTS!
Why do we talk about glaciers in these days that we celebrate world oceans day? Because one of the direct and immediately measurable consequences of melting glaciers is the increase in ocean level, so much so that the losses estimated by the study of the University of Toulouse have led to a global rise in sea level of 35 millimeters, In the last hundred years by 10-20 cm.
Our glaciers are disappearing!
In turn, sea level rise results in increased flooding and precipitation, increased concentration of fresh water, and changing sea currents.
If the phenomenon does not subside, it could lead to the disappearance of the Gulf Stream, with a sharp transition from scorching heat to glacial cold in the northern hemisphere.
Or vast territories, such as the Maldives Islands, the Marshall Islands or some coastal areas of China and Bangladesh, could be submerged, forcing millions of people to relocate. In this scenario, Italy could also suffer extensive damage due to its long coastline.
Of course, we must also deal with the reduction in biodiversity due to the change in the habitat of many marine and terrestrial species: changing the characteristics of the place that has always been home to some animal species, the latter risk disappearing if they do not know how to adapt.
The melting of the alpine glaciers in Italy
the melting of glaciers is not only a problem that affects the North Pole: Italian glaciers also melt. In particular, in Valle d’Aosta there are 250 glaciers and many of them are likely to disappear by the end of the century if the current trend of climate warming continues.
The Italian situation, of course, is no exception: according to the latest report by Legambiente “Caravan of glaciers” drawn up in 2020 to describe the situation in the Alps, there are at least seven glaciers in Italy at risk of melting due to climate change. The situation highlighted by the report, in fact, is far from rosy:
• in the last 150 years the alpine glaciers have been reduced by 60% compared to
• the area occupied, with peaks of 82% in the Julian Alps and 97% in the Maritime
• in the Central Alps – in particular – the state of health of the great Forni glacier is of particular concern, which, with an area of about 11 square km, is the second largest in Italy after that of the Adamello: the front of the glacier is flattened and covered with debris, marked by crevasses, with phenomena of collapse and ice cavities.
Another problem, typical of the contemporary world, is the phenomenon of black carbon: these are dusts that are deposited in the glacier through the rains, causing it to melt faster. These are dusts deriving from air pollution from fires and pollutants coming from the plains, therefore another clear sign of the intrusiveness of the anthropic impact on the earth.