Glaciers worldwide have shrunk by more than 5 per cent on average since 2000, with a rapid rate of melting accelerating over the past decade. Climate change continues to drive this trend.
According to researchers from a global consortium, glaciers lost an estimated 7 trillion tonnes of ice between 2000 and 2023, contributing significantly to sea level rise. This melt has raised sea levels by almost 2 centimetres, making it the second-largest contributor to sea level rise since 2000.
The Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise, which involved hundreds of researchers, aimed to reduce uncertainty around glacier melting rates. Their findings indicate that glaciers in various regions have shrunk significantly, with the Alps losing nearly 40 per cent of their ice and other areas experiencing reductions of more than 20 per cent.
Experts warn that if emissions continue, the world’s glaciers could lose between a quarter and half of their ice by the end of the century. Glaciers serve as a barometer for climate change, making these findings a concerning indicator of the planet’s warming trend.
Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2469212-the-worlds-glaciers-have-shrunk-more-than-5-per-cent-since-2000