Earth could lose up to 80% of its glaciers by 2100 thanks to climate change,study predictsÂ
The number of glaciers on Earth could decrease by 80 per cent by the year 2100, a concering new model has predicted. Climate scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in the US have projected the ice loss the planet could face in different emissions scenarios. Their findings suggest that even if we are able to limit the increase in average global temperature to 2.7F (1.5C), nearly half of the planet's total glacier mass. This loss could negatively impact local hydrological cycles and result in an increase of glacier hazards like avalanches and floods. Many studies have shown that glaciers around the world are melting rapidly as a result of global warming. In November 2022, scientists described the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica as 'holding on by its fingernails', after discovering that it has retreated twice as fast as previously thought over the past 200 years. This could lead to alone, but other researchers have predicted the increase that would be generated by other large ice masses. For example, Antarctica's Pine Island Ice shelf could cause , while the East Antarctica ice sheet may contribute a by 2500. Two thirds of Earth's glaciers make up 41 percent of its total glacier mass, as the majority of them are relatively small - less than one kilometre square. According to the study, these would all be lost were we continue investment into fossil fuels as we do currently. '[E]very increase in temperature has significant consequences with respect to glacier contribution to sea level rise, the loss of glaciers around the world, and changes to hydrology, ecology, and natural hazards,' the authors said. However, as glaciers take a long time to respond to changes in the climate, cutting back emissions will not suddenly stop all glacial melting. Dr David Rounce, who led the study, says that even if we ditch fossil fuels completely today it will still take up to 100 years to be reflected in glacier melt rates. If we are able to limit the global temperature increase to 2.7F (1.5C), as was set out in the Paris Agreement in 2015, we would still lose 26 per cent of global glacier mass. Central Europe, Western Canada and the US are home to smaller glaciers, which are at risk of disappearing completely if the world heats up by 5.4F (3C). Dr Rounce hopes his work will inform world leaders and policymakers to work towards a lower target and save the glaciers. The authors say: 'While issuing a stark warning about the consequences of insufficient action, achieve this framing with an important message: Although it is too late to avoid losing many glaciers, any effort to limit global mean temperature rise will have a direct effect on reducing how many glaciers will be lost.' Find out about the . , a report has revealed. And, will the next pandemic come from the Arctic? .